MUMBAI, January 20: Rubesh Kumar, the wicket-keeper batsman of IES English, played a courageous innings of 85 which helped his team to score 225 in 74.4 overs against Balmohan Vidyamandir on the first day of the four-day final (two innings of 75-overs each) of the Harris Shield (under-16) Inter-School Cricket Tournament, sponsored by Thums-up at MIG ground, Bandra.At end of the first day, IES English had prised out two Balmohan wickets for 27. Medium pacer Prathamesh Athavale scalped both the wickets.After winning the toss, IES English decided to bat and their openers Sumarian Mehta and Rubesh Kumar put on 38 runs.After Mehta (24: 4x4) became the first victim of left-arm spinner Mandar Deorukhkar, stumped by wicket-keeper Amaya Desai, IES English lost two more wickets quickly. Vineet Indulkar (0) was stumped off Deorukhkar while Rahul Yadav was run-out for 6.After lunch, IES English lost the prize wicket of Prathamesh, who was shaping well but got run-out by direct throw from Bhansali. He made 32 off 50 balls with four hits to the ropes.Bhavin Thakkar then gave Rubesh Kumar good company and the duo carried the IES score from 107 to 164. Thakkar (20: 4x4) was then prised out by off-spinner Harshad Rawle. Thereafter IES English lost wickets at regular intervals even as Rubesh Kumar (85: 203b, 12x4, 1x6) kept his end going. He was eighth out, stumped off Deorukhar, who was the most successful bowler with four for 56 off 29.4 overs.Balmohan began badly losing their in-form opener Shashank Kale on very first ball of the innings. He was caught behind off medium-pacer Athavale. Vaibhav Watigaonkar and Jayesh Naik carried the total to 24, when Athavale struck again to send back Naik (12).Brief scores: IES English 225 (Rubesh Kumar 85, Sumarian Mehta 24, Prathamesh Athavale 32; Mandar Deorukhkar 4-56) vs Balmohan Vidyamandir 27-2 (Prathamesh Athavale 2-13)
