Aashman Bhanu Bali's unbeaten 100, Mohammad Ahmed Usman’s unconquered 93, Aarush Kajaria’s allround show, Guruvansh and Sachin Sooraj’s half centuries, and Swayam Basu’s four-wicket spell light up Sharjah CBFS juniors 2022 tournament

By K.R. Nayar 

Sharjah CBFS juniors 2022 tournament produced a century, a near century, two half centuries, an allround show, and a four wicket-wicket spell in the last six matches of this mammoth event. Aashman Bhanu Bali of MS Cricket Academy stood out with an unbeaten century in his team’s 74 runs win over Sharjah Cricket Academy in the Under-12 event. There would have been a second century-maker too but Mohammad Ahmed Usman of Legends Cricket Academy fell short by seven runs to reach the three-figure mark as his team ran out of overs in the Under-14 event.

In the under-12 event, Legends’s Guruvansh hit an unbeaten 52 to ensure his team a 51-runs win over Victoria Cricket Academy. Swayam Basu of Simply Cricket Academy produced a fine spell of 4 for 18 to ensure his team a 12-run win over Desert Cubs B team. In the Under-12 event, Aarush Kajaria knock of 25 runs and two wickets gave Desert Cubs a 14 runs win over Spring Sports Academy. Sarang Anilkumar of Desert Cubs A continued his fine show with a spell of two wickets for five runs in Desert Cubs 33 runs win over Sharjah Cricket Academy in the Under-14 category.

MS Cricket Academy’s 74-runs win over Sharjah Cricket Academy in the Under-12 tournament was mainly due to Aashman Bhanu Bali unbeaten 100 and Kaashish Rai’s unbeaten 32. Together they helped MS Cricket Academy post 164 for 1 in 20 overs. Aashman’s 100 came off 64 balls with 15 boundaries. Chasing the target, Sharjah Cricket Academy got bowled out for 90 in 19.2 overs. Jaitirth Bhargava, Riyon Lobo and Rishith Ranka bowled tight and took two wickets each to ensure the victory.

Desert Cubs defeated Spring Sports Academy by 14 runs through Aarush Kajaria’s 25 runs in another Under-12 tournament. Lokesh Reddy Kasireddy too hit 25 before being run out. Navnit Gurnani top scored with 29 runs in Desert Cubs' total of 122 for 6. 

Spring Sports Academy was restricted to 108 for 4 in 20 overs despite fine knocks of 41 runs each from Neev Jethwani and Shariq Lakdawala. Neev’s unbeaten 41 came off 49 balls while Lakdawala’s 41 was scored off 45 balls. Aarush Kajaria sparkled with the ball too taking two wickets backed by Mayur Gurnani, also with two wickets.

In another Under-12 match, Legends Cricket Academy could beat Victoria Cricket Academy by 51 runs mainly due to Guruvansh’s unbeaten 52. Guruvansh's knock came off 46 balls with three boundaries that helped Legends Cricket Academy post 147 for 6 in 20 overs. 

Victoria Cricket Academy chased the total but could muster only 96 for 7. Mohamed Aqib top scored with 21. The other two players to reach double figures were Niteesh Suresh (13) and Lalith Visakan (10)

In the Under-14 match, Simply Cricket Academy recorded a 12-runs win over Desert Cubs B due to Swayam Basu’s fine spell of 4 for 18. Opting to bat first, Simply Cricket Academy posted 137 for 4 in 20 overs. The main scorer was their opener Sachin Sooraj who cracked 55 off 50 balls with five boundaries well backed by Syed Mohammad Ghazi through an unbeaten 34.

Desert Cubs got restricted to 125 for 8 in 20 overs despite knocks of 31 runs each from Naman Bhatt and Aayaan Bhasin. Swayam Basu through his spell of 4 for 18 scuttled the hopes of Desert Cubs.

The Legends Cricket Academy and MS Cricket Academy match was a keenly fought one. Legends Cricket Academy posted 132 for 7 in 20 overs through Mohammad Ahmed Usman unbeaten 93n.o. His knock came off 63 balls with nine boundaries and three sixes.

Chasing the target, MS Cricket Academy failed to maintain the run flow. Krish Poduval (27) and Vibhor Choudhary (20) tried hard to take their team to the target but fell short by four runs.

Desert Cubs A team scored a 33 runs win over Sharjah Cricket Academy in another under-14 match. Opting to bat first, Desert Cubs scored 154 for 5 in 20 overs through opener Aryansh Dasani’s 40 off 38 balls with four boundaries. Skipper Mohammad Nafees too chipped in with 27 runs. Sharjah Cricket Academy’s Muhammad Abdullah bowled brilliantly to take three wickets for 29 runs. 

Chasing the total, Sharjah Cricket Academy could muster only 121 in 19.4 overs despite Rashmeet Singh’s 24 and Salar Khan’s unbeaten 36.  Sarang Anilkumar with a good spell of 2 for 5 backed by Arham Jain’s two wickets for 10 runs put the brakes on Sharjah Cricket Academy’s run flow.

Brief scores:

Under-12:

MS Cricket Academy bt Sharjah Cricket Academy by 74 runs. MS Cricket Academy 164 for 1 in 20 overs (Aashman Bhanu Bali 100n.o, Kaashish Rai 32n.o) Sharjah Cricket Academy 90 in 19.2 overs (Jaitirth Bhargava 2 for 8, Riyon Lobo 2 for 3, Rishith Ranka 2 for 2)
Player of the Match: Aashman Bhanu Bali

Desert Cubs bt Spring Sports Academy by 14 runs. Desert Cubs 122 for 6 in 20 overs (Aarush Kajaria 25, Lokesh Reddy Kasireddy 25, Navnit Gurnani 29, Ezzideen Yaseen Mahroff 2 for 30) Spring Sports Academy 108 for 4 in 20 overs (Neev Jethwani 41n.o, Shariq Lakdawala 41, Aarush Kajaria 2 for 17, Mayur Gurnani 2 for 13)
Player of the Match: Aarush Kajaria

Legends Cricket Academy bt Victoria Cricket Academy by 51 runs. Legends Cricket Academy 147 for 6 in 20 overs (Guruvansh 52n.o) Victoria Cricket Academy 96 for 7 in 20 overs (Mohamed Aqib 21).
Player of the Match:  Guruvansh

Under-14:

Simply Cricket Academy bt Desert Cubs B by 12 runs. Simply Cricket Academy 137 for 4 in 20 overs (Sachin Sooraj 55, Syed Mohammad Ghazi 34n.o, Rishaan Chandnani 2 for 33) Desert Cubs B 125 for 8 in 20 overs (Naman Bhatt 31, Aayaan Bhasin 31, Swayam Basu 4 for 18, Ayaan Misbah 2 for 16)
Player of the Match: Swayam Basu

Legends Cricket Academy bt MS Cricket Academy by 4 runs. Legends Cricket Academy 132 for 7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Ahmed Usman 93n.o, Saad Ahmed 20, Khush Ranka 2 for 19) MS Cricket Academy 128 for 4 in 20 overs (Krish Poduval 27, Vibhor Choudhary 20).
Player of the Match: Mohammad Ahmed Usman

Desert Cubs A bt Sharjah Cricket Academy by 33 runs. Desert Cubs A 154 for 5 in 20 overs (Aryansh Dasani 40, Mohammed Nafees 27, Muhammad Abdullah 3 for 29) Sharjah Cricket Academy 121 in 19.4 overs (Rashmeet Singh 24, Salar Khan 36n.o, Sarang Anilkumar 2 for 5, Arham Jain 2 for 10).
Player of the Match: Sarang Anilkumar