Canada-based National Under-17 batsman, Matthew Nandu, walked away with the Most Valuable Player award last weekend in the Under-18 Ontario Regional Championship League while captaining his side to second place.
Representing East in the round-robin tournament, the Vancouver Knight right hander scored 220 runs from four innings with an unbeaten century and a half century while ending with an average of 73. With the ball, the off-spinner bagged eight wickets.
East faced West in the final at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground but Nandu’s all-round performance was not enough as his side slipped to 28-run loss.
East won the toss and inserted West who made 183 all out from 38.2 of their 40-over allotment. West’s openers laid the foundation with a 107-run stand. Siddh Lad was patient in his 96-ball 65, stroking nine boundaries. His captain and fellow opener Mihir Patel laced six boundaries before departing for 46.
Lad then added 50 with Sahil Badin (31) before being dismissed. No other batsman reached double figures as Nandu returned four for 18. He was supported by Aditya Manjrekar who took three for 11.
The chase was inconsistent with East losing wickets regularly. Ramavir Dhallwall topscored with 40 from 67 balls, with five boundaries while Nandu chipped in with a 51-ball 38 decorated by two fours and one six.
Patel and Kairav Sharma were the principal wicket-takers, returning three wickets for 19 and 24 runs respectively.
Earlier, the two sides played to a tie in the group stage. East once again won the toss but took first strike, posting 183 all out in 37.4 overs while West were restricted to 183 for eight when their overs expired.
For East, Jevanand Nauth piloted the innings with 77, highlighted by three sixes and four fours. He was supported by Dhallwal, who made 30. Sharma proved to be the most impactful bowler, returning four for 41 while Patel and Jainil Majmudar had one wicket each.
West were cruising to their target with Mamudar stroking 54 from 60 balls but a cluster of wickets pegged back the chase. Nandu, Manjrekae, Harjap Saini and Zubayr Alikhan had a couple of wickets each.
Meanwhile against South, Nandu’s unbeaten 125 led them to a three-wicket win. Nandu’s 111-ball innings featured 13 boundaries. The captain added 77 for the fifth-wicket alongside Karan Amin (28) as they reached 217 for seven with two balls to spare.
Before, South posted 216 for four after winning the toss and opting to bat. Sheei Patel top scored with 66 and gathered support from Utkarsh Kohli (51) and Jash Shah (44). Kohli and Shah shared in a 111-run second wicket stand as Saini grabbed 2-41.
In the final group match against North, Nandu stroked 55 and picked up two for 14 in their four-wicket win.
North were limited to 140 all out as Krish Bandivdekar (3-31) and Nandu were difficult to face. Coming in at nine, Omar Nooristani top scored with a 42-ball 40, featuring five fours and one six. In the chase, Nandu anchored the innings, hitting just one six and one four before he was run out.