AFTER a poor string of scores in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the ongoing Guzder League A Division One Day Cricket Tournament, Vidarbha opener Atharva Taide struck form guiding Medical Representative Cricket Club (MRCC) to a close three-wicket win over Eleven Star Cricket Club at WCL ground on Tuesday. Chasing Eleven Star’s 321-6, Taide (148*; 132b, 12x4, 3x6) put down anchor at one end and ensured he stayed till the end, finishing the job for his team. MRCC had a brisk start with in-form Siddhesh Wath (72; 49b, 10x4, 2x6) and Nayan Chavan (12; 11b, 1x4, 1x6) adding 39 runs in 4 overs. After Ashutosh Singh had Chavan caught by Faizan Ahmad, Taide and Wath matched stroke to stroke taking the team to 125 when the latter was castled by left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey. Pawan Parnate (10) did not last long. Apoorv Wankhade (24; 28b, 2x4) wasted an opportunity and the team lost three quick wickets — Mohit Raut (1), Kushal Kakad (19) and Ankush Wakode (15) to be 280-7. Taide found an able ally in Shubham Patil (17*; 19b) who rotated the strike very well letting Taide face more balls. On first ball of the last over, Taide’s boundary sealed the issue. Earlier, riding on skipper Shubham Dubey’s (95; 52b, 4x4, 8x6) hurricane knock and contributions from opener Akash Kumar (83; 87b, 9x4, 1x6) and senior player Shalabh Shrivastava (65; 64b, 4x4, 2x6) Eleven Star posted a competitive total.

 

With fifth win from six games, MRCC sit atop the points table. In the nine-team event, Navniketan Cricket Club and Eleven Star occupy the second and third spots respectively with an identical 16 points each. IG, MSSC play a tie In yet another low scoring game at Kalamna, spinner Raj Chaudhary (4-32) ensured that Indian Gymkhana scored one point from a thrilling tie against Ministerial Services Sports Club (MSSC). Indian Gymkhana were bowled out for a mere 186 in 49.1 overs but the team bounced back to restrict MSSC to 186-9 in 50 overs securing a tie. In pursuit of a small target, MSSC lost two quick wickets. Skipper Akshay Kolhar (0) was out lbw to Rajneesh Gurbani in the bowler’s first over and Gaurav Dhoble had Anshuman Rath (7) stumped by Neel Athalay.

 

Opener Mandar Mahalle (35; 59b, 3x4) and Yash Rathod (60; 88b, 5x4) played cautiously and took the score from 18-2 to 75 before part-timer R Sanjay accounted for Mahalle. Soon Chaudhary sent back last match’s centurion Rushabh Rathod (3) and stumper Aniket Pande (2) within three balls and the team was reeling at 83-5. The pair of Yash Rathod and Suraj Rai (43; 72b, 2x4, 1x6) frustrated Gymkhana bowlers but Gurbani clean bowling Rathod once again opened up the match. Another double blow by Chaudhary — Akshay Wakhare (4) and Rai brought further excitement. When Sahil Sheikh was run out by Azhar Sheikh for 5, MSSC needed 11 from nine balls but Prabhviraaj Lamba (15*; 25b, 2x4) and Mehul Raikwar (3*; 4b) were restricted to ten.

 

Back to back wins for Advocate XI Advocate XI recorded their second win in as many days. At VCA Stadium, Jamtha, Advocate XI thumped All India Reporter by 96 runs. Asked to bat, Advocate XI made 252-5 with major contributions coming from the blades of Vaibhav Chandekar (62*; 44b, 6x4, 2x6), Aman Khan (58; 81b, 5x4, 1x6) and Abhishek Pathak (47; 70b, 4x4, 2x6). AIR batsmen fared poorly as Advocate bowlers Satyam Bhoyar (4.1-0-17-3), Rishabh (2-33) and Nachiket Parande (1-26) bowled brilliantly. Navniketan triumph Riding on all-round performance by Aditya Sarvate (43; 39b, 5x4 and 2-45), Navniketan CC beat Lipton Cricket Club by 17 runs. Navniketan made 262 and then bowled out Lipton for 262 in 49.1 overs.