Balmohan emerge Parle Super Cup cricket champs

Mumbai, Feb 16 (UNI) Balmohan Vidyamandir maintained the fine form that had carried them to their maiden final of the 7th Parle Super Cup under-17 inter-school cricket tournament, outplaying I.E.S. V N Sule Guruji by seven wickets in the 45 overs final at the Police Gymkhana, here today.

The decision to bat first after winning the toss seemed to have backfired as Sule Guruji were bowled out for 175 in 44.4 overs. Once again it was left-arm spinner Gaurav Jathar who got the bulk of wickets, finishing with figures of 3 for 23. Leg break bowler Kaustubh Kolambkar and off break bowler Ashutosh Ghagre chipped in with two wickets each.

Balmohan Vidyamandir began their reply in a confident fashion with openers Parth M N and Sumeet Ghadigaonkar putting on 34 runs for the first wicket. After Ghadigaonkar departed for 18, Parth and one down bat Ravi Shinde put on 70 runs for the second wicket before the latter departed for 58. Parth continued to make a disciplined half ton before he was bowled trying to sweep a full length ball from Akash Dharankar. However, there was no need to panic as captain Rahul Deochake, who remained unbeaten on 38 and bowling hero Gaurav Jathar saw the team through with an unbeaten partnership of 47 runs.

The winning team took home the attractive trophy and a purse of Rs 15,000, while the runner-up team earned Rs 9,000.

There was some solace for Sule Guruji as Shivprakash Jaiswal was adjudged the man of the series thanks to his scoring 143 runs and taking 8 wickets for 117 runs in 4 matches.

Balmohan's Ravi Shinde was adjudged the best batsman on account of his 188 runs from 4 matches, while teammate Gaurav Jathar emerged the best bowler with 9 wickets for 72 runs from 4 matches.

Brief Scores: I.E.S. V. N. Sule Guruji (Dadar) 175 all out in 44.6 overs (Akshay Dani 36, Adish Vaidya 31, Akash Parkar 29, Shivprakash Jaiswal 16; Ashutosh Ghagre 2-26; Kaustubh Kolambkar 2-39; Gaurav Jathar 3-23) lost to Balmohan Vidyamandir 176 for 3 in 41 overs (Parth M.N. 56, Ravi Shinde 38, Rahul Deochake 38 not out, Gaurav Jathar 18 not out; Shivprakash Jaiswal 2-34; Akash Dharankar 1-19).

Man of the Match: Parth M. N.

Man of the Series: Shivprakash Jaiswal (I.E.S. V. N. Sule Guruji (Dadar) (143 runs and 8 wickets for 117 runs in 4 matches).

Best Batsman: Ravi Shinde (Balmohan Vidyamandir) (188 runs in 4 matches).

Best Bowler: Gaurav Jathar (Balmohan Vidyamandir) (9 wickets for 72 runs in 4 matches).

UNI