Renjith Mani cracks 101 with Abhiram Hrithwik (90) in CSS’ victory while Shoaib Khan’s unbeaten 108 goes in vain for defending champions Colatta Chocolates
Sharjah. The 49th edition of the Bukhatir League got off to an electrifying start, with a run-fest at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Consolidated Shipping Services (CSS) Group began their campaign with a 45-run victory over defending champions Colatta Chocolates in a high-scoring match that produced a total of 601runs.
The tournament kicked off with CSS openers putting on a 202-run partnership, led by a century from skipper Renjith Mani, who scored 101 off 96 balls, including 11 boundaries and four sixes. His partner, Abhiram Hrithwik, narrowly missed his century, falling for 90 off 105 balls with ten boundaries. Mani is a veteran who has bag full of high-scores in this league.
Colatta Chocolates, despite tottering at 51 for 5 at one stage, fought back through Shoaib Khan’s unbeaten 108 off 129 balls with 11 boundaries. His effort went in vain as his team got restricted to 278 for 9 in 50 overs. CSS’s Mohammed Umar bagged three wickets for 68.
Put in to bat, CSS began cautiously. The first boundary of the tournament came off Abhiram’s bat in the fourth over, struck off Israr Ahmad. Mani followed with his first boundary off Akshay Puthanveetil, bringing the score to 20 without loss in five overs. The momentum steadily increased as Abhiram hit two boundaries in the sixth over, and Mani responded with two of his own in the seventh. The 50-run partnership was reached in the ninth over through two consecutive boundaries by Mani off Tahir Asif.
Abhiram was the first to reach his half-century, doing so in the 17th over. Mani reached his in the 25th, by which time Abhiram had moved into the seventies. The first six of the season came off Mani’s bat against Vishnu Sukumaran. At the halfway mark, CSS were well placed at 139 for no loss. Mani struck his second six off Param Kalyan in the 26th over and overtook Abhiram’s score.
The 200-run partnership came up in the 31st over, and Mani brought up his century in 99 balls. He was eventually run out for 101, thanks to a sharp throw from Mohammad Rizwan Sabir. All eyes were then on Abhiram to see if he could reach his hundred, but he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Zain off Vishnu’s bowling for 90.
CSS crossed the 250-run mark in the 40th over before Tahir dismissed Albin Alisa for 30, caught by Akshay. Tahir also clean bowled Safeer Tariq for 39. Syam Remesh then clean bowled both Rojit KG (8) and Danish Sarhadi (10). CSS crossed the 300-run mark in the 47th over but continued losing wickets in pursuit of an even bigger total. They eventually posted 323 for 8 in their 50 overs.
Colatta Chocolates’ innings started with opener Junaid Shamsu playing five dot balls before striking the sixth delivery from Mohammed Umar for a boundary. The second over, bowled by Haidar Razaq, yielded just two runs. Then, Junaid began to open up, hitting Haidar for a six in the fourth over. However, in the sixth over, Haidar broke through, having Israr Ahmed caught by Abhiram for 11, ending a 35-run opening stand. He then trapped one-down batter Shakker Hydru leg-before for a duck in the same over.
Colatta Chocolates fell into deeper trouble when Mohammed Umar clean bowled Junaid for 19 in the seventh over and trapped Zain leg-before with the very next ball. At 36 for 4, Vishnu tried to counterattack with two boundaries off Haidar, but Umar struck again, having him caught by Danish Sarhadi for 12. Half the side was back in the pavilion for 51 by the ninth over, and the defending champions looked headed for a massive defeat.
Krishna Chandran struck in the 17th over, having Vaibhav Govekar caught behind by wicketkeeper Safeer Tariq for 10, reducing Colatta to 77 for 6. At this stage, it seemed unlikely they would even cross 100. However, Sohaib Khan and Param Kalyan staged a fightback, adding 48 runs for the seventh wicket before Kalyan was caught by Rojith off Abhiram for 19. Akshay then joined Sohaib and batted valiantly, contributing to a 70-run eighth-wicket stand before being bowled by Gihan Chathuranga for 34.
Sohaib found another partner in Syam Remesh, and together they put on 44 runs for the ninth wicket before Remesh was caught by Nipun Babu off Chathuranga for 33. In the final over, Sohaib reached his century with a boundary off Umar’s fourth delivery. He also hit the last ball of the match for a boundary, but Colatta Chocolates fell short by 45 runs. Their captain, Mohammed Rizwan, remained unbeaten on 13.
Brief scores:
CSS Group bt Colatta Chocolates by 45 runs. CSS Group 323 for 8 in 50 overs (Abhiram Hrithwik 90, Renjith Mani 101, Albin Alias 30, Safeer Tariq 39, Tahir Asif 3 for 66, Syam Remesh 2 for 54) Colatta Chocolates 278 for 9 in 50 overs (Sohaib Khan 108n.o, Akshay Puthanveetil 34, Syam Remesh 33. Mohammed Umar 3 for 68, Haidar Razzaq 2 for 49, Gihan Chathuranga 2 for 50)
Player of the Match: Renjith Mani
