Springs Sports Academy lifts Under-16 title while G Force Cricket Academy emerges Under-14 winners in the Vision Inter Academy Cricket tournament

 By K.R. Nayar

Springs Sports Academy restrict Maxtalent Cricket Academy in Under-16 final through some deadly bowling from Angad Nehru and Jeffin Saad and backed by Deepak Gajraj’s unbeaten half century to win by seven wickets.  G Force Cricket Academy’s impressive batting from Shane Saldhan, skipper Sahib Abhichandani and one-drop batsman Ridhay Bhatia stops Desert Cubs DPS by 66 runs in the Under-14 final

Springs Sports Academy, Under-16 champions 

The Vision Inter Academy Cricket tournament for Under-16 and Under-14 boys produced intense contests between the bat and ball.  This tournament was organized by and held at the Vision Cricket Centre that is located in Sharjah. This picturesque venue has six lush green turf grounds and is well- equipped with floodlights. Leading cricket academies in the UAE contested in both age categories of the tournament.  

Maxtalent Cricket Academy, Under-16 runners-up

Mazhar Khan of Sharjah Cricket Council gave away the prizes in the presence of Alok Choubisa who has envisioned Vision Cricket Centre. It was a delight to be present amidst a bunch of budding cricketers for the presentation ceremony. 

The Under-16 event was contested by Springs Sports Academy,  Desert Cubs Academy,  Max Talent Cricket Academy,  Tellicherry Cricket Academy, G Force Cricket Academy and Cricket Spero.

The Under-14 category was contested by Tellicherry Cricket Academy,  G Force Cricket Academy, Ace Cricket Academy, Desert Cubs Cricket Academy and Springs Sports Academy.

Angad, Jeffin and Gajraj shine in Springs Academy triumph 

Springs Sports Academy emerged champions of the Vision Inter Academy Cricket tournament for Under-16 boys defeating Maxtalent Cricket Academy by seven wickets in the finals. 

Batting first, Maxtalent was restricted to 113 for 9 in the allotted 30 overs. They paid the price for a poor start, losing their first five batsmen for just 11 runs. Both openers Cleon Sequeira and Akshat Rai fell for duck to the fine bowling from Jeffin Saad. Springs’ Angad Nehru removed one-drop batsman Aden D’Souza for 1, Saqib Palekar for a duck and Gaurav Bhavnani for 4.  

Gaurav Bhavnani, winner of the best player and best bowler award

None expected Maxtalent to cross the 100-run mark but for the determined batting from the rest of the batsmen. Neel Prasad hit 11 runs while Muhammad Ishan Khan chipped in with 13 runs.  Namal Behl too contributed 13 runs.  A fighting unbeaten knock from wicketkeeper-batsman Trinav Singh (27n.o) and Bhavik Kumar (14n.o) took the score from 78 for 9 to a 113. Angad returned with figures of 3 for 18 while Jeffin picked two wickets for 22.

Vishnu Menon Ranjith, winner of best batsman award

Chasing the target, Springs got off to a shaky start. Opener Ardhya fell caught and bowled by Saqib Palekar for 11 while Namal Behl clean bowled opener Vishnu Renjit for 8. Two wickets down for 20, Deepak Gajraj walked in, and along with Abdullah Tarique (32), put on 56 runs for the third wicket. Gajraj went on to crack an unbeaten 51 runs off 45 balls with six boundaries. Abduallah’s run-a-ball knock too had six boundaries. Springs won the match in 18.4 overs.

Deepak Gajraj, winner of the man of the final award

Brief scores
Under-16 final: Springs Sports Academy bt Maxtalent Cricket Academy by 7 wkts.  Maxtalent Cricket Academy 113 for 9 in 30 overs (Trinav Singh 27n.o, Angad Nehru 3 for 18, Jeffin Saad 2 for 22). Springs Sports Academy 114 for 3 in 18.4 overs (Deepak Gajraj 51n.o, Abdullah Tarique 32)
Man of the final: Deepak Gajraj 51n.o in 45 balls (Springs Sports Academy )
Best Fielder: Vansh Kumar - Dismissals : 11 (G Force Academy )

Best Bowler: Gaurav Bhavnani – Wickets : 11 (Maxtalent)

Best Batsman: Vishnu Menon Ranjith – Runs 291 (Springs Sports Academy)

Best Player of the Tournament: Gaurav Bhavnani (Maxtalent)

 

Shane, Sahib and Ridhay steer G Force to Under-14 title

Riding on the super knocks from their top order batsmen opener Shane Saldhan (48), skipper Sahib Abhichandani (58) and one-drop batsman Ridhay Bhatia (55), G Force Cricket Academy recorded a 66-runs win over Desert Cubs DPS in the final of the Vision Inter Academy Cricket Cricket tournament for Under-14 boys.

G Force Cricket Academy, Under-14 champions 

Openers Shane and Sahib put on an 86-runs partnership  in just 11.5 overs to give a quick start to the innings. Shahib was the first to go, caught by Aarav Hariharan at mid-wicket off Hemant Rao.  His knock of 58 came off 37 balls with nine boundaries.

Desert Cubs Cricket Academy, under-14 runners-up 

Shane and Ridhay took the score to 142 when Swayam clean bowled  Shane who was just two runs short of his half century. Shane’s 48 came off 58 balls with four boundaries. Ridhay completed his half century and added another 30 runs with Saif Ali Khan (22).  

Sahib Abhichandani, winner of the best player, best batsman and man of the final award

An excellent fielding display from Aarav Hariharan ended the innings of Saif through a fine throw from the covers. Aarav also ran out Ridhay off the last ball of the innings from long on. Ridhay’s 55 came off 36 balls with seven boundaries and a six. G Force posted an impressive 216 for 4 in the allotted 25 overs.

Aarav Hariharan, winner of the best bowler award 

Desert Cubs lost their opener Neel for 3. Opener Aryan Sajiv and Hemant Rao put on 66 runs for second wicket before Aryan fell for 27. Hemant took up the challenge and went on to crack 69 but fell in the 17^th over.  Dhairya Desai who removed Aryan, also ended Hemant’s knock. Hemant’s 69 came off 50 balls with six boundaries and two sixes. As for the rest of the batsmen, except for Asad Faisal (10), none of them reached double figures. Jaydeep Odhrani speeded up the end of Desert Cubs’ inning taking three wickets for just seven runs from his three overs.

Brief scores:
Under-14 final: G Force Cricket Academy bt Desert Cubs DPS by 66 runs. G Force Cricket Academy 216 for 4 in 25 overs (Shane Saldhan 48, Sahib Abhichandani 58, Ridhay Bhatia 55, Saif Ali Khan 22) Desert Cubs DPS 150 for 9 in 25 overs (Aryan Sajiv 27, Hemant Rao 69, Dhairya Desai 2 for 32, Jaydeep Odhrani 3 for 7)  
Man of the final: Sahib Abhichandani  scored 58 runs in 37 balls ( G Force Cricket Academy)
Best Fielder – Parthiv Vinod - Dismissals : 11 (Tellicherry Cricket Academy)

Best Bowler – Aarav Hariharan – Wickets: 11 (Desert Cubs Cricket Academy)

Best Batsman – Sahib Abhichandani  – Runs 387 (G Force Cricket Academy)

Best Player of the Tournament – Sahib Abhichandani (G Force Cricket Academy)