MASHEM: Arlem Cricket Club beat Al Fatah by 66 runs in the final of 43rd Nanda Lolayekar Trophy sponsored by Commonwealth Developers and organised by Mashem Cricket Club at Nirakar Maidan, Dapot-Mashem, Canacona on Sunday.
It was a complete team performance – crucial partnerships and impact of bowling changes – by Arlem Cricket Club that propelled them to the prestigious title triumph.
Put into bat, Arlem Cricket Club posted a formidable total of 258/9 in the alloted 35 overs. Parth Sahani scored a strokeful 65 runs off 70 balls, which included 7 boundaries and 2 sixes. He was involved in the 4th-wicket partnership of 65 runs with Atharva Kale (30) and later in the 5th-wicket stand of 52 runs with Shubham Desai (23).
While these two partnerships enabled Arlem to go beyond 200-mark, the late-order acceleration by Sanket Morjkar with his unbeaten 58-run knock off 29 balls provided the final flourish to the Arlem inning . Sanket hammered Al Fatah bowlers in a stunning array of five sixes and four boundaries, while putting on an unfinished partnership of 47 runs for the last wicket with Dheeraj Yadav.
Among Al Fatah’s successful bowlers on the day, were Yeshwant Raikar with 3/53 and Kutbudin Jamadar with 2/26.
Al Fatah started the run-chase in a strong manner with an opening partnership of 71 runs. Manthan Khutkar scored a fine half-century, cracking four boundaries and two sixes. His opening partner Aditya Dalal (35) was also in a good nick, hitting six boundaries before being the first Al Fatah wicket to fall.
Manthan was the next man to be dismissed with the team score being 100 in 16 overs. Thereafter, the Al Fatah innings collapsed like a pack of cards as the remaining 8 wickets went down for the addition of just 92 runs. Abdul Salam (28) and Malik Shirur (21) got the starts but failed to inspire a fightback as Al Fatah were all out for 192 in 30.5 overs.
Arlem’s Mehank Dharwadkar (2/24), Shubham Desai (2/39), Dheeraj Yadav (1/11) and Ruthvik Naik (1/36) were the wicket-takers.
The following individual prizes were awarded: Man of the Match – Sanket Morajkar, Best Batsman – Bhimappa Konnur, Best Bowler – Yeshwant Raikar, Man of the tournament – Shubham Desai.
Dr. Suraj Prabhudesai a renowned Surgeon and President of Indian Medical Association, Margao, was the chief guest for the presentation ceremony. Nisha Chari, Sarpanch, Chirag Naik, Sponsor of the tournament, Prashant Naik, Chairman, Nirakar Education Society, also graced the occasion. Anup Naik compered the function while Sudin Lolayekar proposed vote of thanks.
