Al-Barkaat ride on duo fuel

155-run stand by Saumil (92) & Ankit (72) keeps Swami Vivekanand on their toes at Bombay Gym

Gritty performances by Saumil Malandkar and Ankit Yadav helped Al-Barkaat MMI English School (Kurla) end Day One on 271 for 6 against Swami Vivekanand International School (Kandivli) in the Harris Shield final at Bombay Gymkhana yesterday. Put into bat, Al-Barkaat lost their first wicket (Nisar Shaikh) with just 15 runs on the board. But from there on, the tide shifted for the Kurla outfit as Ankit and Saumil decided to attack the bowling.

Saumil Malandkar of Al-Barkaat school turns one to the leg side in the Harris Shield final against Swami Vivekanand at Bombay Gymkhana. The one-drop batsman scored an invaluable 92 for his school. PICs/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

At lunch, Al-Barkaat were comfortably placed at 90-1 in 33 overs. Ankit contributed 72 in 166 deliveries, laced with 13 boundaries before he was caught in the slips by Rishi Shah while Saumil smashed a 149-ball 92 which included 12 fours. Their second wicket partnership of 155 runs was vital. The Kandivli outfit struck further blows as Harsh Pandey was given out lbw to Niel Patade and Aadil Khan was bowled by Rishi Shah for 18. Atharva Nigre played a sensible innings of 32 before being sent back to the pavilion by Nishant Kadam.

Al Barkaats opening batsman Ankit Yadav en route his 72 against Swami Vivekanand at Bombay Gymkhana
Al Barkaat's opening batsman Ankit Yadav en route his 72 against Swami Vivekanand at Bombay Gymkhana

For Swami Vivekanand, medium pacer Niel was the pick of the bowlers with 3-46 in his 17-over spell while off- spinner Nishant Kadam picked up two wickets.

Niel Patade claimed 3-46 for Swami Vivekanand

The opening ceremony to the final was highlighted by the sound of the Anjuman Islam band while former India cricketer Vinod Kambli graced the occasion as chief guest.

Guest of honour Kambli in recall mode

Former India batsman Vinod Kambli, who was guest of honour at the Harris Shield final kick-off yesterday, said he was delighted to be invited to do the honours on the first morning. "I am glad I came here as I feel that cricket heroes are made at the school level. When I set foot on the Bombay Gymkhana turf today, I had a little glimpse of the Sassanian ground at Azad Maidan (where he and Sachin Tendulkar put on a record 664-run stand for Shardashram in 1988). It reminded me of those good old days," said Kambli.

Vinod Kambli

Talking about playing at the iconic Bombay Gymkhana ground, Kambli remarked: "When we used to play at Sassanian or Fort Vijay, we would wonder when we would get a chance to play at Bombay Gymkhana. Later on, we did get an opportunity to play there," he said. Recalling the world record partnership, he said: "It was a wet wicket to start with and it slowly became good to bat on. Sachin and I went with the flow and scored big." He also shared an anecdote. "Once, Sachin and I were playing a match at Cross Maidan. A kite came in our way, so I stopped the game and started flying the kite for which I got a sound thrashing from Ramakant Achrekar sir," he recalled.

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