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A switch in time for the duo

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With opportunities limited, all that Rugved Kulkarni and Divyansh Saxena needed a few years back was a chance to play cricket for a better school. Once they made the switch to Don Bosco, (Matunga), the duo haven't looked back.

Kulkarni's four-wicket haul and Saxena's unbeaten 117 against Anjuman-I-Islam Urdu (Fort) in their MSSA Harris Shield encounter at Azad Maidan on Wednesday puts their side on the verge of a semifinal berth. The switch in school has been a welcome change for duo.

Playing in the plate division wasn't what Kulkarni, the captain of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School, Chembur wanted to do. "Our side wasn't that good to make it to the Elite division. I needed to make the switch," said Kulkarni who has taken 20 wickets in his last three matches which involved a four-wicket-in-four-balls over against Hansraj Morarji (Andheri).
While Kulkarni had the experience, there wasn't even a cricket team in Atomic Energy Central School, Chembur for Saxena. "I had to play cricket and for that I had to leave. I chose Don Bosco as we know how good the school is when it comes to sporting culture," said the 13-year-old.

The pair might be in the Std IX, but it's Kulkarni who's the 'senior' because he joined the Don Bosco side first. This is Kulkarni's second year in the team while Saxena has impressed all with his batting in his debut season. The Chembur duo may be new to the side, but the pair have been the thickest of friends before joining the Matunga school.

"We played against each other during club tournaments. Our school that way is very lucky as both of us are on the same side," says Kulkarni who plays for Amre Cricket Club while Saxena practices at Dilip Vengsarkar's clinic. "You call him senior? He was the captain of that side so you can imagine how bad that team was. I'm sure they're doing better without him," said Saxena with a hearty laugh with Kulkarni standing next to himhim.

Thanks to Saxena's knock, Don Bosco were able to put up a score of 324. Kulkarni did the rest with his spin bundling out the side from Fort for a paltry 64. With victory all but certain for Don Bosco due to a first innings lead, a semifinal tie against heavyweights Rizvi Springfield (Bandra) is on the cards next week. "Instead of us feeling pressure, now it's time to give them pressure," said Kulkarni.

Brief Scores: Don Bosco (Matunga) 329 all out (R Desai 87, Divyansh Saxena 117*) & 124/2 (B Lalwani 73) vs Anjuman I-Islam (Urdu) 64 all out (R Kulkarni 4/7)
 

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