Articles

Amit Sapru

Mumbai: Cricket Club of India teams – CCI ‘Prezmen’ and CCI ‘Billiards Boys’ encountered mixed fortunes in the pre-quarter-final round of the CCI Kekoo Nicholson BSAM Billiards League 2018. CCI ‘Prezmen’ (handicap 55) cashed in on the home advantage to sideline strong challengers MHC ‘Avengers’ (handicap 180) by a comfortable 600-338 margin at the CCI Wilson Jones Billiards Room. On an adjacent table, CCI ‘Billiards Boys’ (200) went down fighting to PG ‘Centrics’ (170) 506-600 in a closely fought and thrilling, last 16 encounter.

CCI Prezmen who had conceded a 125 points handicap to the Malabar Hill Club side ‘Avengers, made a positive start as Hasan Badami (scratch handicap), comfortably defeated Manan Shah (+55) 200-94 in the opening frame. A break of 52 propelled Badami towards a 106 points margin of victory, which reduced Avengers advantage to just 19 points. In the second frame, Sparsh Pherwani (+20) was in complete control as he beat Nitin Banka (+60) by a margin of 68 points, with the scores reading 200-132 in favour of the former and provided CCI a 49 points cushion. In the third frame, Nishant Dossa (+35) needed to score 151 points and he smoothly sailed through against Kunal Gandhi (+65) posting a 151-112 win to seal Prezmen’s win and join CCI ‘Nicholson’s Boys’ in the quarter-final round.

Meanwhile, Billiards Boys were engaged in an absorbing tussle with Parsee Gymkhana’s ‘Centrics’ and the contest went to the wire. Zubin Vajifdar (+55) gave PG Centrics a winning start as he defeated Krish Bajaj (+75) 200-113 in the first frame. The 87 points difference helped the Parsee Gym team wipe out CCI’s 30 points advantage at the start and to seize a 57 points lead.

However, Centrics lost the second frame as Shahyan Razmi (+65), despite putting up a good effort, could not stop Satbir Narula (+50) from pulling off a 200-145 win and by a margin of 55 points. That narrowed Centrics advantage to just two points and set up an exciting final frame between Naville Razmi (+50) and CCI’s seasoned cueist Behari Bajaj (+75). The former was left with the task of scoring 198 points and Bajaj needing to score 200. Both players played freely and went for their shots as the scores ran close before Bajaj managed to nose ahead at 190-180 and was within distance of a win. But, Razmi stayed focused and grabbed his chances to gradually score the required 18 points to snatch a sensational win which carried Centrics to the last 8 round.

In other matches, defending champions Catholic ‘Decapitare’ (100) defeated CG ‘Dream Team’ (-20) 600-481 and PCL ‘Beach Boys’ (100) got the better of BG ‘Phantoms (30) 600-311 to also advance to the quarter-finals. Amit Sapru (+25) constructed a 65 break, the best of the day, as he won the first frame against Kaizad Fitter (+30) 200-156 to put Beach Boys on the road to victory. Thereafter, Vishal Gehani and Sanjiv Bijlani won their respective ties to complete Beach Boys’ win.

Results – Pre-quarter-finals: CCI 'Prezmen' (55) beat MHC 'Avengers' (180) 600-338 (Hasan Badami (SCR) bt Manan Shah (+55) 200(52)-94, Sparsh Pherwani (+20) bt Nitin Banka (+60) 200-132, Nishant Dossa (+35) bt Kunal Gandhi (+65) 151-112).

PCL 'Beach Boys' (handicap 100) beat BG 'Phantoms' (handicap 30) 600-311 (Amit Sapru (+25) bt Kaizad Fitter (+30) 200(65)-156, Vishal Gehani (+25) bt Rishabh Kumar (-10) 200-145, Sanjiv Bijlani (+50) bt Nitesh Madan (+10) 32-10).

CCI 'Prezmen' (55) beat MHC 'Avengers' (180) 600-338 (Hasan Badami (SCR) bt Manan Shah (+55) 200(52)-94, Sparsh Pherwani (+20) bt Nitin Banka (+60) 200-132, Nishant Dossa (+35) bt Kunal Gandhi (+65) 151-112).

PG 'Centrics' (170) beat CCI 'Billiards Boys' (200) 600-506 (Zubin Vajifdar (+55) bt Krish Bajaj (+75) 200-113, Shahyan Razmi (+65) lost Satbir Narula (+50) 145(33)-200, Neville Razmi (+50) bt Behari Bajaj (+75) 198-193).

Catholic 'Decapitare' (100) beat CG 'Dream Team' (-30) 600-481 (Melwyn Mascarenhas (+20) lost Loukic Pathare (-20) 162-200(54), Clyde Afonso (+60) lost Ashok Shandilya (-80) 135-200, Carl Serrao (+20) bt Sagar Madan (+70) 173(42)-81).