Akash hits ton as Kanga Cricket League kicks in

CCI spinners Dhrumil Matkar (left) and Tanvish Vaze. Pic/Shadab Khan

Bowlers were expected to rule the roost when the 76th edition of the Dr HD Kanga Cricket League got off to a delayed start on Sunday. But it was a batsman who deserved equal or more kudos for scoring a hundred on Day One of Mumbai's best-loved cricket league.

At the Brabourne Stadium, Cricket Club of India's Akash Anand smashed an unbeaten 101 (7x4) for the Churchgate team to declare at 201-5 against Sind Sports Club in the ‘A' division. CCI were also helped by Akhil Herwadkar's 51. In reply, Sind were bundled out for just 29 inside 30 overs. Off-spinner Tanvish Vaze and left-arm spinner Dhrumil Matkar claimed four and three wickets respectively for CCI. Aditya Dhumal was Sind's highest scorer with eight in 43 balls.

"The pitch was damp, so it was challenging to bat on. Our bowlers' efforts made this win even more special. It doesn't feel so special when you score a hundred and the game ends in a draw. But after we bundled them out inside 30, the value of my century increased even more for me. So, a lot of credit goes to our bowlers," Anand told mid-day.

Surve claims hat trick

Meanwhile, former champions PJ Hindu Gymkhana and Parsee Gymkhana suffered first innings defeats to Karnatak Sporting Association (KSA) and Police Gymkhana respectively. Put into bat on their home pitch, KSA were bowled out for 74; Rakesh Prabhu (12 not out) and Gaurish Jadhav (12) being the highest scorers for the Cross Maidan club. PJ Hindu's left-arm spinner Atharva Bhosale claimed eight for 26.

Police Gymkhana pacer Amol Tanpure, who claimed six wickets

The visitors faced the heat too when their turn came to bat. KSA pacer Aishwarya Surve (9-6-5-5) claimed a hat trick while left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan and pacer Prabhu claimed two wickets apiece, efforts which helped bundled out PJ Hindu for a mere 33 in 21.4 overs. "Even though we had a low total on the board, we were confident of hitting the right areas and bowling our opponents out. I have had a few fifers in the Kanga League, but this is a special performance for me as I claimed my maiden hat trick in this tournament and it helped us win," said Surve.

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Tanpure shines for Police

At the Parsee Gymkhana, pacer Amol Tanpure (6.1-1-13-6) of Police Gymkhana helped bowl out the hosts for 84. In reply, Police Gymkhana declared their first innings at 85-8 with Yogesh Patil top-scoring 40 (2x4, 3x6). "To dish out a match-winning performance against a team like Parsee Gym is a huge achievement, I think. Ahead of this match, our [Police Gymkhana] sports secretary Sanjay Nikam sir told us that it is really important thing to beat Parsee Gym at their own ground and we did it," Tanpure remarked.

At National Cricket Club, Cross Maidan, the hosts narrowly escaped defeat while replying to Payyade Sports Club's score of 156. National were 69 for nine at one stage, but they crossed the line as No.11 batsman Asif Shaikh (not out 0) played out the last two balls bowled by off-spinner Aryan Patni (3-10). Earlier, Bhupen Lalwani and Sahil Jadhav scored 46 and 30 respectively for Payyade SC. Spinners Akshay Darekar and Ravinder Solanki claimed four and three wickets respectively for National.