In a thrilling 5th round match of the MCA 76th Dr. H.D. Kanga League Cricket Tournament for the 2023-2024 season, left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar's exceptional bowling performance stole the show. His incredible figures of six wickets for just 26 runs played a pivotal role in securing a resounding victory for National CC over Regal CC. A report in the Free Press Journal mentioned that this victory was achieved on the basis of the first innings lead, and the match unfolded at the picturesque National CC ground in Cross Maidan on a Sunday.
Senior Cricketers Answer the Call
One of the noteworthy aspects of this match was the active participation of several senior players, including renowned names like Dhawal Kulkarni, representing New Hind SC, Tushar Deshpande from Parsee Gymkhana, and Siddesh Lad, who played for Hindu Gymkhana, among others. This appearance on the field was in response to a directive from MCA Secretary Ajinkya Naik, who made it mandatory for senior cricketers to participate in all MCA-affiliated tournaments if they aspired to be considered for selection in the Mumbai team for BCCI tournaments.
Regal CC's Struggle and National CC's Reply
In the initial innings, Regal CC found it challenging to set a competitive total as they were bundled out for just 75 runs in 22 overs. Darekar's brilliance was complemented by Ravinder Solanki, who contributed by taking three wickets for 20 runs. In response, National CC declared their first innings at 76 for 4 wickets in 16.1 overs, with Ayush Vartak emerging as the top scorer with a solid 41-run contribution.
Mumbai Police Gymkhana Seizes Victory
In a parallel encounter, Mumbai Police Gymkhana clinched a win against PJ Hindu Gymkhana, primarily due to their first innings lead. The bowlers led the way, with Shreyansh Bogar delivering a remarkable performance, securing four wickets for a mere 11 runs. Amol Tanpure also played a significant role, contributing three crucial wickets for 23 runs. These fine bowling efforts resulted in Hindu Gymkhana being restricted to a modest 88 for 9 declared in 34.1 overs, with Eknath Kerkar leading the scoring with 25 runs. Subsequently, Mumbai Police Gymkhana declared their first innings at 92 for 2 in 14.3 overs. Aaryaraj Nikam's rapid 42 runs, including three successive sixes off Atif Habib Attarwala, were pivotal in securing the win. Opener Sunil Patil chipped in with 39 runs.
Parkophene Cricketers vs. MIG CC
In a contrasting turn of events, the match between Parkophene Cricketers and MIG CC ended in an unfortunate abandonment. No balls were bowled, leaving both teams without a chance to showcase their skills.
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