Sharjah: The Indian High School, Dubai scored an emphatic 87-run victory over Delhi Private School (DPS) Sharjah to emerge as the new champions of the ninth edition of Maxtalent Global Sports-organised MGS Vision Cup Inter School Under-17 boys cricket tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
This school’s triumph was also the result of the huge determination shown by their players who had lost in the final of this tournament last year to Gems Modern Academy.
Speaking to Gulf News, Tapan Das, Director of Physical Education of Indian High School said: “The most important factor behind our victory was the exposure the boys gained from playing tournaments at Mohali and Patiala in India. We had put up a good show on turf wickets against top Indian Public School teams. Though we lost to eventual champions Delhi Modern School in the knockout stage, the experience helped especially in playing on the turf wickets of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.”
The star performer of the match was Indian High School’s consistent performer Lohith Chiluka, who scored an unbeaten 47 along while Kunal Lachhani scored 44 runs. Shramon Mukherjee too chipped in with 35 runs. Though Devnath Menon bowled well to bag two wickets for 27 runs, Indian High School went on to post 161 for four in the 20 overs.
Chasing the total, DPS were bowled out for 74 mainly due to Harsh Satisdasani’s fine spell of four wickets for just 10 runs.
“We played as a team thanks due to the regular training at our school campus under cricket coach Ajith Singh. Most of the players contributed with Chiluka and Lachhani being outstanding throughout the tournament,” added Das. Lachhani bagged the Player of the Tournament award.
Hyder Ali, one of UAE’s experienced coaches along with G. Singh presented the awards to the winners. After receiving the Man of the Final honours, Chiluka said that he learnt the basics of the game from Sudhakhar Shetty, head coach of Maxtalent Academy and organisers of this tournament.
