Sydney strikers

In a thrilling finish, Homeher Bana’s Heroes defeated brother Beghzad Bana’s Valiants by three runs at the entertaining social cricket match organized by the Australian Zoroastrian Association (AZA) at Langlands Oval in Sydney. This was a revenge match as last year Beghzad’s XII had beaten Homeher’s XII by 25 runs. The Zoro vs Zoro match played by both male and female cricketers was held on January 14 this year.
It was a perfect day for cricket. The fine weather contributed to the spectacular batting with 449 runs hammered in 330 minutes with fours and sixes galore, a near hat-trick and tall catches swallowed up by fielders, young and old. The rules of cricket were amended by AZA to make the game enjoyable for all: no one can be given out for zero; a batsman has to retire after scoring 35 and every player can bowl at least two overs.
Beghzad won the toss and opted to bat. Openers Sheriar Pestonji and Vahishtad Patel started well but youngsters Surosh Khurshed and Shyan Govekar sent them back to the pavilion. Patel fell to a brotherly trap — stumped Cyrus Govekar, bowled Shyan Govekar. Later, watching Cyrus (13 years) and Shyan (11 years) bat was like admiring the Marsh brothers Shaun and Mitchell score centuries in the January Sydney Ashes Test.

Enjoying cricket in Sydney by forming their own teams and rules Photos: Merzi Modi

Beghzad’s Valiants scored 223 runs in 45 overs with superb stroke play by the captain (34 with five fours and a six), Shane Pestonji (37 retired, with three fours and a six), Kobad Bhavnagri (24 with three fours), Tehmasp Parekh (22 with three fours) and Merzi Modi (22 with four fours). Cyrus Pestonji was outstanding, capturing three wickets.
After a delightful pizza lunch, two Cyruses — evergreen Pestonji (35 retired, smacking five superlative fours) and Govekar opened Homeher Heroes’ innings. Farzan Khan bowled with speed and accuracy. Then followed the best stand of the day between Cyrus Pestonji and Kerfegar Parekh (40 retired, hitting five magnificent fours and a six). Brother Behram Pestonji scored 20 before he was caught by nephew Sheriar Pestonji.
Captain Homeher was in a hurry, smashing 14 without running, belting two fours and a six before he holed out to Patel. The tempo then changed to Test cricket mode with father-son Porus and Shyan Govekar playing defensively.
They were close to victory but line and length bowling from Khan and others slowed down the chase, helped by tight fielding. Rayo Pavri came close to taking a hat-trick. Surprisingly, the winning run for Homeher’s Heroes who totaled 226 came off Benafsha Bhavnagri’s bat, smacking Kainaaz Variava to leg side. Women power indeed.
The match was a gher no gahanbar dominated by family connections. Besides the Bana brothers and Govekar brothers and father, were the Pestonji brothers — Cyrus and Behram, Shane and Narius. In fact three generations of Pestonjis played: Cyrus, Sheriar and Ryen. Other father-son duos in action were Tehmas and Kerfegar Parekh, Zubin and Jal Marolia, Viraf and Percy Variava. And then there was the husband-wife Kobad and Benafsha Bhavnagri.
At the presentation, Piloo Naoroz, the donor of the Rustom Naoroz Shield for the best bowler of the match, spoke a few words on her late husband Rustom and his contribution to Parsi cricket in Pakistan.
For the nearly 60 players and spectators who were mainly family or friends, not to forget babies Kayan Bhavnagri and Jamie Panthaky, as also Oscar, the lovable Labrador, it was a match to treasure as everyone returned home happy. It was good to see the occasional pedestrians too cheering the lofty sixes and spectacular catches.