Six SPSA teams played in Week 2 of the ECB Academy League, between 9 and 11 October, and two came away with wins. The U15 Rangers made it two wins from two with a 127-run victory built on Wayne Crasta’s 72. The SPSA Avengers, last season’s U12 Division A champions, began their title defence with an 11-run win.
Three teams also played their first matches of the season: the Avengers, the U12 Ajman squad and the SPSA Falcons in the Girls U15 league. The U15 Mavericks and Raiders were not in action this weekend.
Missed last week? Read the Week 1 roundup, and follow all our teams on the SPSA in the ECB Academy League page.
U15 Rangers win by 127 runs (Division B)
SPSA Rangers U15 174/7 (30 overs) · Royal Spartans Team Red U15 47 all out (11.3 overs)
10 October, MCC 2 Ajman · Full scorecard
Put in to bat, the Rangers lost two early wickets before Player of the Match Wayne Crasta took control. His 72 off 82 balls was SPSA’s first fifty of this ECB season. He and Ryan Easow (40 off 41) added 103 for the fourth wicket. Naksh Sanghavi’s quick 13 off 11 helped push the total to 174.
Wayne was just as busy in the field, with three brilliant catches and a run-out. The Spartans were 6/3 inside two overs, as Essa Tausif struck twice. Arjun Nagathan followed last week’s five-wicket haul with 3 for 6, and Sai Subhash Saripalli took 2 for 4 to wrap up the innings in under 12 overs.
“One more fantastic performance from the Rangers, securing a strong win against Royal Spartans Red. The standout performer was Wayne Crasta, who played an outstanding innings of 72 and took three magnificent catches. That was the game changer.”
Coach Nihal
U12 Avengers win by 11 runs (Division A)
SPSA Avengers U12 108/7 (25 overs) · YSCA Super Strikers U12 97 all out (25 overs)
10 October, MCC 2 Ajman · Full scorecard
The defending champions opened their title defence with a hard-fought win at home. Player of the Match Savya Dakhera gave the innings a fast start with 22 off 28, but the Avengers slipped to 54/6. Zack Crasta (23) and Rohinth Jeyaraj (13 not out) then added 49 for the seventh wicket to take the total past 100.
Yuven Mehta made the early breakthroughs with 3 for 22, bowling two batters, and Vihaan Mahesh gave away just 6 runs in his 4 overs. The Super Strikers fought back to 97/7, but the Avengers took their last three wickets in the final over, two of them run-outs, to seal the win. Savya also bowled a maiden in his 1 for 14 and was involved in a run-out.
“Our first match in U12 Division A began with an inspiring victory. After posting 108 for 7, the team showed great determination to defend a modest target. Huge credit to our bowling unit for a disciplined performance, and to every player for their commitment, energy and teamwork in the field. This win reflects the fighting spirit of our young Avengers. A fantastic start to the season. Let’s keep believing, improving and smashing forward.”
Coach Nandhu
U12 Warriors lose by 42 runs (Division A)
Rays Cricket Academy U12 173/3 (25 overs) · SPSA Warriors U12 131/9 (24 overs)
10 October, Vision Cricket Grounds · Full scorecard
The Warriors chose to bowl and had Rays at 12/1 early, but Player of the Match Amey Vaidya (59 off 56) and Aarush Yarlagadda (38) put on 102 for the second wicket. Nuwaan Kewalia bowled tightly, with 8 runs from 3 overs including a maiden. Yashmit Roy (1 for 7) and Humayl Sehran each took a wicket.
Chasing 174, the Warriors lost both openers with 4 on the board. Yashmit (22) and Rajveer Singh Anand (16) rebuilt with a 64-run partnership, but Rays kept taking wickets and the Warriors finished 42 runs short. Extras gave Rays a big share of their total, something the young squad can tighten up as the season goes on.
“Conditions were tough early on, with a strong wind making it hard to field, judge the ball and bowl. Our fielders worked hard, and Yashmit took a brilliant catch. With the bat, we lost both openers early, but Yashmit and Rajveer built a solid 64-run partnership. Our middle and lower order then stuck at the crease and kept fighting right to the end, which is a good sign for the games ahead.”
Coach Vivek
U12 Ajman lose by 8 wickets (Division B)
SPSA Ajman U12 107 all out (24.4 overs) · SA Sports Club U12 108/2 (13.5 overs)
11 October, Delhi Private School Sharjah · Full scorecard
SPSA Ajman played their first match of the season and chose to bat. They were 14/3 early on, but Krithik Arora hit three fours in a lively 16, and Daksh Rajiv (12) helped steady the innings. Aarush Arunkumar showed real patience at number eight, batting 42 balls for 17 not out to take the team past 100 with the lower order.
