Maxwell Swaminathan’s scintillating six-wicket haul decimated New Hind Sporting Club’s batting line-up, putting P.J. Hindu Gymkhana in a commanding position during the semi-final of the 77th Police Invitation Shield Cricket Tournament at Mumbai Police Gymkhana.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, New Hind Sporting Club posted a respectable total of 249 runs in 56 overs, with notable contributions from Ayush Mhatre (61), Aditya Parab (60) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (32). However, their efforts were overshadowed by the brilliance of off-spinner Maxwell Swaminathan, who displayed exceptional control and guile to claim six wickets for 49 runs, dismantling the opposition’s batting order with regular breakthroughs. With a modest target ahead, they are well-placed to secure a spot in the final.
Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, Victory Cricket Club produced an all-round bowling masterclass, led by Shashank Attarde’s four-wicket spell (4/71), to restrict Cricket Club of India (CCI) to a paltry 187 in 45 overs. Former Mumbai batsman Akhil Herwadkar stood tall amidst the collapse, scoring a gritty 63 to anchor CCI’s innings.
In response, Victory Cricket Club made a blistering start, reaching 57/1 in just 10 overs, with Divyansh Saxena leading the charge with a quickfire 38. They now require just 131 runs to clinch a spot in the final.
Brief Scores:
Semi-final 1: New Hind Sporting Club 249 all out in 56 overs (Ayush Mhatre 61, Aditya Parab 60, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 32; Maxwell Swaminathan 6/49) vs P.J. Hindu Gymkhana 0/0 in 1 over, need 250 runs to win.
Semi-final 2: Cricket Club of India 187 all out in 45 overs (Akhil Herwadkar 63; Shashank Attarde 4/71) vs Victory Cricket Club 57/1 in 10 overs (Divyansh Saxena 38), need 131 runs to win.