MCA President Cup: Ghatkopar Jolly Gymkhana Emerge Champions Beating Matunga Gymkhana

All-rounder Vedansh Patel made small, but fruitful contributions with bat and ball which helped Ghatkopar Jolly Gymkhana (GJG) emerge champions by snatching a tense and thrilling 1-run win against Matunga Gymkhana in the MCA President Cup ‘C & D’ Division final played at the Wankhede Stadium, on Sunday.

Left-handed bat Patel scored an unbeaten 33 runs and then picked 2 wickets for 24 runs.

Sent in to bat, the Ghatkopar batters found it difficult to score quick runs and were restricted to 132 for 5 wickets from their quota of 20 overs. Besides Patel, number three bat Pratik Mhatre 36 runs and left-handed Jay Sangani scored an unbeaten 24 runs to lift the innings. Left-arm spinner Yogesh Dicholkar 2 for 14 and off-spinner Kunal Gawand 2 for 22 got the wickets.

Chasing a modest target, Matunga Gymkhana started positively as the openers Ihsaan Amin 24 runs and Utkarsh Raut 31runs put on 38 runs for the first wicket. Later, Raut and Ronak Shinde 30 added 37 runs for the second wicket. Thereafter, Matunga Gymkhana lost wickets at regular intervals and were pegged back as they could only score 131 for 6 wickets from their stipulated 20 overs and fell short by one run. Patel claimed 2 wickets for 24 runs.

Meanwhile, Bombay Union SC comfortably defeated Dashing SC by 5 wickets in the G & H Division final.

Brief scores (finals) – C & D Division: Ghatkopar Jolly Gymkhana 132 for 5, 20 overs (Pratik Mhatre 36, Vedansh Patel 33*,Jay Sangani 24*; Yogesh Dicholkar 2/14, Kunal Gawand 2/22) beat Matunga Gymkhana 131 for 6, 20 overs (Utkarsh Raut 31, Ronak Shinde 30, Ihsaan Amin 24; Vedansh Patel 2/24). Result: Ghatkopar Jolly Gymkhana won by one run.

G & H Division: Dashing SC 87 all out, 17 overs (Krish Yadav 4/16, Aniket Juvekar 3/27, Abhishek Pan 2/19) lost Bombay Union SC 90 for 5, 18.3 overs (Chinmay Mohite 41; Tanish Save 2/27). Result: Bombay Union SC won by 5 wickets.