Wicket-keeper-batsman Sujay Thakkar’s patient unbeaten century knock of 122 runs (171 balls, 16x4s, 1x6s) and a half century effort of Nishad Gabhawala 50 runs (88 balls, 6x4s) helped Nirlon Sports Club record a tense 2-wicket win over Route Mobile SC in an interesting and high-scoring ‘B’ Division final of the 1st MCA Corporate Trophy Cricket Tournament played at the Bombay Gymkhana ground, on Thursday.
The victorious Nirlon SC players
Chasing a challenging target of 297 to win from a maximum 75 overs, Nirlon bolstered by Thakkar brilliant batting performance easily overhauled the winning target scoring 298 for 8 wickets in 74.2 overs. All-rounder Yashraj Malaap scored 34 runs (46 balls, 2x4s) to boost the total. Route Mobile medium pacer Ravindra Solanki 4 for 104 runs and left-arm spinner Shashikant Kadam 2 for 89 got crucial wickets, but they could not prevent Nirlon from cruising to victory.
Earlier, Route Mobile preferring to bat first piled up a massive total of 296 for 9 wickets from 75 overs. Middle order batsmen Saksham Parashar 73 runs (111 balls, 7x4s, 1x6s) and Saeed Shaikh 64 runs (99 balls, 6x4s) were the leading scorers which propped the Route Mobile innings. Top-order batter Vedant Murkar 35 runs (79 balls, 5x4s) and Sanket Kashte 33 runs (61 balls, 5x4s, 1x6s) made useful contributions.
Later, Shashikant Kadam 31 not out (21 balls, 2x4s, 2×6) and Ravindra Solanki 21 not out (13 balls 1x4s, 2x6s) added 38 quick runs to swell the total. Nirlon SC medium pacers Nipun Panchal 5 for 68 and Yashraj Malap 3 for 45 were responsible for picking the wickets.
B-Division final – Brief scores: Route Mobile SC 296 for 9 wickets, 75 overs (Saksham Parashar 73 (111 balls, 7x4s, 1x6s), Saeed Shaikh 64 (99 balls, 6x4s), Vedant Murkar 35 (79 balls, 5x4s), Sanket Kashte 33 (61 balls, 5x4s, 1x6s), Shashikant Kadam 31* (21 balls, 2x4s, 2×6); Nipun Panchal 5/68, Yashraj Malap 3/45) lost to Nirlon SC 298 for 8 wickets, 74.2 overs (Sujay Thakkar 122 not out (171 balls, 16x4s, 1x6s), Nishad Gabhawala 50 (88 balls, 6x4s), Yashraj Malaap 34 (46 balls, 2x4s); Ravindra Solanki 4/104, Shashikant Kadam 2/89).
Result: Nirlon won by 2 wickets.