Giles Shield: All-round Chhajer takes SVIS into summit clash

Swami Vivekanand’s Kartik Chhajer with his Player of the Match prize on Thursday. Pic/Rufus Vedanayagam

Swami Vivekanand International School (SVIS), Borivli, produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat Rizvi Springfield High School (Khar) by 47 runs and secure a place in the final on Day Three of the Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school Giles Shield semi-final at the MCA-BKC ground on Thursday.

Holding a first-innings lead of 103 runs, the SVIS boys made decisive use of their second-innings, batting on the final day. Prajwal Taware anchored the effort with a patient 41 off 86 balls (4x4). He found solid support from Sanchit Gawade, who scored a brisk 40 from 46 balls (4x4, 1x6) Their contributions helped SVIS post 128-8 in the allotted 40 overs.

Pranav Paswan (3-36 in 11 overs) was the pick of the Rizvi bowlers, while Siddhant Desai took 2-8 (off seven overs) and Abdullah Khatri claimed 2-72 off his 20 overs.

Chasing 231 in 40 overs, Rizvi failed to sustain momentum despite Siddhant Desai's 90 off 75 balls. Sujal Khot added 30, but with wickets falling at regular intervals the Bandra boys were bowled out for 184 in 38.1 overs. Daivat Kawali starred with the ball for SVIS, claiming 5-76 in 19 overs, while Kartik Chhajer provided strong support with 3-67 (off 14.1 overs).

Chhajer's all-round performance (77 and match haul of seven wickets) earned him the Player of the Match award.

SVIS will face Dnyandeep Seva Mandal (Nerul) in the final, which will be played at Brabourne Stadium, from January 20 to 22.