Getting the taste of serious competition is what every budding sportspersons would long for, but hitting the right cord there are few. And among them is Ali Zoran Khan, the opening batsman of the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA).

After remaining unbeaten in his maiden appearance in serious contest, left-handed Ali slammed 112 of just 90 deliveries as he propelled his team into the quarterfinals of the under-13 Cadence Cricket tournament, at the Cadence Cricket Academy's ground, Mundhawa here on Monday.

After putting on 98 runs for the first wicket Khan along with Rohan Sharma, saw their team pile on 233 in the 30-over encounter against LIC Vengsarkar Academy, Mumbai. The latter could not match the score as they were bundled out for 108 with eight overs to spare.

Joining VCA was Shivaji Park Gymkhana from Mumbai who escaped to victory against local challengers Deccan Gymkhan by seven runs.

But, the day belonged to this standard VIII student of Centre Point from Nagpur. "This is my first competition. I thank my coach, Mangesh Pandit and Ajay Shirke to have given me and all the under-13 players, opportunities I have delivered," said Ali who was later adjudged as the player of the match.

"He has the potential, and he should continue to maintain the same rhythm he could be a future player," were the words Pandit had about his ward.

Surendra Bhave, the West Zone BCCI selector who was present applauded the good knock of Ali and urged all the budding players to take the que from this Vidarbha lad. "He played a calculated cricket and punished the right deliveries," said Bhave while presenting him with the player of the match award. In the quarterfinals scheduled for tuesday, Cadence take on MIG, Mumbai in the opening match, which will be followed by Chandrakant Pandit Cricket Academy will clash with Maharashtra Cricket Association

Brief scores: VCA: 233-2 (Ali Zoran Khan 112, Rohan Sharma 55, Kaustubh Vyawhare 44 n. o; Aman Khan 1-60, Mohammed Sayyed 1-37) bt LIC Vengsarkar Academy 108 (Mohammed Sayyed 53, Smitesh Modak 9; Ali Zoran Khan 2-6, Atul Ojha 2-13) MoM: Ali Zoran Khan (VCA) BPL SPG 187-8 (Siddhartha Jagirdar 32, Sharma Mulani 47, Ganesh De4the 28; Viraj Shirole 2-38) bt Deccan Gymkhana 180 (Pranav Patwardhana 34, Abhishek Tatti 47; Meet Samani 3-13, Ganesh Dethe 2-26, Rohit Karupannan 2-53)(DNA Correspondent / DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication)