Reigning champions Parsee Gymkhana and last edition’s runners-up MCA Colts by narrow margins won their respective opening round matches of the Bombay Gymkhana organized Nirlon-R.F.S. Talyarkhan Memorial Invitation Cricket Tournament 2021-2022, at the Bombay Gymkhana ground on Saturday.
Strong favourites Parsee Gymkhana pulled off a close 4-wicket win over Payyade Sports Club with just two balls to spare. In the second match, MCA Colts showed plenty of grit and determination to snatch a tense 1-wicket win against hosts Bombay Gymkhana.
Payyade SC electing to bat were dismissed for 152 in 20 overs. Raunaq Sharma top-scored with 58 (3×4, 3×6) runs. Medium-pacer Shivam Malhotra (3/30) and off-spinner Ishan Mulchandani (3/31) picked the wickets. Parsee Gymkhana managed to chase the target reaching 158 for 6 wickets in 19.4 overs. Skipper and opening batsman Vikrant Auti played a match-winning knock of an unbeaten 70 (8×4,1×6) and received good support from Nutan Goel 36 runs to ensure Parsee Gym crossed the finish line. Left-arm pacer Atif Attarwala (3/21) and Deepak Shetty (2/37) were the successful Payyade bowlers.
Bombay Gymkhana who were sent in to bat piled up a challenging score making 181 for 5 wickets in 20 overs. Sumit Ghadigaonkar 72 (7×4,3×6) runs and Agni Chopra 58 (8×4) runs helped the home side reach a massive total. The MCA youngsters struggled a bit but managed to pull off a win reaching 182 for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Suryash Shedge 35 (5×4, 1×6) runs, Kaushik Chikhilkar 31 (5×4,1×6) runs, and Omkar Jadhav 30 (3×4,1×6) runs ensured MCA Colts surpass the winning target. Saurabh Singh (4/16), Rishikesh Jadhav (2/32), and Yashraj Malap (2/48) shared the spoils but could not prevent the opponents from scrapping to victory and a place in the semi-finals.
Brief scores: Payyade SC 152 all out, 20 overs (Raunaq Sharma 58 (3×4, 3×6); Shivam Malhotra 3/30, Ishan Mulchandani 3/31) lost to Parsee Gymkhana 158 for 6 wickets, 19.4 overs (Vikrant Auti 70*(8×4,1×6); Nutan Goel 36; Atif Attarwala 3/21, Deepak Shetty 2/37). Parsee Gymkhana won by 4 wickets.
Bombay Gymkhana 181 for 5 wickets, 20 overs (Sumit Ghadigaonkar 72 (7×4,3×6), Agni Chopra 58 (8×4) lost to MCA Colts 182 for 9 wickets, 20 overs (Suryash Shedge 35 (5×4, 1×6), Kaushik Chikhilkar 31 (5×4,1×6), Omkar Jadhav 30 (3×4,1×6); Saurabh Singh 4/16, Rishikesh Jadhav 2/32, Yashraj Malap 2/48). MCA Colts won by 1 wicket.
Islam Gymkhana 140 all out, 20 overs ( Vinayak Bhoir 36, Neelkanth Parab 29*; Yogesh Jagtap 3/22, Kailash Kolekar 3/30, Pankaj Pardeshi 3/32) beat Mumbai Police Gymkhana 123 all out in 18.3 overs (Rohit Pol 56; Nadeem Shaikh 2/16, Kaustubh Pawar 2/20). Islam Gymkhana won by 17 runs.
P.J. Hindu Gymkhana 124 all out, 20 overs (Utkarsh Raut 38; Harshal Soni 3/20, Prathamesh Dake 3/29) lost to Cricket Club of India 125 for 5 wickets, 15.5 overs (Rudra Dhandy 44 (5×4, 1×6), Akash Anand 28 (5×4); Jitendra Paliwal 2/27). CCI won by 5 wickets.