Mumbai tour diary - 2: G Force Academy’s winning start after a 70 km journey to the picturesque Saphale Omtex Cricket ground

By K.R. Nayar

Akshay Mutha’s allround show of an unbeaten 58 and two wickets and Manoj Kapil’s knock of 45 runs gave G Force Cricket Academy a winning start in the first match of their 10-day tour to Mumbai. G Force’s Under-14 boys playing against Omtex ICWC Under-14 team recorded a 47-runs win at the Saphale Omtex Cricket ground.

Akshay Mutha... allround show 

Thus a winning start, a match on a picturesque ground, and a journey of 70kms from Mumbai on a luxury bus, all together lit up the second day of the G Force Cricket Academy’s ten-day tour. The alarm in all rooms rang at 5.15am to get ready for breakfast at the MIG Cricket Club by 6.15am. Hot dosa, egg and toast, paratha, watermelon juice, and hot tea were waiting for all. By 7am we were all off to the Saphale Omtex Cricket ground.

The boys collect their cricket kit from the bus for the match  

The drive along the winding hair-pin bend roads through a forest was spectacular.  Fresh air greeted us all as we alighted from the bus at Saphale.  The narrow road leading to the ground forced our driver to stop the bus a little away from the ground. Hence everyone had to drag their kit bags though the narrow lane to the ground. The dragging of these heavy kit bags generated a strange sound, attracting attention of the villagers living nearby, and even the pets from these houses were seen curiously looking at the young cricketers.

A group picture at the complex before the match 

Once at the ground, we were warmly welcomed by the Omtex ICWC officials. After a group picture in front of a huge statue of Lord Shiva in the complex, we were all taken on a tour of the complex that included their indoor cricket facility. Energising ourselves with some hot poha and tea, the match for the Under 14 boys commenced at the Omtex indoor stadium.

Skipper Shane Saldanha...shows the way  

Batting first, G Force posted 178 for 9 in 30 overs.  Opener and captain Shane Saldanha provided a good start scoring 29 runs off 26 balls with three boundaries. One-drop batsman Manoj Kapil cracked a run-a-ball 45 runs with six boundaries. Together they put on 61 runs for the second wicket. After Saldhana fell leg before to Vedant Raut, Neeraj Shah joined Manoj and took the score to 90.  Manoj got caught by Vedant Raut off Swaraj Kadam, missing his half century by five runs.  

Manoj Kapil ... run-a-ball 45

That was when Akshay Mutha joined Neeraj and started to strike freely. They took the score to 130 in 21.2 overs when Neeraj got out for 27 runs made from 34 deliveries. Thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals but Akshay Mutha kept the scoreboard moving at a brisk pace to remain unconquered on 58 off 50 balls with six boundaries and a six to provide an excellent total of 178 for 9.

Neeraj Shah.. timely contribution

Chasing the target, Omtex Under-14 lost an early wicket when Neeraj Shah had opener Jeet Raut caught by Mohammad Mustafa for  7. Opener Arhaan Patel and Siddharth Girish took the score to 47 when Mohammad Mustafa took his second catch to dismiss one drop Siddharth for 12 off Akshay Mutha. At the score of 52, Prince Kumawat fell for a duck to Aaryan Iyer, caught by Shane Saldhana. At this stage opener Arhaan Patel, who was striking well, got stumped by Raghav Nagaraj off Akshay Mutha for 37. Dhairya Desai bowled tightly giving away just 11 runs from his six overs with two maiden.

They all chipped in for the win from left:  Dhairya Desai, Aaryan Iyer, Shane Saldhana, Manoj Kapil, Akshay Mutha, Neeraj Shah and Mohammad Mustafa  

Aaryan Iyer struck again to clean bowl Soham Mhatre for 1. When Aryan Modha trapped Virat Rahate leg before for 6, G Force took a firm grip on the match. Tanishq Kadam, through a fighting knock of 33, took the score past the 100-run mark but Omtex ICWC got restricted to 131 for 7 in the 30 overs.