Datafriends thump FCC in Finals and pilfer 1st FCC T20 Crown
Datafriends thump FCC by 6 wkt in finals and pilfer 1st FCC T20 crown at All Saints School ground, Bhiwandi on 2nd May’2015.
We saw 3 back to back rousing T20 games in a day between 4 teams who were fighting hard each second to win the game but finally the teams who played greater Cricket, enthused ahead. Here we present the concise details for our readers:-
Semifinal-1 : Cricket Club of Dombivli (CCD) V/s Datafriends (Result – Datafriends won by 4 wkts)
7th match of the tournament and 1st knock out game i.e. Semifinal-1 was played between CCD & Datafriends. CCD Captain Mangesh won the toss and elected to Bat first. In 2nd over of the innings (bowled by Rohidas), CCD opener Advait cracked 4 back to back boundaries and on last of ball of the over; Advait tried clearing the field over rope, but the dream came to an end when the 5th continuous hit of an over converted into a catch by Vaibhav Mali (who is currently playing for Mumbai Under 23 team) running from long on towards deep mid wicket. It was surely a catch of the tournament. Advait made cracking 18 in 8 balls (4×4). After Advait, Girish More tried to escalate the score but wicket keeper Mangesh who was standing close behind the stumps on fast bowling of Nikhil, collected a bowl and stumped Girish More within a fraction of seconds. Other CCDians too tried to put a big total in front of Datafriends, but could not succeed and wickets kept on falling for CCD at small intervals. The highest score from CCD was 26 in 25 balls (4×4) by captain Mangesh & Yogesh scored 12 in 15 (2×4). The other batsmen did not reach a double digit figure. Datafriends bowler as usual bowled a tight line and restricted CCD to 100 taking 9 wkts. Vaibhav Mali (left arm spin) & Tushar (right arm spin) varied their spin and length almost on each ball. Vaibhav took 3 wkts in 4 overs conceding only 7 runs with 1 maiden over and Tushar’s bowling figure was (4-0-14-1). Other bowling figures were Nikhil (4-1-11-2), Rohidas (2-0-28-1), Santosh (2-0-13-0), Sudhir (4-0-23-1).
During a small chase of 101, Datafriends opener Nikhil & Vaibhav gave a partnership of 55 in 5 overs. Captain cool Mangesh stepped up forward and took 5th over of the innings to bowl with a field like 2 sleeps, 1 gully, 1 point, 1 silly point which was so accurate that it put pressure on Vaibhav and Vaibhav got out at 1st sleep with a great diving catch by Sandesh. Vaibhav scored 25 in (3×4, 2×6). The same field kept on by Mangesh in his next 2 overs and put his best effort to take the wickets. But he could not make it. Datafriends achieved target in 9.5 overs and won the game by 6 wkts entering the finals. Bowling figures of CCD were Hitesh (2-0-21-0), Girish (1-0-12-0), Mangesh (3-0-24-4), Ajit (1.5-0-10-0), Machindra (1-0-8-0).
Semifinal-2 : FCC V/s Thane Advocate (Result – FCC won by 5 wkts)
8th match of the tournament and 2nd knock out game i.e. Semifinal-2 was played between Thane Advocate & host FCC. Captain Mangesh decided to Bat first giving FCC a 1st chase of tournament. Rohan started well with the strokes initially and failed to kept the momentum. Both openers of Advocates returned pavilion in quick succession at team score of 32 & 36. Rohan scored 24 in 22 (4×4) & his partner Sagar made 7 in 6 (1×4). After these quick wkts, Raj & Nikhil took over the charge and made partnership of 46 in 40 balls. Raj scored 46 in 39 (7×4) and Nikhil picked 19 in 21 (2×4). Towards the end of the innings, Kundan (26 in 15, 4×4, 1×6) helped Advocates to reach a respectable total of 143 loosing 7 wkts. Captain Ashish bowled his best bowling of the tournament so far giving 20 runs in 4 overs taking 2 wkts. Other shiny bowlers of FCC were Vikrant (3-0-13-2), Ankit (3-0-17-1), Prashant (2-0-16-1).
