Stunning chase through centuries from Jayesh Patel and Ankur Kassal steer East Central Zone to Over 40s Masters Cricket USA title

By K.R. Nayar
From Sevens Stadium, Dubai

At the Sevens Stadium’s Oval Ground 2, few believed East Central Zone would emerge as champions of the Over 40s Masters Cricket USA, especially after North Zone posted an impressive 234 runs in 40 overs. However, two determined batsmen, Jayesh Patel and Ankur Kassal, chased down the challenging target, leading their team to an eight-wicket victory in just 34.3 overs.

East Central Zone Over 40s team celebrate after receiving the trophy. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

Jayesh paved the way with a remarkable knock of 122 off 106 balls, including 12 boundaries and two sixes. Kassal, playing a supportive role, remained unbeaten on 102 off 90 balls, studded with nine boundaries and three sixes, ensuring his team reached the target.

 

Jayesh Patel (left) and Ankur Kassal crack centuries to lead their  team to victory. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

East Central Zone celebrated a double victory, as minutes earlier, their Over 50s team had also claimed the Over 50s Masters Cricket USA title, defeating North Zone by 36 runs. The Over 40s team, however, had a different script. Losing the toss, they were put into the field as North Zone elected to bat first.

East Central Zone skipper Zygmin Patel (who bowled a fine spell), with North Zone skipper Ashwin Boini 

North’s opener, Adnan Taj, gave a brisk start, scoring 16 of the opening 19 runs, all from boundaries, before he was trapped leg before by Manu Mehta. One-down Prasanna Ramaswamy and opener Zeshan Muhammad launched into their shots, pushing the score to 60 within 6.4 overs. Devin Hariichha dismissed Prasanna, caught behind by wicketkeeper Nikunj Patel for 20, while 13 runs later, Zeshan fell to a clean-bowled delivery from captain and off-spinner Zygmin Patel for 29.

 

Skipper Zygmin Patel strikes 

 

North reached the 100-run mark by the 17th over when Zygmin struck again, dismissing Nikhil Sikka for 15, and soon after claimed the valuable wicket of Ashwin Boini for 11. This was followed by a resilient 76-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Rohin Rana and Sudhindra Shetty. Rana contributed 39 off 49 balls, featuring four boundaries, before being run out by a combined effort from Ravi Patel and Nikunj Patel.

 

Sudhindra Shetty ...fine half century

Sudhindra Shetty's fine knock of 67

 

Just after North crossed the 200-run mark, Ranvir Singh was dismissed by Vineet Sinha for 6. Sudhindra Shetty’s fine innings of 67 came to an end at the score of 230 when he was trapped leg before by Manu Mehta. Shetty’s knock included five boundaries and four sixes from 60 balls. Another run-out by Ravi and Nikunj Patel ended Ameez Khan’s innings for 10, and last man Nandan Parab was also run out for 1. Zygmin Patel led the bowlers with an impressive 3 for 27 from eight overs, well-supported by Manu Mehta with two wickets for 36 runs from five overs.

 

Arun Vittala thanks the umpires who came from the US

Jayesh begins aggressively

 

Jayesh opened the chase for East Central with intent, hitting a six off Balaji Pusapati’s second delivery of the first over. Opener Hammad Qureshi was bowled by Dharmesh Trivedi for 3, a success that turned out to be North’s only breakthrough for a while.

 

All sponsors appreciated the conduct of the tournament and assured them support for the next edition

One-down Ankur Kassal quickly settled in, setting the stage for a masterclass in batting domination alongside Jayesh. In the fourth over, Jayesh hit Trivedi for consecutive boundaries, followed by Kassal doing the same. By the 10th over, the pair had reached the 50-run mark, with both batsmen finding boundaries off captain Ashwin Boini. Kassal also hit sixes off Ashwin and Richardson Sacrias.

 

Best batters in all the age categories receive BDM bats from India 

Jayesh reached his half-century in 44 balls, with the score crossing 100 in the 15th over. Kassal celebrated his fifty in the same number of balls, reaching it with a six off Rohin Rana.

 

Jayesh’s century in 76 balls

 

Jayesh accelerated further, striking Richardson for a boundary and a six in the 17th over. The prospect of victory brightened as the score surged to 150 by the 20th over. In the 25th over, he struck two consecutive boundaries off Richardson, bringing up his century in 76 balls.

 

Arun Vittala thanks coach Gopal Jasapara for his excellent support in staging the event in Dubai.  

Kassal’s century in 84 balls

 

Jayesh’s boundary off Trivedi in the 28th over brought the score to 200. Kassal reached his century in 84 balls with a boundary off Trivedi. Jayesh’s splendid innings concluded when Balaji Pusapati trapped him leg before, ending a mammoth 219-run partnership. East Central needed just four more runs for victory, which Nikunj Patel provided with a winning boundary. Kassal returned to an applause for his unbeaten 102, celebrating a remarkable team victory.

 

Brief scores:
Over 40’s final: East Central Zone bt North Zone by 8 wkts. North Zone 234 in 40 overs (Zeshan Muhammad 29, Prasanna Ramaswamy 20, Rohin Rana 39, Sudhindra Shetty 67, Manu Mehta 2 for 36, Zygmin Patel 3 for 27). East Central Zone 237 for 2 in 34.3 overs (Jayesh Patel 122, Ankur Kassal 102n.o)
Player of the final: Jayesh Patel