Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday joined the likes of defending champion DTDC Express and Mafatlal CC which scored a comfortable wins earlier in the week in their respective Quarter-final ties of the ongoing Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar T20 Cup Inter-Office Cricket Tournament 2024 (RCF T20 Cup) at the RCF Colony ground in Chembur.

RBI posted a comfortable five-wicket win against Accountant General Sports Club after being set a modest target of 168 in the latest round-of-eight knock out match that was organized by Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF) under the auspices of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).  

The hero of RBI’s victory was their skipper Jay Nayak, left arm spinner, who picked four wickets for just 17 runs and was well supported by Ameya Dandekar who claimed two wickets for 47 runs to restrict their rivals to 167 for nine wickets in 20 overs. For Accountant General SC their experienced ex Mumbai top order batter Bravish Shetty (45) was the top scorer after being put in to bat. Malhar Mane and Bhavesh Patel contributed 25 runs each to prop up the scoreline.

In reply, RBI easily surpassed the target in 18.5 overs with five wickets in hand. Leading RBI’s charge was middle order bat Roop Kumar who smashed a half-century 50 runs while Prashad Bodke 45 runs, Ramanpreet Singh 36 runs and all-rounder Ameya Dandekar’s unbeaten 26 runs ensured their team crossed the finish line with plenty to spare.

Earlier reigning champion DTDC Express powered by the Ajit Yadav quick fire 81 runs had overhauled a modest target of 121 set by Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital, with eight wickets in hand and 28 balls to spare.

Electing to bat first, Nanavati Hospital labored to 120 for the loss of 8 wickets from their 20 overs. Only opening bat Omkar Jadhav managed to defy the DTDC bowler’s en-route his fifty. DTDC bowlers Maxwell Swainathan (3/26) and Omkar Ghule (2/22) struck regularly to ensure their team’s dominance.

Chasing a modest target, DTDC boosted by Yadav’s 54-ball knock laced with nine boundaries and three sixes ensured that his team cross the line in 15.2 overs.  Farhan Kazi (2/28) runs was Nanavati’s only successful bowler.

Mafatlal CC on the other hand rode on a four wicket haul for mere 16 runs by Mumbai U-23 all-rounder Raj Waghela defeated hosts RCF Sports Club by a massive margin of 124 runs, after setting a huge target of 239. Chasing a tall score RCF Sports Club batters found the going tough against and managed to score 114 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Dewank Mayekar scored was unbeaten on 33 runs and Suraj Patil scored 29 runs for the hosts in their disappointing loss.

Batting first, Mafatlal CC scored a huge total of 238 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted quota of overs. Leading the charge were fifties by Harshad Khadiwale (74) his second half century in as many matches in the tourney and Miten Shah (59) respectively. Waghela too contributed 29 runs with the willow to ensure a substantial team total, even as Machindra Kuthe bowled well to bag two wickets against the visitors.

Brief scores (Quarter Finals):

Accountant General SC: 167 for 9 in 20 overs (Bravish Shetty 45, Malhar Mane 25, Bhavesh Patel 25; Jay Nayak 4/17, Ameya Dandekar 2/47) lost to Reserve Bank of India:  173 for 5 in 18.5 overs (Roop Kumar 50, Prashad Bodke 45, Ramanpreet Singh 36, Ameya Dandekar 26*; Bhavesh Patel 2/28) by 5 wickets and 1.1 overs to spare

Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital - 120 for 8 in 20 overs (Omkar Jadhav 56; Maxwell Swaminathan 3/26, Omkar Ghule 2/22) lost to DTDC Express - 121 for 2 in 15.2 overs (Ajit Yadav 81; Farhan Kazi 2/28) by 8 wickets and 4.4 overs to spare

Mafatlal CC - 238 for 5 in 20 overs (Harshad Khadiwale 74, Miten Shah 59, Raj Waghela 29; Machindra Kuthe 2/35) beat RCF Sports Club - 114 for 6 in 20 overs (Dewank Mayekar 33*, Suraj Patil 29; Raj Waghela 4/16) by 124 runs.

Photo Above: RCF’s ED, Seshadri (Left), presents the Man of the Match award to Reserve Bank of India captain Jay Nayak for his four wicket haul against Accountant General SC