Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Oxford Cricket Club finished their Junior Cricket Championship campaign on a high by clinching third place with a convincing six wicket win over Ghumteshwar on Saturday. The third place playoff was played at the 1919 Cricket Stadium, where Oxford showcased superior batting depth and disciplined bowling to close the tournament confidently.
Batting first, Ghumteshwar struggled to build sustained momentum and were bowled out for 150 in 24.4 overs. Parth Sankpal emerged as the top scorer with a steady 44, while Rehan Hubali added 34 and Sachin Bora chipped in with 25. Despite a few promising partnerships, Ghumteshwar failed to capitalise in the latter stages as wickets fell at regular intervals. Oxford’s bowling unit applied consistent pressure, led by an impressive all round effort from Harsh Nain, who returned figures of three for 24. He was well supported by Mubarak Tadpatri, who claimed two wickets, and Abhishek Lamani, who maintained control through the middle overs.
In reply, Oxford wasted little time asserting dominance. The chase was anchored by an outstanding innings from Vishesh Behl, who smashed 82 runs off just 40 deliveries. His aggressive stroke play dismantled the Ghumteshwar bowling attack and ensured the required run rate never became a concern. Behl found solid support from Harsh Nain, who followed up his bowling effort with a composed 30, while Aman Pratap Singh contributed a useful 17.
Oxford raced to 153 for four in just over fifteen overs, completing the chase with ease and underlining their batting strength. The bowlers of Ghumteshwar tried to stem the flow of runs, with Arnav Naik, Aarav Virajdar, Parth Sankpal and Aadil Sayyad picking up a wicket each, but the target proved insufficient against Oxford’s intent.
Harsh Nain was named Player of the Match for his impactful contribution with both bat and ball, playing a key role in securing third place for Oxford Cricket Club. The victory provided a strong finish to Oxford’s tournament journey and highlighted the team’s balance and depth in the junior championship.