Target of 144 looked very comfortable in front of Strong & Experienced batting line up of FCC. However after loosing a wicket of opener Prashant (15 in 16, 2×4) in 6th over on score of 35, the other veteran opener Manoj played a sensible innings making a quick fire partnership of 46 in 37 balls with Hiren (14 in 12, 2×4). The partnership was damaged by Pratap taking a wicket of Hiren in 12th over of innings. After this 2nd wkt, Advocates tried to wrap up the game swiftly taking more 2 wkts, putting a pressure on FCC. However Manoj used his experience and kept on playing his game hitting square cuts, pulls, cover drives, straight drives covering 50% of the target. Manoj scored a colossal 73 in 56 balls hitting 9 boundaries & 3 massive sixes before returning pavilion. Manoj scored highest individual score of the tournament. After loosing Manoj, Captain Ashish stepped in but could not open his account. It felt that this will put a lot of pressure on Deepak at the other end, nevertheless it did not affected breezy Deepak and he gave a victory for his team in 19th over hitting 33* in mere 19 balls (4×4, 1×6). FCC won the game by 5 wkts and entered into Finals. Like in previous matches, Thane Advocate tried to convert the game into their pockets, but could not manage it completely. Best bowling figures from the Thane Advocate were Ninad (4-0-19-2), Vishal (3.1-0-20-0), Rohan (3-0-25-1), Pratap (3-0-28-2).
FINAL : FCC V/s Datafriends (Datafriends won by 6 wkts.)
After winning the toss, FCC decided to bat 1st into a Big Final to put a gigantic total for Datafriends. But continuously 2nd time in a day, opener Prashant failed to put a score. Vaibhav Mali who bowled a 1st change for Datafriends, took a wicket of Prashant in 3rd over. From there on, veteran Manoj once again took a charge for FCC and continued his great batting of semi’s into Finals. Manoj scored his 2nd fifty of the tournament in 41 balls hitting 8 fours & 1 six. Manoj was stumped at 50 runs by keeper Mangesh on bowling of Santosh. Manoj did not get support from other FCCians as expected. Towards the end of innings, Imtiaz scored 20* in 20 (3×4), Ankit (12 in 8, 1×4, 1×6), Hiren (12 in 8, 3×4). Datafriends bowled out FCC to 132. Datafriends bowler specially Spinners duo (Vaibhav & Tushar) once again bowled a perfect length & spin varying the line on every ball. Bowling figures for Datafriends are Nikhil Pawar (1-0-11-0), Kuldeep (4-0-29-1), Vaibhav (4-0-13-2), Rohidas (3-0-16-1), Santosh (4-0-34-2), Sudhir (1-0-10-0), Tushar (3-0-17-3).
To chase a Target of 133, Datafriends (DF) were in need of 6.65 runs per over which was a bit easy for batting line up of DF. Captain Ashish took the responsibility and opened the bowling. As expected opener Nikhil Patil & Vaibhav gave a start of 35 in just 2.4 overs. But a much needed break through for FCC was given by Ashish in 3rd over with a wicket of Vaibhav (28 in 11, 1×4, 3×6) followed by a wicket of “Wall” Sudhir (3 in 4). Sudhir got out with thick edge on a bowling of Prashant and catch was superbly taken by keeper Hiren. Santosh & Nikhil kept on moving the score after fall of 2 quick wickets, and made a 3rd wkt partnership of 34 in 29 balls. Santosh scored 23 in 15 hitting 3 fours and 1 six before getting out as LBW on bowling of Ankit. FCC kept on fighting hard, but could not succeed in front of strong will power of Nikhil Patil who scored 39* in 46 balls hitting 5 fours. Nikhil was well supported to complete the target by Anmol (12 in 12, 1×4) and Tushar (17* in 8, 4×4). DF managed the target in 15.5 overs with 6 wkts left and clinch the 1st ever FCC T20 crown easily. Bowling figures from FCC were Ashish (3-0-31-1), Prashant (2-0-22-1), Akshay (2-0-16-0), Pandurang (2-0-16-0), Ankit (1-0-7-1), Vikrant (2-0-12-0), Manoj (3-0-24-1).
It was a 1st tournament organized by FCC (efforts taken completely by Mr. Subbu, Hiren, Dr. Ashish & FCC Team) in 3 days (25th / 26th April & 2nd May’15) with MCA Umpires Shri. Upasani, Shri. Vilas Jadhav & Shri. Sengupta and MCA scorer Shri. Anant Kuperkar.
(Article by Sachin Rajput, Sr. Editor – Cricketgraph)