AZA’s colorful cricket

Even as all eyes were on the International Cricket Council World Cup matches in the Indian subcontinent in February-March 2011, the Australian Zoroastrian Association (AZA) organized its annual cricket match at Annangrove in Sydney that was contested with equal feverish fervor. The Vultures XI led by Kevin Batliwala triumphed comfortably after dismissing Rushad Parekh’s The First XI for 99 runs.

The hero for The First XI was tall Viraf Variava who contributed half his team’s total and retired after scoring a fluent 50. Man of the Match Variava received valuable support from Na­w­zer Billi­moria and young Ker­fegar Parekh. Kerfegar’s younger brother Rushad, age nine, Jal Marolia, Zubin and Malcolm Bilimoria, Hoshe­dar Kharas, Jerestene Saher and Percy Variava batted with determination.

Clockwise from center: Cyrus Pestonji receives Batsman of the Match award; enjoying cricket; enthusiastic players with Jerestene Saher (far left); Kersi Meher-Homji and Player of the Match winner Viraf Variava

The wicket-takers for The Vultures XI were quickies Aarish Doodha and Rayomand Pavri, and spinners Cyrus Pestonji and Batliwala, while Percy Bilimoria, age seven, fielded brilliantly, impressing those present with his hand-eye-ball coordination.

Fortified by the Pizza break, The Vultures XI batted with aggression. The highlight of the day was Cyrus Pestonji’s boundary-studded 50 (retired) and his 61 run stand with Batliwala (29) for the second wicket. Pestonji has been playing in the AZA matches since 1982 and his consistency and longevity can be compared with Sachin Tendulkar’s.

Doodha hit two classy fours in his short but spectacular innings. Pavri, Percy Bilimoria, the two Farokhs — Kermani and Batliwala, Kersi Meher-Homji and Zubin Marolia enjoyed every minute at the crease.

The Parekh brothers commenced the bowling attack with fire and brimstone and much is expected from them. Also, their appealing was Test-class; their screams of "Howzzzaaattt” would put Brett Lee to shame! The other successful bowlers were Percy Variava and Malcolm Bilimoria. Kerfegar Parekh is also a marvelous fielder, twice breaking the stumps from the boundary line.

But the most glamorous fielder was AZA secretary Saher in her eye-catching outfit as she fielded appropriately at fine-leg position.

AZA would like to invite Zubin Surkari who represented Canada in the current World Cup to play for AZA’s annual cricket match this December.

Kersi Meher-Homji (adapted from AZA newsletter Manashni, February 2011)