Playing cricket with passion and a sense of fun, the Australian Zoroastrian Association of New South Wales festival match at Annangrove Park in Sydney ended in an exciting finish on February 26, 2023 with both teams scoring 180 runs. The two teams were captained by the young Parekh brothers, Kerfegar and Rushad, noted a report by avid cricket fans Kersi Meher-Homji and Cyrus Pestonji. Kerfegar won the toss and decided to bowl. Shahaan Choksey from his team opened the bowling with a fiery spell and captured three wickets. The other bowler who impressed was Naushad Bamboat who took two key wickets. Rushad’s XI totalled 180 runs with contributions from Rayomand Pavri, Shahaan’s brother Shiroy, Malcolm Bilimoria, Kaizan Bhagwagar, Jal Marolia and the skipper.
Top and above: veteran and budding cricketers playing a
match in Sydney; above r : Kersi Meher-Homji at the crease
Photos: Anya Panthaky
The run chase from Kerfegar’s XI started after a lunch of pizzas and salad. Kerfegar and Shahaan opened the innings facing fast and accurate bowling from Rushad. Both batted with gusto. This opening partnership set the base for a thrilling finish. Good batting followed from Behram Pestonji, and brothers Beghzad and Homeher Bana. Jehan Bamboat bowled with accuracy and guile to grab four wickets.
When Kerfegar’s XI were 22 runs short of the 181 required to win, Simin Khan and Aresh Daruwalla were at the crease. With the score at 179 and two balls left, it seemed victory was in sight but Aresh got out which left Simin to score the two required off one ball. She ran a quick single but was run out and the innings ended at 180. A tie! Eight-year-old Naushad bowled with accuracy and pinned the batsmen down in the last vital overs.
Veteran Dara Wadia presented the trophies. Shahaan was declared the player of the match; the batting award went to Bilimoria; the best bowler to Jehan and the Encouragement Award to Naushad.