U-19 chief selector and Parkophene spinner Rajesh stuns Police with 6 for 0; one of his three scalps in second dig includes age-group player Agni Chopra
Parkophene Cricketers' left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar (right) in full cry against Mumbai Police during a Kanga League match at the Police Gymkhana yesterday. Pic/Prakash Parsekar
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It seems the Police Gymkhana on Marine Drive enjoy hosting left-arm spinners. Two Sunday's ago, India under-19 tweaker Harmeet Singh bagged nine wickets in an innings for Payyade Sports Club and demolished Greater Mumbai Police Sports Club in the Dr HD Kanga Cricket League.
Yesterday, another left-arm spinner — Rajesh Pawar —thrived at the Kennedy Sea Face venue with a match haul of nine wickets for Parkophene Cricketers, who beat Mumbai Police on the first innings. Mumbai Police were bowled out for 19 with skipper Pawar claiming six for no run in his six-over spell.
Pawar, the chairman of the Mumbai under-19 selection panel, was deadly and it's unlikely he bowled such a devastating spell in his playing days which included the 1999-2000 Ranji Trophy-winning season for Mumbai.
Police all out for 19
Pawar decided to send his opposition in and ensured Mumbai Police were all out for 19 in just 23.2 overs. Pacer Badrey Alam claimed two for 12 while left-arm pacer Atif Attarwala and leg-spinner Ankit Soni took one apiece.
In reply, Parkophene declared their first innings on four for 70 with Arman Jaffer scoring an unbeaten 24. Armed with a 51-run lead, the visitors tried their best to go for an outright win but had to be content with three points as Mumbai Police showed better determination to end the day with 101 for five. Pawar bowled splendidly in the second innings as well to claim three for 29 in 14 overs.
"I have bowled even before, but maybe luck was in my favour today as I got six wickets without conceding a run which is quite rare. They tried to stay at the wicket and survive but it was my day today," Pawar told mid-day.
Teenager Agni Chopra, who top scored nine runs during his 37-ball stay at the wicket in the first innings for Mumbai Police, proved effective in the second innings with 21 off 36 balls.
The left-handed batsman, who led Mumbai under-19 in late JY Lele one-day tournament in Baroda recently, had an opportunity to play against his chief selector Pawar while another under-19 selector Santosh Shinde is his Police Gymkhana teammate.
"The best way is to lead by example and Rajesh Pawar sir did that today. Any bowler looking up to him can be inspired by his performance," Agni said.
Raut stars for Dadar Union
In another Division 'A' match, Dadar Union SC earned three points against DY Patil SA at Oval Maidan. Batting first, Yashasvi Jaiswal (30), Tanush Kotian (28) and Hardik Tamore (25) helped the Dadar side to score 108. Left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah claimed four for 44 while medium pacer Veenit Sinha, off-spinner Sarfaraz Shaikh and leg-spinner Pravin Tambe captured two wickets each for the Navi Mumbai team.
Dadar Union pacer Siddharth Raut's six for 42 helped dismiss DY Patil for 101 for a first-innings win. The only DY Patil batsman who showed some patience was Shubham Ranjane (33).
Siddhesh Lad
Siddhesh slams ton
At Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG), Payyade SC's Mumbai Ranji Trophy batsman Siddhesh Lad scored an unbeaten 100. Payyade declared at 208/9 as left-arm spinner Shams Mulani and pacer Darshan Bandekar claimed four and three wickets respectively for SPG, who were later assisted by Kunal Chalke (71 not out) and Akash Anand (49) in a draw.
Pradhan scores ton
At Bandra East, opener Swapnil Pradhan (101) and Akash Parkar (77) were the principal scorers for MIG Cricket Club who totalled 242 for 2 declared against Sind SC. Sind ended the day with 43 for four.
U-19 chief selector Pawar eyes comeback
MUMBAI'S under-19 chief selector Rajesh Pawar, 38, is aiming for a comeback to first-class cricket. Pawar had astonishing figures of 6-6-0-6 with his left-arm spin for Parkophene against Mumbai Police yesterday.
Pawar has played 84 first-class matches in which he claimed 281 wickets while representing Mumbai and Baroda. "I am enjoying my bowling and feel I still can play first-class cricket successfully. If I get a chance, I am ready for it," said Pawar, who is open to resume his wicket-taking ways at the domestic level for any team. "If Pravin Tambe can make his Ranji Trophy debut at 41, then anything is possible. I will try to keep my fitness levels up," Pawar promised.
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