(The “Police Shield” is one of the best tournaments in the city of Mumbai. This grand tournament is now in its 69th year and has been a stepping stone for many young guns in the cricketing arena. Cricketers get opportunities to gain experience and exhibit their talent along with established players. This tournament further helps youngsters move up the ladder and could give them a chance to play higher grades of cricket. A number of renowned and legendary cricketers from the country have played the Police Shield tournament. CricFit author and Sports Media Specialist Binaisha M. Surti brings you exclusive and exciting coverage of the game played between Parsee Gymkhana and Islam Gymkhana from the field.)
With the start of a new season, the most loved sport of people around the world called “Cricket” promises to keep fans entertained throughout. No matter at what venue they are playing… all teams are geared up to win championships! In yet another great contest,Parsee Gymkhana (PG) won by 5 wickets against D.Y.Patil Sports Academy in their very first game of “The 69th Police Invitation Shield Cricket Tournament 2016.” They thus carried forward their winning momentum and confidence in their next clash too.
In their second league game, Parsee Gymkhana faced Islam Gymkhana at the Parsee Gymkhana grounds on 5th and 6th November 2016.On a bright afternoon of 5th November 2016, team Parsee Gymkhana won the toss and elected to bat first on what appeared to be a great wicket. Each side were to play a 70 over innings. For PG, the opening pair of Ankit Revandkar and Bravish Shetty did not get going as Bravish was dismissed for a mere 2 runs while the former batsman went on to score 34 runs. Further Mayur Sanap was given out LBW on 16 runs by a Samad Akhtar delivery. Just when Islam Gymkhana started feeling that the match was going according to their plans…the man in form Arjun Shetty started the carnage. He smashed all the opposition bowlers, top scoring with a phenomenal 92 runs of 106 deliveries, smashing 7 fours and 6 sixes in the process before being given out LBW. Though he kept losing partners at the other end, he never showed signs of panic and played his natural game. Their skipper Raunaq Sharma was unable to create the same magic with the bat as he was caught on 8 runs by Kamran Chaudhary. Manish Rao who walked in at number six contributed 6 runs before he was caught by Jay Dave. PG’s wicket-keeper batsman Ajinkya Patil played well for the side and remained not out on the first day with 44 runs while Sanket Bhaye was run out on 5 runs. Day 1 ended with Parsee Gymkhana being on 225/7 in 54 overs.
Day 2 began in the morning with the Parsee Gymkhana team starting from where they had left off the previous night. Ajinkya Patil played some great strokes and scored a half century but later was sadly caught by Salman Khan of a Danish Rainee delivery. The next set of players were unable to contribute with the batas Meghan Pednekar(1 run) and Sagar Udeshi (0) were packed off to the pavilion within no time. Team Parsee Gymkhana finished off with 232 runs on the board in 58.4 overs. For Islam Gymkhana, bowlers Danish Rainee scalped 3/42 while Samad Akhtar grabbed 3/26 in his spell. The bowlers bowled tight line and lengths as they were not looking to give away any easy runs.
In reply, when Islam Gymkhana came out to bat they had to chase down a target of 233 runs. They lost early wickets right in the beginning. Openers Abdul Aziz scored 58 runs before he was dismissed for an LBW by star bowler Sagar Udeshi. On the other hand PG’s Manish Rao bowled well to pack off Aryan Hemdev for just a run. Hashir Dafedar was caught by Ajinkya Patil of yet another brilliant ball bowled by Manish Rao. Sanket Jadhav (11 runs), Hitesh Kadam (20 runs), Siddharth Singh (16 runs) were unable to do much with the bat. Kamran Chaudhary took matters in his hands and stood as a wall for his side, but alas kept losing partners. He was the sole batsman who remained not out till the very end with 47 runs. His team mates in the form of Salman Patni, Salman Khan, Samad Akhtar and Danish Rainee all fell one after another.
Amongst the PG bowlers Sagar Udeshi bowled a phenomenal spell and picked up a fifer, giving away just 44 runs in his 21.1 overs spell. In the end Islam Gymkhana were all out for 180 runs. The Parsee Gymkhana team gelled together and played as a unit. Ajinkya Patil was extremely swift behind the stumps and never let any opportunity slip by…Their skipper Raunaq Sharma yet again marched his troops to another victory in what turned out to be a great contest between 2 good sides. In the end Parsee Gymkhana beat Islam Gymkhana by 52 runs. PG next face M.I.G Cricket Club at the MIG Cricket Ground on 12th and 13th November 2016 for their 3rd league encounter.
Post the game Parsee Gymkhana’s Arjun Shetty who scored a matching winning knock of 92 runs for his side spoke exclusively to CricFit. “Firstly it is an honour to be a part of Team Parsee Gymkhana. Khodadad Sir (Khodadad Yazdegardi- Vice President and Cricket Secretary of Parsee Gymkhana) has been very supportive all through out and provided us with great facilities which we are all thankful for. During the pre-season the support staff and coach worked with each one of us individually. Talking about the 92 runs that I got was good for the teams cause. The team needed it at that point of time…I am glad that I could contribute and do my bit for the side. The wicket was a good one to bat on and I was middling the ball well. I was looking to play out the overs as I wanted to be there till the end. It has been a great start to the season and I am looking to carry this momentum further. As a team we are looking to win tournaments. I hope I can perform well whenever I get opportunities as I too dream to play for the country someday.”