SA Sports Club chased the target quickly, led by Om Raju’s unbeaten 37. Ayaan Arora bowled Mohammad Arham for SPSA’s wicket, and Karthik Gopish gave away just 11 runs in 3 overs. A tough start, but plenty for the squad to build on.
“We lost the match, but for most of our kids this was their first ever league game. We chose to bat and lost four early wickets, but our middle and lower order stuck at the crease and built some lovely partnerships to get us past 100. For players in their first match, that was superb. The match started at 1 PM in very hot, sunny conditions, and the kids still put in an extraordinary effort in the field. There’s work to do on our bowling, but I saw a real team bond, with everyone helping each other and fighting for each other. They’ll only get better from here.”
Coach Vivek
U18 Guardians lose by 150 runs (Division B)
Desert Cubs Eastern Eagles U18 273/4 (30 overs) · SPSA Guardians U18 123 all out (30 overs)
11 October, MCC 2 Ajman · Full scorecard
The Guardians came up against a strong Eastern Eagles batting line-up, with Navnit Gurnani (75 off 47) and Viyaan Masalawala (72) both passing fifty. Aryan Atluri took 2 for 47, including a stumping by Alman Wajahat, and Ishaan Sayal bowled 6 overs for 27 with a caught-and-bowled.
Chasing 274, the Guardians were 6/3 early. Atharv Midha (30 off 32) and Alman (18) fought back, and Govind Jinesh Nair top-scored with 32. The team batted through the full 30 overs, but Player of the Match Muhammad Mozamil’s 4 for 15 kept the Eagles well in control.
“Unfortunately we lost the game and didn’t get the result we wanted. But that’s cricket: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and every game teaches you something. Let’s move forward positively.”
Coach Nihal
Falcons Girls U15 lose by 85 runs (Girls U15 League)
Hidayat Cricket Academy 164/2 (20 overs) · SPSA Falcons 79/3 (20 overs)
9 October, MCC 2 Ajman · Full scorecard
The SPSA Falcons kicked off SPSA’s weekend with their first match in the ECB Girls U15 Academy League. Shanaya Sharma bowled Akshita Jha for the Falcons’ first wicket in the league. Aashika Prakash gave away just 14 runs from her 3 overs. Player of the Match Harini Doss Prakash (46 not out) led Hidayat to 164.
In reply, the Falcons showed great determination, batting through all 20 overs and losing only three wickets. Aashika (10 not out) and Mihika (4 not out) shared an unbeaten stand that lasted nearly 10 overs. A tough first outing against a strong Hidayat side, and a brave start for the team.
“Our first match in the ECB Girls U15 Academy League was a challenging but valuable experience. As a new team, the girls came together, stepped onto the field and showed real fighting spirit. I’m proud of their effort and commitment. This is just the beginning of our journey, and we will learn, improve and come back stronger.”
Coach Nandhu
Coming up this weekend
All eight SPSA teams are in action on 17 and 18 October, with three of them at our home ground, MCC 2 Ajman.
| Date and time | Team | Opponent | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 17 Oct, 10:45 AM | SPSA Rangers U15 | ECB Women’s Senior | U15 Division B | MCC 2 Ajman |
| Sat 17 Oct, 1:30 PM | SPSA Avengers U12 | Desert Cubs Southern Sharks U12 | U12 Division A | Deira International School, Festival City |
| Sat 17 Oct, 2:00 PM | SPSA Raiders U15 | Cherish Cricket Academy U15 | U15 Division C | Rovers Ground, Al Batayeh |
| Sat 17 Oct, 2:00 PM | SPSA Guardians U18 | SA Sports Academy U18 | U18 Division B | Wicket Nation Cricket Ground, Al Batayeh |
| Sat 17 Oct, 2:45 PM | SPSA Warriors U12 | ICCA Warriors U12 | U12 Division A | MCC 2 Ajman |
| Sat 17 Oct, 4:30 PM | SPSA Ajman U12 | TCA Royals U12 | U12 Division B | MCC 2 Ajman |
| Sat 17 Oct, 4:30 PM | SPSA Falcons (Girls U15) | Desert Cubs Cricket Academy | Girls U15 League | Sharjah English School |
| Sun 18 Oct, 2:00 PM | SPSA Mavericks U15 | Hitterz Academy U15 | U15 Division B | Seven Districts Ground, Ajman |
Come down to MCC 2 Ajman and support the teams at home. The Week 3 report will be up next week.