Shimla
The 21st Major R K Von Goldstein Memorial Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2024
Final Cricket match a ‘battle of the Bishop’s Schools’
After a week of high class and absorbing cricket, Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Bangalore emerged victorious at the 21st Goldstein cricket tournament held at BCS, Shimla. 25th April 2024.
Surinder S Thakur, President from the Shimla District Cricket Association was the chief guest for the final match and handed out the trophies and medals.
The final made history as it was the first time that Bishop Cotton, Shimla had played their ‘brother’ school in the event. Both sides qualified unbeaten for the final with the Shimla team winning their matches against Pinegrove, Mayo College and Daly College, Indore in the group stages.
However, the Bangalore boys proved just too strong scoring 209 runs in the final which allowed them to win comfortably.
BCS Director, Simon Weale said ‘This is an outstanding competition which brings together young men from across India in the national sport. Our boys proved once again that their team spirit and resilience is a match for any other school in the country. Congratulations to BCSB, their boys showed great skill and determination and we look forward to continuing our friendly rivalry in the future.
Bless their Cotton socks. The respective captains of BCS and BCS Bangalore stand under the gaze of our founder before this afternoon’s grand final. Whoever wins Bishop Cotton will be on the trophy again.
Some of the most prestigious schools in the country are meeting at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla for the 21st Inter-school Goldstein Cricket tournament. This year the standard of play is outstanding
The eight teams come from five different states across India and include Bishop Cotton, Shimla, Bishop Cotton Boys School, Bangalore, Mayo College, La Martiniere Lucknow, Daly College, Vasant Valley, YPS Mohali and Pinegrove.
The tournament began on Sunday at 6am with a traditional march past heralded by the BCS brass band. Hosts BCS then won a thrilling encounter with Pinegrove by one wicket. The nail-biting opening match had the supporters on the edge of their seats as the game could have gone either way and was streamed live on the school’s Facebook account to supporters around the world – with messages of support coming in globally. Three matches will be played each day before the grand final on Thursday 25th April.
The BCS Director Mr Simon Weale inaugurated the start of the tournament, a keen cricketer himself, he said; “We are thrilled to hold such a showcase for young cricketing talent in India. Mayank Dagar represented BCS in this tournament and is now playing IPL. We have many other young players here with the ability to follow him to the top”.
Mayank Dagar of the RCB franchise remembers the tournament fondly “Winning games for my school was the best feeling especially in the Goldstein tournament, I was pumped up to win for school for BCS – and that’s where they saw my talent. I went on to play for the HP State team and got my break into the Under 19 World Cup team followed by IPL and Ranji Trophy.”
Bishop Cotton School is an institution rooted in history and tradition and celebrates 165 years since foundation this year. Over decades, its alumni have included some of the most distinguished men in India and elsewhere. From the uniformed services to administrators, from businessmen and industrialists, to authors and actors, Bishop Cotton School has nurtured nascent talents and helped them come to fruition. This is a school that provides a child with a firm foundation to look capably and confidently to a global role in the years to come.