Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will take on Repro India Sport Club in the summit clash of of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar T20 Cup Inter-Office Cricket Tournament 2024 (RCF T20 Cup), after registering hard fought victories over defending champion DTDC Express Sports Club and Mafatlal Cricket Club in the Semi-Finals respectively.

In the Semi-finals of the annual tourney that is being organized by Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF) under the auspices of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and played at the RCF Colony ground in Chembur, RBI showcased plenty of determination and grit as they overhauled a competitive target of 180 set by DTDC in the final ball of the innings with three wickets in hand.

Coming at the back of loss of three top order batters early on, Reserve Bank fought back through match winning efforts of their middle order batters Jyot Chhaya (57) and Shubham Chag (42) who added 74 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. Both played briskly during their stay at the wicket with Jyot smashing four boundaries and four sixes off mere 30 balls while Shubham complemented his partner with three boundaries and two sixes during his 23-balls stay. Later, Roop Kumar who struck an unbeaten 26 runs and Ramanpreet Singh 19 runs ensured RBI crossed the line in the final ball of the thrilling match. Ajit Yadav (2/25) and Aniket Singh (2/29) were the successful DTDC bowlers.

Earlier electing to bat first DTDC Express posted a decent total of 179 for the loss of five wickets from their stipulated 20 overs. Leading DTDC’s charge was opening batsmen Japjeet Randhwa who smashed a 61 ball 82 runs laced with seven boundaries and three sixes and Viraj Jadhav who added valuable 32 runs. Later, middle order bats, Ajit Yadav scored 27 runs and Omkar Ghule made 19 runs to lift the DTDC innings. Reserve Bank’s all-rounder Ameya Dandekar took two wickets for 25 runs.

Chief Guest, Shivkumar, CGM (F), RCF presented the ‘Man of the Match’ award to Reserve Bank’s middle order batter Jyot Chhaya who scored 57 runs.

Earlier in the first Semis Repro India SC snatched a close two-wicket victory against Mafatlal CC in a well-contested tie on Wednesday.

Sent in to bat first, Mafatlal CC batters struggled to stay get going and were bowled out for a paltry 131 in 18.3 overs. The only batsmen who managed to stay long at the crease was middle order bat Saurabh Singh who cracked  53 runs from 37 balls inclusive of a solitary hit to the boundary and four towering sixes. The same came at the back of his captain Miten Shah’s hurricane effort, who smashed a rapid 13-ball 45 runs which was studded with five boundaries and four sixes as an opener. Repro bowlers Shubham Marathe 4 for 32 and all-rounder Rohit Shukla 3 for 31 did well to restrict the Mafatlal batters by taking wickets at crucial times.

Chasing a modest target of 132 runs for a win, the Repro India batsmen also encountered some problems but managed to scrape through making 134 for the loss of eight wickets in 18.4 overs. Leading Repro India’s charge to victory was their number three batsman Yogesh Dongre who top-scored with a 30-ball 41 runs which was studded with six well-timed shots to the ropes and one hit over the ropes. Dongre’s teammates Harsh Salunkhe 26 runs, Sumeir Zaveri 21 runs and Rohit Shukla an unbeaten 20 runs ensured their team crossed the finish line and book a place in the final.

Mafatlal bowlers Rohit Singh 4 for 15 and Yash Singh 3 for 22 tried their best but could not get the last two wickets and as Repro SC scraped through in the final for the first time.

Brief scores – Semi-finals:

Mafatlal CC - 131 all out in 18.3 overs (Saurabh Singh 53 (37b: 1x4, 4x6s), Miten Shah 45 (13b: 5x4s,4x6s); Shubham Marathe 4/32, Rohit Shukla 3/31) lost to Repro India SC - 134 for 8 in 18.4 overs (Yogesh Dongre 41 (30b: 6x4s,1x6s), Harsh Salunkhe 26, Sumeir Zaveri 21, Rohit Shukla 20*; Rohit Singh 4/15, Yash Singh 3/22) by two wickets and two  balls to spare. Player of the Match:  Shubham Marathe (Repro India SC)

DTDC Express SC - 179 for 5 in  20 overs (Japjeet Randhwa 82 (61b: 7x4s, 3x6s), Viraj Jadhav 32, Ajit Yadav 27, Omkar Ghule 19; Ameya Dandekar 2/25) lost to Reserve Bank of India - 180 for 7 in  20 overs (Jyot Chhaya 57 (30b: 4x4s,4x6s), Shubham Chag 42 (23b: 3x4s,2x6s), Roop Kumar 26*, Ramanpreet Singh 19; Ajit Yadav 2/25, Aniket Singh 2/29) by three wickets. Player of the Match:  (Jyot Chhaya (Reserve Bank of India)

Photo above: Repro India SC bowler Shubham Marathe who picked four wickets was declared ‘Man of the Match’ and received his award from Chief Guests, Anil Kumar Shrivastava ED (Tr), RCF and Nilesh Bhosale, Apex Council Member, MCA