As per Mid-Day, inconsiderate scheduling of inter-school girls U-16 final by the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) led to St Columba High School (Gamdevi) playing back-to-back matches on the same day in within only 75-minute span.



Effect of this chaos was evident as they lost the MSSA-Late Manoramabai Apte inter-school girls U-16 final to Shardashram Vidyamandir (Dadar) at Islam Gymkhana yesterday.

In the morning, the St Columba girl defeated St Joseph's Convent by 52 runs to reach the finals. Their final was bizarrely scheduled not only on the same day, but all they could get was a mere 75-minute break. In the final they met Shardashram and lost by 51 runs.

Shardashram, on the other hand got a three day break between their semi-final and the final.

Father of India cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues, Ivan, who is coaches St Columba, expressed his disappointment. "These are small girls, not seasoned players. This tournament is held once in a year; there are no other tournaments for girls. And you still make them play back-to-back matches? That's unfair! The other team coming into the final fresh, was always going to hold the advantage."

However the excuse that MSSA cricket secretary Nadim Memon provided behind the fiasco was on ground availability. "This is not the first time that we are playing a semi-final and final on same day. We have to consider availability of the ground as well," he said.

Meanwhile, Ketki Dhure (58-ball 72) top-scored for the Shardashram girls, who posted 134 in 19.4 overs. In reply, St Columba skipper and medium pacer Tushi Shah's 5-43 and 50 off 51 balls went in vain as her team only managed 83-9 off their 20 overs.