GREATWHITE PRESENTS CCI KEKOO NICHOLSON BSAM BILLIARDS LEAGUE 2023
NSCI stuns champs MCF, to meet Park Club in final
26-May-2023
Siddharth Parikh
Mumbai, 26: NSCI (National Sports Club of India) ‘A’ team and Park Club scored commendable victories to set a clash in the final of the BSAM organized Greatwhite-CCI Kekoo Nicholson Mumbai Billiards League 2023.
In the first semi-final, NSCI won the crucial third match to send defending champions Mandpeshwar Civic Federation (MCF) crashing out, registering a 551-539 victory. In the other semi-final, P.J. Hindu Gymkhana’s Siddharth Parikh, raised hopes of his team’s success as he neatly compiled a massive unfinished break of 155 points, but his effort went in vain as Park Club captain and third player Sanjiv Bijlani managed to score the required points which helped his team clinch a 519-492 win at the Cricket Club of India’s Sir Wilson Jones billiards hall, late Wednesday evening.
MCF (-45 handicap) won the first two matches and cut down NSCI’s (+145) overall 190 point advantage. MCF captain Rohan Jambusaria (-60) constructed a break of 86 and defeated Abhishek Bajaj (+60) 200-55, by a 145 point difference, which reduced NSCI’s advantage to 45 points. Later, Akshay Gogri (+15) although not at his best overcame Siddhesh Khaitan (+65) 200-151 by a 49 point difference and gave his team a four point advantage going into the third match.
In the third tie, NSCI’s Abhishek Joshi (+20) showed nerves of steel and played confidently to put it across Chandu Kansodaria (SCR) who was left to score 196 points to win the match. But, Joshi was rock solid and capitalized on every opportunity to make small substantial breaks to gather his points before going on to cross the finish line, winning 200-184. Kansodaria tried his best but fell marginally short by 12 points.
Later in the evening, Vishal Gehani (-10) survived a late charge from Rovin D'Souza (-20) as he managed to scrape through winning at 200-169 by 31 points and extended Park Club’s 150 point advantage at the start, to 181 points. Later, Lalit Jham (+60) proved to be no match for Parikh (-90) and went down tamely at 50-200, which cut Park Club advantage to 31 points. In the third frame, Bijlani (+50) was left to score 169 points against Devansh Jariwal (+60) who had to make 200 points. Bijlani comfortably crossed the finish line, while Jariwal fell short by 27 points, with the match scores reading 169-173.
Results (semi-finals): NSCI ‘A’ beat Mandpeshwar Civic Federation 551-539 (Abhishek Bajaj (+60) lost Rohan Jambusaria (-60) 55-200(86), Siddhesh K (+65) lost Akshay Gogri (+15) 151-200(46), Abhishek Joshi (+20) bt Chandu Kansodaria (SCR) 200-184).
Park Club beat P.J. Hindu Gymkhana ‘A’ 519-492 (Vishal Gehani (-10) beat Rovin D'Souza (-20) 200-169, Lalit Jham (+60) lost Siddharth Parikh (-90) 50-200(155-UF), Sanjiv Bijlani (+50) bt Devansh Jariwal (+60) 169-173).