The group stages of the 3^rd SILF-Khushal Inter Law Firms Cricket Cup – 2011 in Delhi (too much of a mouthful, so referred to as “Tournament” going forward) have finally come to an end and after what seems like an unduly long group stage. So, the quarter final line up is finally available for us to look at, analyze, salivate over and talk about!

Expectedly, the traditional powerhouses Titus & Co, Amarchand Mangaldas and Luthra & Luthra, each with proud records in this tournament over its previous editions, have yet again made it through to the quarter finals, where they are joined by the less vaunted and less reputed but equally competent teams from Karanjawala & Co, Suri & Co, Anand & Anand and Kochhar & Co.

Luthra, Karanjawala and Titus have, to use a much abused adage, waltzed through the Tournament like a hot knife slicing through butter, with 100 per cent win records. Each of them must rank as favourites to go on to win the Tournament.

Khaitan & Co - last year’s whipping boys last year - are the surprise entrants in the quarter finals this year, while Sai Krishna & Associates, who for the first time in my memory have failed to make it to the knock-out stages of any inter law firm competition they have participated in, are the only notable disappointment this year. The threat that they bring to any match they play in will sorely be missed in the quarter finals.

The group stages have seen some outstanding achievements, the most notable of which has to be Hitesh Tara’s 174 (yes, 174 in a T20 game!) followed by yet another century (unbeaten) in his next match against S&R. Significant contributions have also come from the blades of Jaymith (Titus), Bobby (Kochhar), Arunabh (Khaitan), Manish and Rajesh (Anand & Anand) to name a few and it will be up to these batting stalwarts to build on their confidence to rack up bigger scores against the more daunting bowling and fielding that they will now begin to face against the stronger teams.

Sunday will see Kochhar & Co. play Suri & Co. and Luthra & Luthra play Anand & Anand in the first set of quarterfinals. Suri and Co. will have to play out of their skins to overcome the mighty Kochhar & Co., who did remarkably well in the recently concluded Turf T20 cup and would do well to keep out their left arm spinner Sultan, who must rank as one of the best bowlers to participate at this level with his mix of top spinners, arm balls and orthodox spinners.

Luthra & Luthra, expected to play at full strength on Sunday, must rank as firm favourites to overcome Anand & Anand with the threat of Hitesh while batting and of Manish while bowling looming large over Anand & Anand’s future in this tournament. Nevertheless, both Suri & Co and Anand & Anand have demonstrated in this tournament that they are not to be taken lightly.

Both favourites must play at close to their best to progress through to the semi-finals. Mouth-watering clashes no doubt and ones that will hopefully see members of all law firms coming in to watch the games and adding to the atmosphere.

We will try and bring to you match reports on Sunday’s quarterfinals and a preview of the remaining quarter finals, scheduled to be played next week.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author only and Legally India takes no responsibility for anything written in this article or any views expressed herein. The author of this article was formerly with Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, Delhi and any bias apparent in these articles may be attributed to this former association.

Photo by TC7