Reserve Bank of India Sports Club emerged champions defeating a determined Repro India Sports Club by a narrow three-wicket margin in a well-contested final of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar T20 Cup Inter-Office Cricket Tournament 2024, organized by Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF) under the auspices of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and played at the RCF Colony ground in Chembur on Friday.
The victorious Reserve Bank of India players are in a jubilant mood as they pose with the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar T20 Cup and along with Chief Guest Dilip Vengsarkar, a former Indian cricket captain, S.C. Mudgerikar, Chairman and Managing Director, RCF, and other dignitaries at the RCF Ground, Chembur.
The highlight of Reserve Bank’s win was the superb performances of medium pacer Vijay Kumawat who claimed four wickets for 19 runs and number four bat Jyot Chhaya who smashed a 38-ball 70 runs which included seven powerfully struck sixes and two hit to the boundary ropes.
Repro India after electing to bat first, could only post a low total of 119 all out in 19.5 overs. Opening batsman Sumeir Zaveri was the top-scorer with a 22-ball 32 runs which contained three hits to the ropes and two solid sixes. Lower order batter Mohammed Moin Ahmed contributed 26 useful runs from 20 balls and with four boundaries to lift the total. RBI bowlers Vijay Kumawat 4 for 19, all-rounder Ameya Dandekar 3 for 25 and Chirag Pamar 3 for 23 were responsible to restrict the Repro India innings.
Later, Repro India bowled well at the start as they bowled tightly and reduced Reserve Bank to 49 for four wickets in the seventh over. But, Chhaya staged a gallant fight back and along with all-rounder Ameya Dandekar who scored 25 runs repaired the damage and with a 74-run partnership for the fifth wicket, the duo put the team on the road to victory.
Chief Guest, Dilip Vengsarkar, a former Indian cricket captain, and S.C. Mudgerikar, Chairman and Managing Director, RCF, presented the victorious Reserve Bank team with the handsome Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar T20 Cup and a cheque of Rs one lakh. Repro India received the runners-up trophy and a cash prize of Rs 75,000.
Brief scores: Repro India SC 119 all out, 19.5 overs (Sumeir Zaveri 32 (22-balls, 3×4,2×6), Mohammed Moin Ahmed 26 (20-balls, 4×4); Vijay Kumawat 4/19, Ameya Dandekar 3/25, Chirag Pamar 3/23) lost to Reserve Bank of India 120 for 7, 15.2 overs (Jyot Chhaya 70 (38-balls, 2×4,7×6), Ameya Dandekar 25, Ramanpreet Singh 19; Mohammed Moin Ahmed 3/24, Shubham Marathe 3/29).
Result: Reserve Bank of India won by three wickets.
Other awards – Man of the Match: Jyot Chhaya (RBI) – 70 runs
Best Batsman: Yogesh Dongre (Repro India) – 146 runs in three matches.
Best Bowler: Ameya Dandekar (RBI) – 11 wickets in 16 overs (4 matches).
Best Fielder: Rupen Chaurasia (Repro India) – 5 dismissals (3 catches, 1 stumping, 1 run-out).
Player of the series: Ameya Dandekar (RBI) – 85 runs, 11 wickets.