MINISTERIAL Services Sports Club (MSSC) skipper Mandar Mahale and Aniket Pande hit tons but SGR Sports Academy tail denied the former a win in their Group A match of MN Dorairajan Trophy at NSSM 1 Ground, Jamtha on Sunday. After bundling out SGR for a paltry 64, MSSC, who started the final day at 274-4, continued the onslaught with the bat as overnight not out batters Mandar (130; 98b, 16x4, 2x6) and Aniket (102*; 76b, 9x4, 3x6) slammed quick hundreds to take the team to a massive score of 405-5 in 60.4 overs before declaration. In-form Pande, who did well with the willow in preceding Guzder ‘A’ Division tournament, remained unbeaten.

 

After conceding a massive first innings lead of 341 runs and staring at an innings defeat, SGR batters, particularly their tail, came good in the second essay and by end of the third and final day’s play, they were 175-8 in 78 overs. MSSC felt short by two wickets for what would have been a deserving win. BRIEF SCORES At VCA’s Kalamna, Ground (Group A): XI Star CC 194 and 276 beat Advocate XI 167 and 128 all out in 44.1 overs (Pratik Lokare 37; Dipak Jangid 3-20, Arnav Sinha 3-8) by 175 runs. At SB City College Ground (Group A): Indian Gymkhana 173 all out and 221-7 decl in 42.5 overs (Prabhal Choukhande 55, Om Dhotre 44, Aniruddha Choudhary 63 not out; Kunal Nagar 6-50) beat VMV CC 80 and 280 all out in 58.3 overs (Himanshu Bante 96, Kush Sharma 40, Saisha Bhise 37; Armaan Aslam 3-34, Om Dhotre 3-52) by 34 runs. At NSSM, Ground 1, Jamtha Group A: SGR Sports Academy 64 and 175-8 drew with MSSC 1st innings 405-5 in 60.4 overs (Gaurav Nikam 36, Vedant Jajoo 33, Mandar Mahale 130, Shivam Deshmukh 36, Aniket Pande 102 not out). Result: Drawn; MSSC took first innings lead.

 

At VCA Civil Lines Stadium (Group B): MRCC 232 and 71 all out in 18.4 overs (Akshay Karnewar 5-16, Shantanu Chikhale 5-15) lost to Navniketan 246 and 61-2 in 7.4 overs (Yash Kadam 38 not out) by 8 wickets. At Central Railway Ground (Group B): Reshimbagh Gymkhana 251 and 283-9 in 74.3 overs (Prathamesh Kumbhare 46, Shree Choudhary 64, Sandesh Durugwar 63 not out; Gaurav Barabde 7-100) beat Qidwai 333 and 183 all out in 44.1 overs (Robin Singh 48, Anuj Lande 46; Sandesh Durugwar 5-50, Sandesh Barbe 3-45) by 18 runs. At Gurunanak College of Pharmacy Ground (Group B): All India Reporter 205 and 237 all out in 51.1 over (Daksh Yadav 84, Vaibhav Chouksey 35, Satyam Bhoyar 39; Aditya Kukde 7-97) lost to Ruby Colts 324 and 123-3 in 21.2 overs by 7 wkts.

 

YOUNG and upcoming off-spinner Arnav Sinha took first hat-trick of the tournament guiding Eleven Star Cricket Club to a convincing 175-run win over Advocate XI in their Group A match at VCA’s Kalamna, Ground. XI Star made 194 in their first innings and then stopped Advocate XI at 167. Riding on Malhar Dosi’s 125, XI Star made 276 in their second innings and set a target of 304 runs. With a hat-trick from Arnav, who took a five-wicket haul in his debut game last season, and some incisive bowling by Deepak Jangid, who finished with seven wickets from the match, XI Star shot out Advocate XI for 128.