By Special Correspondent Hoshang Katrak

‘Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties’, the late Raj Singh Dungarpur would have remarked had he witnessed the finals between holders Parsee Gymkhana (PG ) and Navsari ‘A’. With some of the best players from the community participating in the six teams – two from Navsari and one each from Hyderabad, Nagpur, Surat, apart from hosts Parsee Gymkhana (Marine Lines) – the stage was set for a pulsating three days of limited overs cricket, from 5^th to 7^th April, 2024.

In its seventh edition now, the coveted Late Maneck Golvala T10 Trophy was instituted by present President – Mehli Golvala in memory of his father, past President of Parsee Gymkhana. The six teams battled it out over three days at the Parsee Gymkhana, the hosts, who proved their supremacy right from the first league game – a 10-wicket victory over Surat, and came out on top as the only unbeaten team throughout the tournament.

Team Hyderabad were involved in two of the closest matches – a victory over Surat by four runs and a loss to Navsari ‘A’, off the last ball of the last league game – which turned out to be a virtual semi-final, paving the way for the latter to scrape through to the finals, and at the same time, preventing last year’s runners-up – Nagpur, from entering the finals.

In the finals, the two teams lined up and were introduced to President Mehli Golvala. PG captain, Kersi Pavri, won the toss and decided to bat first. Openers – Shahen Mistry (54 off 21) and Behzad Devadhwala (62 off 35) shared a 98-run opening stand. In response to PG’s 124 for 2, Navsari’s openers – Kurush Jagirdar (58 off 25) and skipper Rohin Patel (33 off 21), went for overkill, bringing up the team’s 50 in merely 3.2 overs. The seventh over yielded 23 runs. With just 30 required from the last 3 overs, the match was going Navsari’s way. PG skipper, Kersi bringing in Burzin Mehta in the eighth over, proved to be a masterstroke as the latter gave away just 6 runs. With 12 needed off the last over, Pavri handed the ball back to Burzin, who let only 3 runs slide in the over. Thus, Parsee Gymkhana had won the finals by 8 runs.

Jeetu Thakrey, ex-Mumbai Ranji Trophy player and current Mumbai Ranji selector, presided as Chief Guest and gave away the prizes. Present through the tourney were PG’s physiotherapist Dr. Saloni Modh; international Score-keeper – Harshil Patel; and senior MCA ‘A’ Division umpires – Rohinton Mistry, Shailendra Sharma and Manish Patel who officiated the matches. Kainath Zadeh of Rainbow Warriors provided the live telecast on YouTube.

PG spared neither effort nor expense to make this tournament a huge success – providing cricket attire, lodging facilities for outstation players, and all meals for the three days. The tournament owes its phenomenal success to the meticulous planning by Khodadad Yazdegardi, ably supported by Mehernosh Chhor, Vafadar Irani, Eric Billimoria, Cherag Irani, Vispi Mehta and Farshid Yazdani.

7^th Late Manek Golvala T10 Cricket Cup Awards

BEST BATSMAN & PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Bezad Devadhwala (PG)
BEST BOWLER: Kaivan Kasad (Navsari ‘A’)
BEST FIELDER: Porus Sui (Navsari ‘A’)
BEST PLAYER (FINALS): Burzin Mehta (PG)
BEST UPCOMING PLAYER: Shiamak Bhatela (Hyderabad)