Dubai: Newly formed Kricket’s Spero Academy emerged as the champions of the fourth Shyam Bhatia Cricket for Care U-16 Inter Academy Tournament, organised by Dubai Cricket Council,
In the final played at the Fairground in Dubai’s Men’s College on Friday, Kricket’s Spero team produced a brilliant all-round show to pip Zayed Cricket Academy of Abu Dhabi by 16 runs. The hero of the match was Fahad Nawaz, who cracked 101 runs in Spero’s total of 196 for 4 in 25 overs.
Through a fine display of tight bowling and fielding, Kricket’s Spero restricted Zayed Academy to 180 for 6.
Speaking to ‘Gulf News’, former Ranji Trophy player-turned-coach Sony Cheruvathur said: “Our coaching focus is on the fundamentals with special stress on fitness and it showed in the field in the way the boys fielded and held their catches. All efforts were made to implement best practices followed by National Cricket Academy and MRF Pace Foundation in India. The calmness with which the boys went about sticking to the basics of the game showed the importance we give on character-formation needed to be a good cricketer.”
The academy was launched only September last year by T.C. Mathew, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The team had a brilliant captain in Devnath Menon, who has been consistently performing in school’s cricket and went on bag the best bowler title for the tournament.
Kricket’s Spero lost openers Varun Nayanar and Ronak Panoli quickly after deciding to bat. However, Fahad and Tushar Tugnait put on 142 runs for the third wicket, with the former’s 101 coming off just 56 balls with two towering sixes and a dozen boundaries. Tushar chipped in with 65 from 51 balls with seven boundaries.
Zayed’s Jonathan Figy and Fazal Shahid gave a good start putting on 138-run partnership before wickets began to tumble. Devnath led the bowling attack taking two wickets along with Mohammad Ajmal.
Brief scores (final)
Kricket’s Spero Academy bt Zayed Cricket Academy by 16 runs. Kricket’s Spero 196 for 4 in 25 overs (Fahad Nawaz 101, Tushar Tugnait 65; Osama Hassan 2 for 43) Zayed CA 180 for 6 in 25 overs (Fazal Shahid 71, Jonathan Figy 64; Mohammad Ajmal 2 for 32, Devnath Menon 2 for 35,). Man of the match: Fahad Nawaz.
Individual awards Best batsman: Jonathan Figy (Zayed CA) (218 runs in 3 matches). Best bowler: Devnath Menon (Kricket’s Spero) (seven wickets in 3 matches) Player of the tournament: Neil Lobo (Desert Cubs) 78 runs and 5 wickets in 4 matches) Player of the final: Fahad Nawaz.