Judges beat lawyers on the cricket field

Judges are known to have tough nerves. So when it was the turn of the judges of Bombay High Court to bowl the final over at the MC Chagla Cup T20 cricket match against the Lawyers’ XI at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, the team got into an officious huddle.

The lawyers needed only seven runs off the last six balls to beat the modest 122-run target set by the judges. Finally, the unanimous decision to have Justice DB Bhosale bowl the final deliveries paid off and the judges lifted the match trophy, defeating the lawyers by a mere two runs.

Justice Amjad Sayyed was adjudged the ‘Man of the Match’ for his 32 run and one-wicket haul. Justice Shiavax Vajifdar’s agility on the field won him the ‘Best Fielder’ trophy and had the crowds nicknaming him Jonty Rhodes.

Opener Justice Markandey Katju of the Supreme Court hit seven runs before being ‘judged’ LBW. Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar was bowled out for two runs. The captain, Justice AP Deshpande, scored 11 runs, while vice-captain Justice DY Chandrachud hit 20 and showered enthusiastic high-fives. Others included Justices AM Khanwilkar (20), AV Mohta (1), VM Kanade (7) and JP Deodhar (didn’t bat).

The lawyers, who won the trophy last year, had senior counsels Praveen Samdhani (who hit six fours to win the ‘Best Batsman’ trophy), DJ Khambata, Prasad Dhakephalkar, Janak Dwarkadas and Vijay Thorat batting impressively. Iqbal Chagla was caught by Justice Katju. Their spirited captain, Avinash Rana, 80, won the ‘Best Bowler’ trophy while Mahendra Shah, 82, returned to the pavilion after scoring two runs.