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Winning strokes

By Parinaz Gandhi · May 7, 2018
The Royals, captained by Hormaz Variava, emerged winners at the annual cricket tournament organized by the Parsee Youth League of Ahmedabad (PYLA) over four Sundays from February 11 to March 4, 2018. They defeated team Stars captained by Sheroy Daruwala by 20 runs. Team Blasters was captained by Bomi Sethna. The 20 overs competition was played on a round robin basis at the C. N. Vidhyalaya Cricket Grounds.
"All the three round robin matches were very keenly contested with each team of 12 members winning one match. Stars and Royals progressed to the finals on the basis of more points," noted a report by Hoshedar Daboo. In the finals witnessed by a good crowd, the Royals scored 199 with Variava scoring a scintillating 122 runs with 14 fours and eight sixes to emerge Man of the Final. He was also conferred medals for being the best batsman and the Man of the first Match.
Top: Team Royals, winners of the cricket tournament in Ahmedabad; 2nd row (from l):
Hormaz Variava; Maedioma Manager receiving trophy from Justice Jamshed Pardiwala
and Jal Unvala as Bomi Sethna applauds

The best player for the Stars team was Maedioma Manager who hit 67 runs in the last 10 overs. He was declared Man of the Tournament. The other medal winners were Rusi Bavadam who was Man of the second Match and Ariz Bokdawalla, Man of the third Match. Bokdawalla also shared the best bowler medal with Delzad Khambatta. The best wicket-keeper was Cyrus Daruwala with the best fielders being Jamshed Kavina and Meherzad Hansotia. Ervad Vazaan Dastoor and Shezad Contractor were named upcoming youngsters. The eldest player was 52-year-old Dinyar Gandhi, and the youngest, aged 13 years, was Vazaan. The winning team got a cash prize of Rs 5,000. All the players and guests were provided snacks and drinks on all four days.

The trophy and medals were presented by chief guest Justice Jamshed Pardiwala of the Gujarat High Court, a former office bearer of PYLA. He was also a close friend of Gujarat High Court advocate Tehmpton Nanavatti in whose name the match is being played for the last seven years. "He supported the Parsi youth in many ways before his untimely demise in 2010," stated Daboo, adding, this tournament played for the last 30 years is "a much awaited yearly fixture in the calendar of Ahmedabad Parsis."

Formed in 1980, PYLA has been "at the forefront of youth activities and events in Ahmedabad," wrote Bokdawalla in response to Parsiana’s queries. Besides the cricket and volley ball tournaments, they organize summer indoor sports day, winter camp fire, Navroz programs and other activities. "More than 20 PYLA office bearers have gone on to become Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat trustees, general secretary and committee members," added Bokdawalla.

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