Panaji: Estilo Legends overcame a stiff challenge from the battling Baale Tigers by 21 runs in the first semi-final of Zooter Goa Super League at Panjim Gymkhana ground on Sunday afternoon.
In a blockbuster of a run-fest, Estilo Legends’ mammoth total of 212/8 was under a threat for a long time before the gallant Baale Tigers ran out of steam at the fag end to finish on 191/9 in the allotted 20 overs.
Sent into bat, Estilo Legends fired on all cylinders with opener Sachin Sardesai (35 off 29 balls; 4×4) and No 3 batter Aditya Naik (35 off 24 balls; 4×4, 1×6) setting the tone with the second-wicket partnership of 62 runs in 46 balls.
Legends were placed comfortably at 87/3 at the end of 10 overs and added 44 more runs to the total in the next five overs, losing two more wickets in the process one of them being that of team owner Dr Sagar Salgaocar (17).
The last five overs brought 81 runs as Legends unleashed power-hitting of a very high level. Shailesh Miskin plundered 38 runs off 18 balls, which were studded with four boundaries and two sixes before man-of-the match Basu Madar rubbed salt onto the Tigers injuries with 13-ball 35 (1×4, 4×6) that took the total beyond the psychological milestone of 200-run mark. Dependable batter Chandrakant Ghadi remained not out on 26 from 13 balls that saw him hit three boundaries and a sixer, and combine with Basu for the precious 60-run stand for the eighth wicket.
Baale Tigers bowlers Kiran Shirvoikar, captain Naresh Parsekar and Jamir Carol took one wicket each.
With the asking run-rate being above 10 runs per over, Baale Tigers openers Sunil Rathod and Tushar Narvekar made their intentions clear very early. They hammered 20, 16 and 15 runs in the second , third and fourth over to raise 50 on the scoreboard in the fourth over itself. Sunil was more aggressive and struck three boundaries and sixers each in his 16-ball 35 runs in the opening stand of 59 runs. Tushar contributed 38 runs off 22 balls, which comprised six boundaries and when he retired, Baale Tigers were placed handsomely at 97/2 in 8.4 overs.
The batters that followed, showed a positive approach but Dhilan Shah (21) and Samir Sawant (13) did not last long to make an impact. Baale Tigers generated fresh impetus when Kiran Shirvoikar launched another big attack, scoring 40 runs of 22 balls (5×4,2×6). He and Dattesh Priolkar (19 not out) combined for 42 runs partnership in 26 balls for the fifth wicket and the team’s hopes were alive again. But Legends struck back with crucial wickets in 17th and 18th overs by virtue of good catching by Vinod Wilson in the outfield, and Tigers were reigned in, pushing the last-over ask to 27 runs with just one wicket in hand. Only five runs came in the final six balls and Legends were more relieved than pleased as they had been given a real scare by the brave Tigers.
Vinod Wilson (3/16) and Basu Madar (1/18) were bowled well for Estilo Legends, while Vinay Palekar and Haydar Carol also picked a wicket each.