Sydney’s seven Zubins

In six hours of high octane action (and pepperoni pizzas), the Zoro v. Zoro Annual Match in Sydney in January 2007 fluctuated widely before ending in a tie, both teams scoring 191.

In breezy sunshine, Wadia’s Warriors won the toss and batted. Their tall captain, Viraf Wadia, a Sydney shire all-rounder, was adjudged Man of the Match after top-scoring, snaring many wickets and running out two opponents with direct Ricky Ponting-like throws. Others to shine out for their team were Kayomarz Sidhwa and Karan Dang.

All 25 bowlers, ages varying from seven to 70, were tried (Guinness Book of Records, please note!) and some of them bowled better than the English Test cricketers massacred by Australian batsmen in the recent Ashes Tests. Two under-10 boys stole the show for the opponents. Kerfegar Parekh took vital wickets and received acclaim. Not far behind was Kevin ‘Pietersen’ Batliwala. Only seven and dressed in white flannels, he took a measured run-up of 15 steps and captured a wicket off his first delivery.

Captaining Govekar’s Greats, Porus ‘Gavaskar’ Govekar took four splendid catches while Iyanoosh ‘Ivanhoe’ Reporter held a screamer. Govekar’s Greats started slowly but accelerated their run-rate. Difficult catches were taken and easy ones floored. Mehrzad Variava, Shane Pestonji and Neville Mehta hit out with gusto, spraying sixes as if they were confetti.

Sidelight of the match was the recently married couple Rakhshan­deh and Zubin Appoo batting together in perfect marital harmony. (There were seven Zubins in the match, a world record?)

An interesting family touch was witnessed when Beghzad Bana was caught behind by brother Homeher off his sister Freeya’s bowling. It made an interesting score-line: Bana c. Bana b. Bana!

For lovers of trivia, Kersi "Uncle” scored three runs, took three wickets in three overs and dropped three catches. I suspect he was dropping hints to "3” mobile company to give him a free phone!

Girls demonstrated that they were not only equal to men but braver. Some batted without pads and gloves.

Jal Marolia, aged nine, effected a spectacular run out with a direct throw and was chaired by his team mates in zany celebrations. The gallantry award should go to his dad Zubin Marolia. He cut his left hand when attempting to take a tall catch. He returned to the field soon after getting stitched up and bandaged, bowled fast and accepted a taller and harder catch.

The best-dressed player was Adil Dorabjee. In a fluttering handkerchief under his cap, he resembled a handsome Arab chief. Tim Kapadia kept everyone informed and amused with his on-field running commentary.

Umpire Naushad Mistry deserved the Masochist of the Match Award. Single-handed he umpired for six hours, signaling fours, sixes, outs and wides and deserved free massage for his overstretched arms!

The man behind the fixture was Beghzad Bana who organized the match from ho to go and made it oh so enjoyable. Kersi Meher-Homji