Umrigar XI win Express Trophy

Earlier, deciding to make the first use of the track after winning the toss, Shastri XI skipper Vijay Singh (67) led from the front forging an opening stand of 53 with Prasad Manjrekar (8) and then raised 63 runs for the third wicket with Arjun Mistry (22). Rohit Bhalla (31), who was forced to retire owing to dehydration, Wilkin Mota (43) and Prathmesh Athawle (37 not out) brought up the rear in fine fashion to set a healthy target.

Barring left-arm spinner Shakti Prasad (3-44), who was adjudged the Sportstar Trophy player of the tournament yesterday, none of the other bowlers could make an impact on the rival batsmen.

In reply, Umrigar XI were in trouble having lost two early wickets with 21 runs on the board. However, skipper Mane held the innings together with fruitful alliances. Mane and Shaikh strung a 50-run partnership for the third wicket and after the latter’s departure, the Umrigar XI skipper found an able ally in Khanvilkar while joining hands for a 56-run partnership. But Mane’s dismissal in the 26th over slowed the run-rate as Khanvilkar and wicket-keeper Shetye went about doing the repair job adding 59 runs for the fifth wicket. And when Khanvilkar departed trying to force the pace, the target seemed to be a tall order with victory another 59 runs away off 46 balls.

But Pandit, who had been wayward with ball giving away 14 wides, made amends by realising 35 valuable runs off 26 balls for the seventh wicket with the Ashish Dabholkar (15). Though Dabholkar was run out on the first ball of the last over, Vaibhav Dhokre (8 not out) knocked off two boundaries to settle the issue.

The Mumbai Cricket Association selectors awarded the man of the match award worth Rs 5000 to Khanvilkar.

The prize distribution function of the event will be held on October 24 (Sunday) alongwith the Loksatta under-16 limited overs tournament which will conclude on the same date.

SCOREBOARD

RAVI SHASTRI XI

Prasad Manjrekar st Shetye b Prasad 8 (36b, 54m, 1×4)

Vijay Singh lbw b Prasad 67 (67b, 113m, 6×4)

Manish Rawre c Shetye b Prasad 5 (11b, 7m, 1×4)

Arjun Mistry run out (Aziz Shaikh) 22 (47b, 52m, 3×4)

Rohit Bhalla retired 31 (35b, 48m, 1×4)

Wilkin Mota st Shetye b Shaikh 43 (45b, 35m, 4×4)

Prathmesh Athawle not out 37 (21b, 23m, 3×4, 1×6)

Shripad Sansare not out 6 (9b, 9m)

Extras: (lb1, nb1, w23) 25

Total: (for five wickets in 45 overs) 244

Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Manjrekar), 2-61 (Rawre), 3-124 (Vijay), 4-124 (Mistry), 5-187 (Mota).

Bowling: Surendra Yadav 9-1-44-0 (4w); Agam Pandit 4-0-25-0 (1nb, 14w), Onkar Khanvilkar 8-0-47-0 (3w), Shakti Prasad 9-1-44-3, Vaibhav Dhokre 7-0-27-0 (1w), Aziz Shaikh 8-0-56-1 (1w)

POLLY UMRIGAR XI

Vinayak Mane c Bhatkar b Sansare 55 (73b, 99m, 4×4)

Rubesh Kumar run out (Sansare) 1 (6b, 15m)

Pankaj Moraskar lbw b Ganpule 0 (1b, 1m)

Aziz Shaikh b Vijay Singh 32 (27b, 33m, 4×4)

Onkar Khanvilkar c Rawre b Bhatkar 69 (83b, 90m, 7×4)

Abhijit Shetye c Sansare b Bhalla 28 (43b, 53m, 1×4)

Agam Pandit not out 26 (21b, 34m, 1×4)

Ashish Dabholkar run out (Ganpule) 15 (12b, 19m, 2×4)

Vaibhav Dhokre not out 8 (4b, 3m, 2×4)

Extras: (2b, 5lb, 1nb, 6w) 14

Total: (for seven wickets in 44.5 overs) 248

Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Rubesh), 2-21 (Moraskar), 3-71 (Shaikh), 4-127 (Mane), 5-186 (Khanvilkar), 6-205 (Shetye), 7-240 (Dabholkar).

Bowling: Rohan Ganpule 6-1-27-1, Prathmesh Athawle 8.5-0-53-0 (1nb, 2w), Wilkin Mota 5-0-40-0 (1w), Siddarth Bhatkar 9-0-37-1 (2w), Vijay Singh 5-0-26-1 (1w), Shripad Sansare 9-0-46-1, Rohit Bhalla 2-0-12-1.

Result: Polly Umrigar XI won by three wickets.

Man of the Match: Onkar Khanvilkar.