PANAJI: RC Goa outplayed Dempo Challengers in a five-wicket victory and booked a Playoff spot in the ongoing PGML 4.0 at Panjim Gymkhana ground here on Saturday. Baale Tigers got a consolation victory under their belt while also delivering a knockout blow to Manas Mavericks.
RC Goa became the second team in the PGML 4.0 to qualify after Priority Titans. At the other end of the table, defending champions Manas Mavericks bowed out after suffering their fourth loss in their fifth game. Baale Tigers, who had lost all four of their previous matches tasted victory for the first time today.
With Playoff spot at stake, RC Goa and Dempo Challengers were expected to come out hard at each other. However, Dempo seemed to have missed the required approach for acceleration to seize the initiative after electing to bat first. Only Om Fadte (35 off 24 balls) looked like playing with fluency while other batters including captain Tunish Sawkar (21) and Niraj Lotlekar (19) missed the opportunity to make a substantial contribution.
The Dempo total of 137/6 was never going to be enough to contain RC Goa arsenal of batters including Goa Ranji Trophy wicketkeeper-batter Samar Dubhashi (40 off 32 balls). Nityay Kunkolienkar (36) and all-rounder Ramnath Gaonkar (22 not out) played perfectly as RC Goa cruised home with 2 overs to spare. Dempo Challengers’ hopes are still alive though as they play their last league match against Manas Mavericks tomorrow where a high NRR victory will be required for Tunish Sawkar and Co to overtake Desserts N’More Avengers and clinch the last remaining Playoff spot.
Ramnath Gaonkar was named ‘Grant Thornton’ Man-of-the Match.
Earlier in the day, Baale Tigers’ bowler Amey Dongrikar (4/25) delivered a stunning performance with the ball to run through the Manas Mavericks middle order by taking four wickets including a hat-trick. In his first over of the day, the cunning bowler mixed it up nicely and picked the first hat-trick of the PGML 4.0 and also won himself ‘Grant Thornton’ Man-of-the Match and Outstanding Performance (4 wickets or more) awards.
Electing to bat first, Manas Mavericks had made a good start with captain Ilyas Naroo (28) looking good. From a decent position of 59/2 in 7 overs, the defending champions collapsed to 62/7 in no time. The 8th-wicket partnership of 55 runs between Ajinkya Kudtarkar (30) and Heramb Parab (27), however, ensured the much-needed recovery to take Manas Mavericks to a respectable 120 in the alloted 20 overs.
This time though Baale Tigers did not encounter any hiccup in the run-chase and cruised to 122/3 with Kapil Angle (38), captain Shushrut Nasnodkar (35) and Harshad Gadekar (23 not out) setting up the first win for the Tigers.
Gomantak Editor Director, Raju Nayak and Prudent Media Editor Director, Pramod Acharya graced the occasion as chief guests for respective matches.
Brief Scores :
Manas Mavericks 120 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Kudtarkar 30, Ilyas Naroo 28, Heramb Parab 27; Amey Dongrikar 4/25); Baale Tigers 122/3 in 18.5 overs (Kapil Angle 38, Shushrut Nasnodkar 35, Harshad Gadekar 23 not out; Sunny 1/12), Baale Tigers win by 7 wickets.
Dempo Challengers 137/6 (Om Fadte 35, Tunish Sawkar 21, Niraj Lotlekar 19; Ramnath Gaonkar 2/25); RC Goa 139/5 in 18 overs (Samar Dubhashi 40, Nityay Kuncolienkar 36, Ramnath Gaonkar 22 not out; Balkrishna Hodarkar 2/23), RC Goa win by 5 wickets.
