Sharjah: Two budding cricketers created history in an inter-school domestic cricket tournament organised by the Sharjah Cricket Council by cracking unbeaten centuries and posting a partnership of 246 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Emirates English Speaking School openers Prathik Shetty hit an unbeaten 113 while Kuldeep Ramesh scored an unconquered 112. Together they registered 246 runs for no loss in the allotted 20 overs against Gulf Asian School.
Shetty's knock contained 15 fours and two sixes while Ramesh's innings was made up of 16 fours and one six. Their partnership resembled the world record partnership of 664 runs between Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli in Mumbai's inter school tournament in 1987-88 season.
Speaking to Gulf News, UAE umpire Tarek Butt, who officiated in this match said: "The two boys looked like professional batsmen and not like school cricketers. They could have broken the world record if it was a 50 overs match."
According to Butt, their innings was special for many reasons. "They played such a knock in scorching heat with temperature around 40 degrees centigrade. The power they backed behind their shots was equivalent to any top-class cricketer," Butt, who has officiated in many international matches, said.
Shetty and Ramesh sparkled as bowlers too taking three wickets each to restrict Gulf Asian School to 115 runs in 17 overs.
This inter-school tournament which is competed by 12 schools in the UAE also saw Delhi Private School from Sharjah down Our Own School, Sharjah by 81 runs. The hero of their victory was Aangam Shah, who bagged three wickets and hit an unbeaten 22 runs.
Riding on Jay Joshi's unbeaten 70 runs, Indian High School, Dubai defeated Delhi Private School, Dubai by 24 runs. Joshi scored almost half of Indian High School's total for 159 for 5.
"This inter-school tournament is being keenly fought. Due to examinations many schools could not participate in this tournament. So we have decided to host another inter-school tournament in October again. Another 12 more schools wanted to participate in this tournament and we will providing any opportunity for them by organising a bigger inter-school tournament," Mazhar Khan, secretary of the Sharjah Cricket Council, said.
Scores
Emirates English Speaking Dubai bt Gulf Asian English School by 131 runs: Emirates English Speaking Dubai 246 for no loss in 20 overs (Prathik Shetty 113n.o, Kuldeep Ramesh 112n.o) Gulf Asian English School 115 in 17 overs (Arman Mohammed 40, Imran Shahul 20; Kuldeep Ramesh 3 for 20, Prathik Shetty 3 for 18, Faisal Abdul 2 for 26). Man of the match: Prathik Shetty of Emirates English Speaking School.
Delhi Private School Sharjah bt Our Own School Sharjah by 81 runs: DPS Sharjah 140 for seven (Siddharth Sekhar 24, Aangam Shah 22n.o, Dividhar Sekhar 20; Yasir 2 for 31) OOS Sharjah 59 in 18.5 overs (Aagam Shah 3 for 9, Siddarth 2 for 3). Man of the match: Aagam Shah of DPS Sharjah.
Indian High School Dubai bt Delhi Private School Dubai by 24 runs: Indian High School 159 for 5 (Jay Joshi 70 not out, Aditya Mohan 3 for 23) DPS Dubai 130 for 6 (Akhilesh 49, Tanmay Anand 38; Hanumanth Kumar 2 for 18). Man of the match: Jay Joshi.
