Sagar Kalyan’s unbeaten 146 helps GHK Properties finish on top of the table

By K.R. Nayar

Sharjah. Sagar Kalyan’s second consecutive unbeaten century helped GHK Properties snap table-topper Consolidated Shipping Services (CSS)'s winning streak and clinch the top position in Group A of the 49th Bukhatir League, sponsored by Seven Districts, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

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Kalyan, who had hit an unbeaten 100 in GHK Properties’ six-wicket win over Macwise Titans in the previous match, extended his run spree with an unbeaten 146 off 115 balls, studded with 15 boundaries and four sixes. He, along with the experienced Yasir Khaleem — who scored a timely 61 off 64 balls with seven boundaries — chased down CSS Group’s total of 315 for 6 in 50 overs.

Sagar Kalyan receives the Player of the Match award from match referee Tehseen Javed 

So belligerent was Kalyan’s knock, and so dominating was the 99-run partnership with Yasir for the fourth wicket, that GHK reached the target with six overs to spare, recording a memorable five-wicket win. CSS will now meet Seven Districts Cricket Academy on Sunday (June 29) in Semi-final 1, while GHK will take on Z Games Strikers in Semi-final 2 on Monday (June 30). The stage is now set for the final on July 2.

CSS Group, electing to bat first, posted an impressive 315 for 6, riding on another prolific run-getter — Krishna Chandran Karate, who hit 111 off 111 balls with 10 boundaries and a six. Chandran had also hit an unbeaten 96 against Macwise Titans. Two of their other batters also hit half-centuries — opener Abhiram Hrithwik, who scored 58 off 70 balls with eight boundaries, and Rojith KG, who remained unbeaten on 50 off 44 balls with five boundaries and a six.

Kalyan’s fifth century in Bukhatir League

The match was an exhibition of high-quality cricket, with Kalyan — notching up his fifth century in the Bukhatir League — walking tall in this high-scoring contest and winning the Player of the Match award. To pile up 246 runs from two matches, without getting dismissed, speaks volumes of this batter, who had also registered scores of 196 and 130 in previous editions of the tournament.

Speaking about his innings, Kalyan said: “All that I aim is to be consistent. I am happy that I am able to do that and in the process help my team to victories.”

GHK also owes their creditable win over CSS to Yasir, who had not been among the runs this season but rose to the challenge when it mattered most, hitting an invaluable 61. Speaking about his knock, Yasir said: “It was an important knock as it’s always good to have runs under your belt heading into the semifinals. It gives a lot of confidence.”

Krishna Chandran dedicates century to budding cricketers

Though Kalyan overshadowed all other high scorers, Krishna Chandran’s century, born out of sheer determination, was equally sparkling. When asked what inspires him to play such knocks consistently at the age of 40 years and 308 days, he said:

“Today I coach youngsters at the Tellicherry Cricket Academy. I am scoring these runs also to set an example for the budding cricketers there — to show them that if I can score consistently at nearly 41, then they, at 16, should strive to do even more.”

Such is Chandran’s dedication that, after this century, he slept at 3 a.m., woke up by 5 a.m., and was at the Tellicherry Cricket Academy by 5:30 a.m. to coach the youngsters.

“The message I want to convey is that through devotion and discipline one can achieve anything. Cricket has given me a life. I want to give back to this great game. That is why I want to develop young talent in the country,” added Chandran, who had represented UAE in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

CSS innings

CSS, as usual, got off to a good start with skipper and opener Renjith Mani and fellow opener Abhiram Hrithwik registering a 44-run opening partnership in five overs. Muhammad Irfan removed the dangerous Mani, caught by Hafeez Ur Rehman for 20. The consistent Albin Alias took the score to 95 in 14.5 overs before Hafeez Ur Rehman had him caught by Kalyan for 29.

Hrithwik and Chandran kept scoring briskly. Asif Lara ended Hrithwik’s knock of 58 by getting him caught by Mohit Kalyan. Safeer Tariq lasted only two balls, scoring four runs before being bowled by Mayank Choudhary. Danish Sarhadi held on to take the score to 194 before getting caught behind by wicketkeeper Kalyan off Hafeez Ur Rehman for 19.

P0ints table 

This was followed by a stubborn 117-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Rojith and Chandran. At his score on the unlucky Nelson (111), Chandran fell to Rohan Mustafa, caught by Wasim. Had the late David Shepherd been the umpire, he might have jumped on one leg — and Chandran may have survived the last two deliveries of the innings. Incidentally, it was also the 111th delivery of Chandran’s innings. Rojith remained unconquered on 50 to ensure CSS posted a total of 315 for 6.

GHK’s splendid chase

GHK began their chase briskly. Opener Rohan Mustafa hit Mohammed Umar for four consecutive boundaries in the first over. He also struck the fourth and fifth balls of the second over from Haidar Razzaq for boundaries but fell to the last ball of that over, caught by wicketkeeper Safeer Tariq for 24.

In walked match-winner Kalyan to join captain and opener Humaj Gondal. In the fifth over, Gondal hit Umar for a six and a boundary, while Kalyan also scored a boundary off the last ball. After hitting two more boundaries in the sixth over off Haidar Razzaq, Gondal fell to the last ball of that over, caught by Umar for 32. His 25-ball knock included five boundaries and a six.

Kalyan hit Nipun Babu for two consecutive boundaries off the first two balls and repeated it with the last two deliveries of the seventh over. With Mayank Choudhary, Kalyan added 66 runs for the third wicket before Mani had Mayank caught by Hrithwik for 23.

Then came the match-winning 99-run partnership between Yasir and Kalyan for the fourth wicket. Kalyan reached his half-century in 49 balls, with a boundary off Shubham Singh. Yasir, a veteran of many such battles and chases, started by hitting Babu for a boundary and then struck two consecutive boundaries in the 27th over. The score crossed the 200-run mark in 33 overs, with Yasir reaching his half-century in 57 balls.

Mani struck again to dismiss Yasir for 61, caught by Danish Sarhadi. Kalyan was batting on 84 at that stage, with 91 runs still needed for GHK to win from the remaining 15 overs. In the 36th over, Kalyan hit Haidar Razzaq for boundaries off the second, fourth, and fifth balls, and a six off the last — bringing up his century. Eighteen runs came off that over.

Kalyan also hit Mani for two successive boundaries and Umar for two consecutive sixes. Babu struck to remove Mohit Kalyan, who chipped in with 20 runs, caught by Umar. The next batter, Harshit Kaushik, hit the winning six off Danish Sarhadi to remain unbeaten on 9, while Kalyan returned to the pavilion with an unconquered 146.

Brief scores:
GHK Properties bt CSS Group by 5 wkts. CSS Group 315 for 6 in 50 overs (Abhiram Hrithwik 58, Renjith Mani 20, Alibin Alias 29, Krishna Chandran 111, Rojith 50n.o, Hafeez Ur Rehman 2 for 39) GHK Properties 316 for 5 in 44 overs (Rohan Mustafa 24, Humaj Gondal 32, Sagar Kalyan 146n.o, Mayank Choudhary 23, Yasir Khaleem 61, Mohit Kalyan 20, Haidar Razzaq 2 for 50, Renjit Mani 2 for 51)
Player of the Match: Sagar Kalyan