Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Padubidri, Sep 29: Vincent Ravi Fernandes, fondly known as Vincy, a record-setting tennis ball cricket star from Bengre, Padubidri, passed away on September 28 at a private hospital in Udupi following an illness. He was 48.

He is survived by his mother, wife, and daughter.

Vincy, an all-rounder who shone for renowned teams such as Padubidri Cricketers (PCP) and Friends Padubidri, was well known for his explosive batting and exceptional bowling. In the Manish Trophy state-level tournament held in Moodbidri, he scored a record 50 runs off just 16 balls.

Between 1990 and 2005, he played hundreds of matches, earning a reputation for hitting sixes off the very first delivery. He bagged numerous ‘Man of the Series’ and ‘Man of the Match’ awards in state and national-level tennis ball cricket tournaments and was also recognised as an outstanding bowler.

As vice-captain of Friends Padubidri, Vincy etched his name in history in 1996 during a tournament at Vijaya College, Moodbidri, where he smashed 13 sixes off 13 balls against City Flower Moodbidri. A right-arm off-medium pace spin bowler, he also made his mark as one of the organising members of India’s first-ever floodlit tennis ball cricket tournament, hosted in Padubidri in 1990 by Padubidri Cricketers. He was also an active member of JCI Padubidri.

After working abroad, Vincy returned to Padubidri and established Padubidri Sports House, becoming a well-known distributor of sports equipment across the state. His ‘Vincy Bat’ gained popularity in Bengaluru, Chennai, Davanagere, and other regions.

Padubidri Cricketers’ chief Y Sudhir Kumar, Udupi District Tennis Ball Cricket Association office-bearer, Friends Padubidri captain Sharath Shetty, KPCC coordinator Naveenchandra J Shetty, and Kaup Block Congress president Y Sukumar have expressed their condolences.