Defending champions Anjuman-I-Islam Allana English School (Fort) reaffirmed their supremacy in Mumbai inter-school cricket by retaining the Harris Shield title with a composed victory over Al-Barkaat Malik Muhammad English School (Kurla) in the final played under the aegis of the Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Batting first in their second innings, Al-Barkaat posted a competitive 243-3 in 40 overs, built around a fine century from Arhaan Patel. He compiled a well-paced 105, anchoring the innings against disciplined bowling. Arhaan found able solid support in Pradyankur Bhalerao, whose aggressive 67 added momentum during the middle overs.
Al-Barkaat added crucial runs towards the end, with Anjuman conceding 32 in the final four overs when play resumed on the concluding day. The late surge lifted the total and briefly swung the momentum in their favour.
Despite the late charge, Anjuman bowlers remained largely in control for most of the innings, showing discipline and composure under pressure. Their ability to restrict scoring for long periods ensured the target, though demanding, remained within reach.
In reply, Anjuman approached the chase with the calm assurance expected of defending champions. The top order laid a steady foundation, allowing the middle order to build the innings without undue pressure.
Laxmanprasad Vishwakarma emerged as the key figure in the chase, scoring a vital 53 under testing circumstances. His innings was marked by composure, smart strike rotation, and timely boundary-hitting, keeping the required rate firmly under control.
He received valuable support from Kabir Jagtap, whose fluent 43 proved decisive in neutralising Al-Barkaat’s bowling attack. The partnership ensured Anjuman-I-Islam maintained momentum and avoided late setbacks as they closed in on the target with authority.
88
No. of runs put on by Anjuman-I-Islam’s Laxmanprasad Vishwakarma and Kabir Jagtap during their unbeaten, match-winning stand
105*
No. of runs scored by Al-Barkaat’s Arhaan Patel in the second innings, the highest individual score in the final
Individual honours
Best batter: Laxmanprasad Vishwakarma (Anjuman)
Best bowler: Golu Pal (Dnyandeep Seva Mandal)
Best all-rounder: Yuvan Sharma (Anjuman)
