31 August,2026 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Parsee Gymkhana’s Mairaj Khan during the match against National CC at Cross Maidan on Sunday. Pic/Ashish Raje
[popcorn number="34" desc="The age of Parsee Gym's Mairaj Khan in years" class="Default"]
Spinners dominated the proceedings in the Dr HD Kanga Cricket League on Sunday, with Parsee Gymkhana off-spinner Mairaj Khan claiming a 12-wicket haul to help his team register an innings and 16 run-victory over hosts National CC in a Div âA' game at Cross Maidan.
Put into bat, National were bundled out for just 57 in 23.1 overs, with Mairaj returning 5-8. In reply, openers Pranay Kapadia (41 not out) and Ayush Vartak (44 not out) helped Parsee Gymkhana declare at 130-2 in 23 overs. National struggled again in their second essay and were bowled out for 57 in 23.5 overs; Mairaj 7-18.
Mairaj, 34, who is also a MCA-qualified umpire and has been officiating at inter-school and MCA matches for the last couple of years, was delighted with his best âA' Division performance. "I had never taken a 10-wicket haul in the Kanga League before, so this is my best performance. I wanted to challenge myself and see whether I'm good enough to better myself," Mairaj told mid-day. Interestingly, Parsee Gymkhana won without their ace left-arm spinner Shams Mulani bowling a single over. Mulani returned from Bengaluru after playing the Duleep Trophy quarter-final for West Zone against North Zone, where he scored 52 and claimed 4-78.
Meanwhile, Mumbai off-spinner Tanush Kotian postponed his trip to Bengaluru by a day to play in the Kanga League. He was scheduled to join the Mumbai team for their Dr K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy match on Tuesday.
Kotian, who plays for Shivaji Park Youngsters (SPY), returned figures of 5-83 as hosts Islam Gymkhana won by virtue of a first-innings lead after scoring 234 all out, with opener Amogh Bhatkal top-scoring with 87. SPY were bowled out for 113, with left-arm spinner Vinayak Bhoir claiming 5-56.
"I wanted to play here to test my bowling ahead of Mumbai's next match in Bengaluru starting on Tuesday. It was tough to bowl today as the pitch was batting-friendly," Kotian told mid-day.
In another Div âA' match at PJ Hindu Gym, Victory CC wicketkeeper-batter Pratik Yadav smashed an 113 NO (6x4, 4x6) in a drawn encounter. Victory posted 269-4, while PJ Hindu replied with 157-3; Sahil Jadhav scoring 64.
At Shivaji Park Gymkhana, New Hind SC skipper Aaditya Parab scored 110 (16x4, 1x6) as his team posted 210 all out. SPY replied with 168-4.
In a Div âD' match at Azad Maidan, left-arm spinner Prabhanjan Patade's 11-wicket haul (6-14 and 5-33) helped Gaud Saraswat beat United Friends by virtue of first innings lead. In reply to United Friends's 76 all out, Gaud Saraswat declared at 136-4 in the first essay. United Friends were bowled out for 72 in the second innings.
