Porvorim: PGML winners Dempo Challengers scored a thrilling four-wicket victory over MCL champions MCC Masters to win the Ramakant Verlekar Champions Trophy organised by Sunita Verlekar Foundation at GCA Academy ground here on Sunday night.
MCC Masters won the toss and batted first. Their captain Pranav Biche, who came in to bat at No 5, scored a quickfire 39 off 22 balls, which included three boundaries and three sixes to boost the run-rate for the Masters in the latter part of their innings after the Margao -based side were progressing at just over five runs-per-over with contributions from Rohit Mehta (31 off 25 balls), Nihaal Borkar (25 off 41 runs) and Dr Sayed Sarfraz Ahmed (11 off 12 balls).
Dempo Challengers captain Aditya Angle picked up 3/23 off his four overs while Sazu Naik took 1/19 in his four overs, while four of the Masters batters were run out.
Masters, who put on a total of 144/8 on the board, tasted early success with the ball as Dempo Challengers lost their opener Prashant Pangam on the second ball of the opening over. However, a partnership of 39 runs between captain Aditya (29) and Devidas Kholkar (11) gave the Challengers a foothold in the run chase. But, the Masters fought tooth and nail to keep their hopes alive by picking wickets at regular intervals with sharp fielding effort to back the hardworking bowlers.
Anil Mashelkar (2/26) took a stunning catch off his own bowling, while Dr Prasad Ghode (3/25) bowled with an enticing flight and variation of length to induce false shots from experienced batter like skipper Aditya Angle, who was stumped by his counterpart Biche; before dependable batter Kiran Shirvoikar (21 off 14 balls) perished going for a lofted shot only to be caught by Sarvesh Kamat.
At 71/6 in 10.4 overs, Dempo’s challenge was under a big threat of fizzling out with two relatively new batters in Dattesh Priolkar and Sazu Naik at the crease. The duo survived tremendous pressure and consolidated their position with ones and twos despite the asking rate touching nine runs per over in the last five overs.
Dattesh (22 off 23 balls; 2×4) kept the scoreboard ticking without taking much risk, while Sazu (39 off 34 balls; 3×4, 2×6) looked for boundaries at every opportunity. The combination worked wonders and pulled off a dramatic victory as the PGML champions reached 146/6 in 19.3 overs by virtue of the unfinished seventh-wicket stand of 75 runs off 53 balls between Dattesh and Sazu. Apart from Dr Ghode and Anil, Siddharth Ghanekar (1/18) was the other wicket-taker for MCC Masters, who have the visibly-younger Dempo outfit a strenuous run for their money.
Sazu Naik was named the player-of-the match as Aditya Angle shared the honour in a show of great team spirit. Following individual prizes were awarded: Best batter – Pranav Biche, Best bowler – Aditya Angle, Best fielder – Sarvesh Kamat.
