Kanga Cricket League: Matkar, Parkar bring CCI back in title hunt

CCI’s Dhrumil Matkar during his 11-wicket match haul against National CC at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday; (right) CCI’s Suved Parkar en route his 40-ball 72 against National CC. PICS/ASHISH RAJE

Four-time champions Cricket Club of India (CCI) revived their Dr HD Kanga Cricket League Division ‘A' title hopes with an innings-and-42-run win over National Cricket Club at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.

CCI, who had managed just six points from four games, earned six vital points from this outright win to join Parsee Gymkhana at the top with 12 points each. Islam Gymkhana is also in the race, having secured 11 points after five games.

Put into bat, National were bowled out for 66 in 22 overs, with left-arm spinner Dhrumil Matkar claiming 6-32 and pacer Sarthak Bhide taking 3-19.

CCI then replied strongly, with Suved Parkar smashing a 40-ball 72 (5x4, 7x6). Skipper Akash Anand scored 39 off 40 balls, while Chinmay Sutar remained unbeaten on 30 off 17 balls as CCI declared at 161-4.

In the second innings, National folded for just 53. Matkar finished with match haul of 11 wickets (6-32 and 5-17), while pacer Akash Parkar and left-arm spinner Kartik Mishra took two wickets each.

Matkar, 30, who has represented Mumbai in four first-class games, said: "Winning an outright match with one bonus point is a big plus and the most pleasing thing is that my performance is helping the team stay in the race for the top spot. Suved also played a top-class knock on this challenging wicket."

Parkar said: "It was a typical Kanga League wicket where spinners were getting good turn and there was some help for the pacers as well. But when I was batting with Akash Anand, we decided to score runs as fast as we could."

Another Division ‘A' game between Parsee Gymkhana and Shivaji Park Youngsters ended in a draw. Parsee Gymkhana declared at 172-7, with Saqib Mulani scoring 37. SPY reached 137-8 at stumps, with opener Swaraj Parulkar making 40.

In another draw, PJ Hindu Gymkhana were bowled out for 243 against Islam Gymkhana, with Uday Gaikar scoring 60. Left-arm spinner Vinayak Bhoir took 5-60. Islam Gymkhana were 112-3 at stumps.

In Division ‘B', Police Gymkhana declared at 242-7 against Muslim United SC, with Tanish Meher unbeaten on 155. Muslim United were 67-4 at stumps.