MINISTERIAL Services Sports Club (MSSC) clinched the Vidarbha Cricket Association organised Guzder A Division title defeating Indian Gymkhana on the basis of first innings lead. After putting up a mammoth 409 in their first innings, thanks to centuries from Nachiket Bhute and Kushal Kakad, MSSC bundled out Indian Gymkhana at 236 from 71 overs to take a huge lead of 173 runs in the two-day encounter. Resuming the last day at 4-0, Indian Gymkhana could not reach anywhere near the first innings total of 409 put up by MSSC. Siddhesh Wath was the first batter to go in the second over of the morning for a nine-ball duck.

 

Then wickets fell at regular intervals and the top and middle order was in pavilion by the 24th over with the scoreboard reading 87-7. Like Bhute and Kakad resurrected MSSC’s innings, Indian Gymkhana captain Aniruddha Chaudhary and Neel Athaley delayed the inevitable with a 123-run eighth wicket stand. While Chaudhary remained unbeaten with 79 runs, Athaley contributed 63. But Athaley’s departure in the 66th over opened the gates of victory for MSSC. Kakad was the most successful bowler for MSSC with 3-31 while Gaurav Farde, Sooraj Rai and Mandar Mahale took two each.