Panaji: Dempo Challengers entered their third consecutive final of Panjim Gymkhana Members League (PGML) and the defending champions will clash with Manas Mavericks in the grand finale of the PGML 3.0 at PG ground on Sunday at 11am.
Dempo Challengers, who were the runners-up of first edition of PGML, got the better of inaugural edition’s winners Prescon Panthers by 20 runs in the second Eliminator today.
Electing to bat first, Dempo Challengers were off to a flying start with Vijay Shankar Nagarajan and Niraj Lotlekar putting on a 58-run partnership in 5.3 overs. Vijay, who was dropped before opening his account, hammered 38 runs off just 19 balls, with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.
All-rounder Dhilan Shah continued his good form with the bat and played a crucial role in motoring the scoreboard at a swift pace with a knock of 38 runs, which were studded with three boundaries and a sixer.
Prescon Panthers however, managed to put brakes on their rivals’ scoring to a certain extent and a quickfire unbeaten 20 runs off 11 balls by Sazu Naik, took Dempo Challengers to 156/7 in the alloted 20 overs. Sumiran Mehta (19) and Niraj (17) also chipped in with important runs. Siddharth Ghanekar, Iftikhar Agha, Neel Netravalkar and Prashant Pangam took a wicket each.
Prescon Panthers looked in control of the chase, bringing up their fifty in the 8th over after a 41-run second-wicket stand between Ketan Nandrekar (34) and Prashant Pangam. Despite losing wickets cheaply, their run-rate was close to the asking rate , thus making the pursuit a gripping contest. When the Orange cap-holder Prajyot Rivonkar (25) departed after another authoritative knock, Prescon Panthers were 92/4 in 13.3 overs and giving Dempo Challengers a run for their money. However, two quick wickets thereafter including that of hard-hitter Siddharth sucked the remaining fight out of the Panthers, who could manage to reach 136/9 at the end of 20 overs, even as Vardhan Haldankar remained not out on 20 runs. Neel Netravalkar contributed 17 runs.
Dempo Challengers bowlers once again put up an impressive show. Harsh Parekh, Dinesh Amrute and captain Kiran Shirwaikar took two wickets each. Purple cap holder Shekhar Amonkar and Sudin Kamat picked up a wicket apiece. Dhilan Shah bowled economically with his three overs yielding just 12 runs.
Yatin Parekh was the chief guest and presented the Man of the Match award to Dhilan, in the presence of Suresh Mahadevan and Manish Karapurkar.
The PGML 3.0 final is set to be a grand affair on Sunday on the pitch as much as it will be a milestone-engraving occasion off the pitch for the iconic cricket club Panjim Gymkhana, which is all set to inaugurate ‘Satish Timblo Indoor Cricket Arena’ and a ‘Library donated in fond memory of Vidyadhar V Naik’, at 1pm.
