Sharjah. Gems Modern Academy, Dubai will take on Our Own English High School, Sharjah in the final of the Maxtalent Global Sports (MGS) inter-school final for the MGS Vision Cup at the Skyline University ground in Sharjah today.
Top schools from different emirates in the UAE came up with intense performances in the inter-school tournament, which marked its 11th edition and is among the oldest tournaments in the UAE held under the aegis of the Sharjah Cricket Council.
The contests produced eight centuries and one double century and also a hat-trick.
Speaking to Gulf News, Sudhakar Shetty, the head coach of MGS Academy, which envisioned the tournament, said: “Never before have so many centuries been scored in inter-school tournaments and it shows the increasing standard of inter-school cricket in UAE with many young talents coming to the fore. It was undoubtedly our best edition this year.”
Gems Modern Academy’s Ronak Panoly, who created history by cracking 252 runs off just 72 balls against Millennium School, Dubai led the way. His others scores include 146 and 117. Another star performer was Our Own Sharjah’s Shoun Roger, with knocks of 105 and 121. All eyes will be on these two players in the final today as they feature on opposing sides.
Delhi Private School, Dubai’s Harsh Bobade too hit two centuries, with knocks of 102 and 147. Alishan Sharafu of Our Own English Al Warqa too hit 109 runs while Varun Ravi, the Gems Modern team captain, cracked an unbeaten 103 and Shival Bawa of JSS International also made the list of centurions with a knock of 134. Pranav Rajendra of Our Own School Al Warqa narrowly missed out from making the centurions list after falling one run short against Ambassador School, Dubai.
Archit Rajesh of Our Own Sharjah produced one of the deadliest spells (4 for 23) in the event, which included a hat-trick, against Cambridge International school.
In the semi-final, Our Own School fought hard to down Indian High School Dubai by nine runs. Our Own, after posting 106 for 8 in 20 overs restricted Indian High School to 97 for 6 in the 20 overs despite Kushal Chiluka’s battling knock of 53 off 56 balls.
In the second semi-final, GEMS sailed smoothly past DPS Dubai by ten wickets. After restricting DPS to 126 in 19.1 overs thanks mainly to Ronak Panoly’s deadly spell of 4 for 22, Panoly went on to crack 117 off 38 balls to ensure a ten-wicket wicket win for GEMS.
Brief scores:
Our Own English High School, Sharjah bt Indian High School, Dubai by 9 runs. Our Own School 106 for 8 in 20 overs (M. Mujtaba 28, Pranav Adnani 3 for 13, Kushal Chiluka 2 for 15) Indian High School 97 for 6 in 20 overs (Kushal Chiluka 53, Ayaan Khan 2 for 10) Man of the match: Ayaan Khan.
Gems Modern Academy bt DPS Dubai by 10 wkts. DPS, Dubai 126 in 19.1 overs ( Harsh Bobade 41, Nilanch Keswani 22, Ronak Panoly 4 for 22) Gems Academy 130 in 18.2 overs (Ronak Panoly 117) Man of the match: Ronak Panoly
