Played at the iconic Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Anjuman Islam High School batting first made a total of 267 runs in first innings powered by half centuries by Hamza and Shahid Khan. Hamza opening the innings scored 64 off 122 balls while Shahid Khan who came at no.7 played a crucial knock of 50 runs in 60 balls which included 4 boundaries helping Anjuman cross the 250 run mark. From MES bowlers, Vivaan Jobanputra with 4/80 was the pick of the lot.
Modern English School in 1st innings made 263/8 in 45 overs powered by half century by opener Devej Birje who scored a solid knock of 64 runs. In the second innings Anjuman were all out for 203 runs in reply to Modern English School’s 207/6 in 2nd innings where K Saini scored an impressive half century smashing 53 runs.
The MSSA organizers declared Anjuman Islam High School as winners on the basis of 1st innings lead while umpires had informed the captains at the start of the match itself that if match is a tie then winners will be decided on basis of quotient and modern English had a better quotient as Anjuman scored the same amount of runs by losing 20 wickets. This is a playing rule specified by MCA and followed by MSSA and umpire committee too.
The umpires following the laws and protocols didn’t accept this decision and refused to sign the scoresheet and also specified on the scoresheet that they are not accepting this deciion by the umpires and winners had to be team with better quotient (Modern English).
In what turned out to be an eventful final, one positive which came out was the splendid performance of young players who toiled hard throughout the season to reach the finals of the prestigious tournament. MES, Chembur, a relatively new team compared to Anjuman did a fabulous job under the training of Achievers Cricket Academy as they have progressed leaps and bounds in Mumbai Cricket.
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