Luthra's all-round show helps Rizvi claim Giles Shield after Harris honours

Motivated after earning a berth in the Mumbai U-14 squad on Thursday, Aakash Luthra dished out a spirited performance to give Rizvi Springfield (Bandra) their second MSSA Giles Shield (U-14) inter-school cricket title yesterday at the Bombay Gymkhana. Rizvi were also the Harris Shield (U-16) champion this year.

The left-arm spinner, who scored 101 runs on Thursday, bowled his heart out to grab five of the remaining six Parle Tilak (English) wickets and dismiss them for 278.



The Tilak boys managed to add just 91 runs to their overnight score in reply to Rizvi's 451.

Aakash, who finished with six for 75, hoped for an encore in his maiden Mumbai under-14 match. "Yesterday (Thursday) I was a bit tired as I had to rush for a bone test at the Hinduja Hospital and then complete the necessary formalities at MCA after scoring a century. I took a wicket but I wasn't satisfied as I am primarily a bowler.

"But today I am happy with the way I bowled. I want to better my performance when I play for Mumbai now. I don't want to waste my opportunity," said Aakash, who scored 380 runs and took 37 wickets in five Giles Shield matches.

Aakash's bowling was all the more commendable yesterday because he managed to take wickets on a flat batting track.

"The conditions were not ideal for a spinner. I was not getting the turn, as I would have wished to. But I spoke to my coach (Raju Pathak) and seniors and they asked me to frustrate the batsmen by bowling a tight line without giving away runs.

"I did the same and was successful," said Aakash.