The Nagpur leg of the fourth edition of the MI Junior Inter-School Tournament concluded on Thursday in Nagpur with Shri Rajendra High School winning the Girls’ U-15 and Boys’ U-16 age categories and Podar International School emerging triumphant in Boys’ U-14 age group.

This year, 44 schools and 64 teams took part in the competition, with nearly 887 players taking part in this edition of the tournament. There were a total of eight female teams with 108 women players taking part this year. Matches were also held in Hinganghat in the Wardha district of Maharashtra..

Shri Rajendra High School thumped Bhavan’s BP Vidhya Mandir, Srikrishna Nagar by 267 runs to lift the U-15 Trophy in Nagpur on Thursday. Batting first, Akshara Itankar (116* off 54) and Rujula Kharabe (113 off 59) scored sensational tons to lead Shri Rajendra to a mammoth 316/2 in 20 overs. Bhavan’s BP Vidhya Mandir were then restricted to just 49, thanks to a stellar five-for by Rima Paunikar (5 for 10).

Shri Rajendra High School won their second trophy in Nagpur, defeating The Royal Gondwana Public School by an impressive 175 runs in the Boys’ Under-16 final. Batting first, Daksh Yadav (79* off 59) and Saish Bhise (68* off 44) came in at No. 7 and 9 to finish the Shri Rajendra innings in style, guiding them to a commanding 292/7 in 40 overs. Daksh then starred with the ball (3-32) too to dismiss Royal Gondwana for 117.

In the Boys’ U-14 final in Nagpur, Nagesh Umale (130* off 115 and 3 for 46) showcased his all-round brilliance to drive Podar International School, Besa, to a 77-run win over Centre Point School, Katol Road.

“MI Junior ensures that there’s more participation in the fourth season, with more number of players coming, so this is going to spread in this part of the world in Maharashtra, in Vidarbha, Pune, Mumbai, amongst other places,” Mumbai Indians scout TA Sekar said on the sidelines of the competition.

Brief Scores:

BOYS U14 (Final)

Podar International School, Besa 280/4 in 40 overs (Nagesh Umale 130*, Ansh Bageshwar 92; Laksh Rohit Sangar 3-49) beat Centre Point School, Katol Road 203 all out in 37.4 overs (Riyansh Gupta 54, Laksh Rohit Sangar 37; Kush Sharma 3-41, Nagesh Umale 3-46).

Player of the match: Nagesh Umale

GIRLS U-15 (Final)

Shri Rajendra High School 316/2 in 20 overs (Akshara Itankar 116*, Rujula Kharabe 113) beat Bhavan’s BP Vidhya Mandir, Srikrishna Nagar 49 all out in 11.5 overs (Rima Paunikar 5-10).

Player of the match: Akshara Itankar

BOYS U16 (Final)

Shri Rajendra High School 292/7 in 40 overs (Daksh Yadav 79*, Saish Bhise 68*, Krish Sonkusre 54; Akshat Suryawanshi 3-62) beat The Royal Gondwana Public School 117 all out in 33.2 overs (Krish Shirpurwar 30, Manipreeth Reddy 30; Daksh Yadav 3-32).

Player of the match: Daksh Yadav