Middle-order batters Atharva Ankolekar and Gaurav Jathar unbeaten smashed centuries as New Hindu Cricket Club completed their 90-over first innings at a massive 438 for 6 wickets to take a healthy 177-run lead against hosts Mumbai Police Gymkhana on the second day of their 3-day final of the 78th Police Invitation Shield Cricket Tournament 2025-26, organized jointly by the Commissionerate of Police Greater Mumbai and the Police Shield Committee and played at the Police Gymkhana ground on Saturday.
New Hindu CC batsmen Atharva Ankolekar (right) scored an unbeaten 128 runs and Garuarv Jathar scored 120 runs to put their team in a winning position.
The number seven left-handed batsman Ankolekar mixed caution with aggression to register an unbeaten 128 runs (119-balls, 12×4, 3×6), while number six batter Gaurav Jathar cracked a composed 120 runs (162-balls, 15×4) which ensured New Hindu build a big innings and put their team in a commanding position.
Earlier, number three batsman Vishant More laid the foundation with a steady knock of 71 runs (139-balls, 9×4). Later, Om Keshkamat scored a quick unbeaten 54 runs (36-balls, 9×4) to further boost the total. Mumbai Police’s medium pacer Amol Tanpure was the most successful bowler claiming 4 wickets for 131 runs from 25 overs.
Jathar and Ankolekar swelled the total with a solid 170-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Later, Akolekar in the company of Keshkamat added another unbeaten 104 runs as their innings came to a close.
Mumbai Police face a Herculean task in their 40-over second innings. They have to first wipe out New Hindu’s huge lead and set the opposition a challenging target to have hopes of putting up a fight,
Brief scores: Mumbai Police Gymkhana (1st innings): 261 all out, 67.1 overs (Rudra Dhanday 97, Parikshit Valsangakar 31, Yogesh Patil 31; Shreyas Gurav 5 for 84, Bhavya Atrey 3 for 57) Vs New Hindu CC (1st innings): 438 for 6, 90 overs (Atharva Ankolekar 128* (119-balls, 12×4,3×6), Gaurav Jathar 120 (162-balls, 15×4), Vishant More 71 (139-balls, 9×4), Om Keshkamat 54* (36-balls, 9×4); Amol Tanpure 4 for 131).