IES New English School, Bandra stormed into the finals of the Boys' U-16 category of the Mumbai Indians Junior Cricket Tournament with a convincing win in the semi-final. Manan Bhatt's phenomenal all-round performance helped IES New English defeat IES Navi Mumbai High School, Vashi by 60 runs at Azad Maidan on Tuesday.

Bhatt first scored a composed 65 runs off 59 balls to enable his team to post a tricky total of 154 before getting all-out in 34.1 overs. Arjun Bagaitkar also contributed with a steady 22 to help Bhatt's cause from the other end.

The target wasn't a difficult one for their counterparts from Navi Mumbai but Bhatt made it beyond their reach by bagging a four-wicket haul with the ball. The batsmen from Vashi wilted under pressure in a big match chase. They were eventually all-out for a paltry 94 runs in 29.3 overs.

Meanwhile, Samiksha Bangal of Shardashram Vidyamandir scored an unbeaten century to lead her school to a 157-run win over St. Francis Xavier's School and qualify for the semi-finals of the Girls' U-16 category.

Samiksha smashed 119 not out in 104 balls to guide Shardashram to an imposing score of 193/2 in 25 overs. Disha Chandak chipped in with 41 runs. Samiksha then took a wicket also as her team-mates ran through St. Francis Xavier's batting line-up to bowl them out for just 36 in 16.5 overs.

For IES Navi Mumbai High School, it was Anuja Sawant's five-wicket haul which helped them thrash Lokpuram Public School and step into the semi-final round. Anuja's bowling exploits helped IES Navi Mumbai bowl out Lokpuram for 65 in 20.2 overs. Pratiksha Powar then steered IES Navi Mumbai home with an unbeaten 36 runs.

Swami Vivekanand International School, Borivali also entered semis with an easy eight-wicket win over Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane. Kshama Patekar emerged Player of the Match for scoring 67 in 53 balls and taking two wickets.

St. Columba School, Gamdevi completed the U-16 Girls semi-final line-up with a nine-wicket win over Vasant Vihar High School.

Brief Scores:

U-16 Boys:

Semi Final

IES New English School (Bandra) 154/10 in 34.1 overs (Manan Bhatt 65, Arjun Bagaitkar 22) beat IES Navi Mumbai High School (Vashi) 94/10 in 29.3 overs, by 60 runs.

Player of the Match: Manan Bhatt of IES New English School (Bandra) for scoring 65(59) and 4 wickets.

U-16 Girls:

Quarter Final

Shardashram Vidyamandir 193/2 in 25 overs (Samiksha Bangal 119*, Disha Chandak 41) beat St. Francis Xavier's School 36/10 in 16.5 overs, by 157 runs.

Player of the Match: Samiksha Bangal of Shardashram Vidyamandir for scoring 119*(104) and 1 wicket.

Quarter Final

IES Navi Mumbai High School 66/0 in 11.5 overs (Pratiksha Powar 36*, Juili Bhakre 10*) beat Lokpuram Public School 65/10 in 20.2 overs, by 10 wickets.

Player of the Match: Anuja Sawant of IES Navi Mumbai High School- 5 overs 1 maiden- 12 runs- 5 wickets.

Quarter Final

Swami Vivekanand International School (Borivali) 141/2 in 16.5 overs (Kshama Patekar 67, Ridhhi Singh 35) beat Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School (Thane) 140/4 in 23 overs, by 8 wickets.

Player of the Match: Kshama Patekar of Swami Vivekanand International School (Borivali) for scoring 67(53) and 2 wickets.

Quarter Final

St. Columba School (Gamdevi) 55/1 in 9 overs (Saloni Kushte 29*, Shaurya Wajge 9) beat Vasant Vihar High School 54/3 in 12 overs, by 9 wickets.

Player of the Match: Saloni Kushte of St. Columba School (Gamdevi) for scoring 29*(28).