GAC Cricket Park Academy clinches KCC Under 16 title

The GAC Cricket Park Academy delivered a highly professional and workmanlike performance, securing victory in the coveted Kuwait Cricket Club’s 35-over Under 16 tournament against the favored MG Warrior team.

A combined team effort by the young lads, demonstrating great determination and game sense to perform at the highest level, was instrumental in GAC-Cricket Park’s marvelous victory.

The final of the KCC U 16, powered by MEC Group, began under glorious sunshine at the TACK 5 ground. Cricket Park skipper Vihaan Jitesh won the toss and elected to bat first.

Despite losing their skipper early, the Cricket Park boys faced their talented opponents with great determination and guts.

Pradyot Giri and Jainil Parmar, as seasoned campaigners, withstood the MG attack. With solid defense and punishing loose deliveries, both Pradyot and Jainil launched a recovery by playing attractive cricket and added 140 runs for the second wicket.

The match-winning partnership between these two players blossomed as the innings progressed. Pradyot, after scoring a scintillating innings, was caught at mid-off for a valuable 56 runs, studded with 4 hits to the fence.

Meanwhile, young talent Jainil Parmar exhibited solid technique in facing the deadly spin attack of MG bowlers Rudhransh Panchal, Daksh Laxman, Thewan, and Yewon. He played some classic cover drives and danced down the wicket to clout the spinners to all parts of the ground. Jainil played one of his best innings, and his potential match-winning knock of 98 runs impressed the large crowd, containing 11 hits to the fence.

A late surge by seasoned campaigner Naga, who scored 20 runs, and Vidhucharan, who made 12 runs, helped Cricket Park reach a total of 215 runs in their allotted 35 overs. Lanky spinner Hussain Mussaji was the pick of MG Warrior bowlers, bagging 3 for 55. Ian Stanly, Rudransh, Daksh Laxman, and Yewon took a wicket each for MG Warriors.

MG Warriors started confidently with Ryan Tibish and Thewan posting 40 runs for the first wicket. However, wily off-spinner Bishwanth Arun foxed Thewan (29 runs) to play a bit early, and the edge was taken beautifully by rival skipper Vihaan at first slip. In came Vedant Utekar, the inform batsman with a double hundred up his sleeves, and showed his intention with two beautiful pull shots to the fence. Naga Nehar, who was replaced at the north end, deceived Vedant with a flighted delivery, only to see the ball ballooning up to Vihaan who held it gleefully.

On the other end, Ryan Tibish batted skillfully along with Yadharth Ranjan, playing sensible cricket. However, Ryan lost his patience and skied one, which was taken smartly by Bishwanth at extra cover. Ryan scored a valuable 35 runs. Meanwhile, Hussain Mussaji played an attractive innings with well-executed drives and cuts, but wickets fell at regular intervals except Daksh Nair, who steadied the ship and supported Hussain Mussaji to put on 30 runs for the 7th wicket.

A wise move by Vihaan, who brought Alfonso Anil from the pavilion end, wrecked the applecart of MG Warriors. Husain, who was playing so well, played one shot too early, and Alfonso plucked a one-handed acrobatic catch, which turned the game in favor of Cricket Park. Rudransh fell to a similar one-handed catch by Alfonso, this time the bowler diving to his right to hold another single-handed catch.

The MG innings soon folded to 204 runs for 9 wickets in their allotted 35 overs, thus giving Cricket Park the coveted KCC trophy. Alfonso Anil (3-34) was the top wicket-taker for Cricket Park, and Pradyot Giri, an expert in death overs, bowled extremely well to capture 2-29. Cricket Park spinners Naga Nehar (2-31), Jainil Parmar (1-27), and Bishwanth Arun (1-41) supported the team quite well. Ryan Aiden excelled in the field with his fielding skills, and Karthik Rajeev behind the wicket stood up to the task with lightning reflexes.

Jainil Parmar was rightly declared Player of the Match for his scintillating batting skills.