Panaji: Retro Strikers scored a nervy one-wicket victory over Naroo Panthers in the second semi-final of Zooter Goa Super League at Panjim Gymkhana ground here on Sunday evening.
Chasing the victory target of 153, Retro Strikers were placed for a comfortable finish at 146/6 in 16.2 overs after captain and man-of-the match Pranav Biche top-scored with 39 runs off 20 balls (3×4, 3×6) while Robin D’Souza contributed a quickfire 26 runs of 13 balls (4×4, 1×6) to set up Strikers on the path to victory with the fifth-wicket partnership of 51 runs off 24 balls. Sunny Kamat made a handy contribution of 21 runs.
However, the wicket of Siddharth Ghanekar (19 runs off 15 balls) in the 17th over adjudged lbw to Panthers’ skipper Mukhtar Kadri, sparked a mini-collapse in the chasing camp.
Anand Majalikar bowled measured spin deliveries to pick up wickets of Gautam Kankonkar and Rohit Mehta on successive balls in the 18th over to take the match into a tense phase as Strikers stumbled to 149/9 in 17.4 overs. However, Amlon Dsouza (7 not out) and Rohan Badave (1 not out) held on under pressure to take their team to 155/9 in 19 overs. Panthers’ Kadri took two wickets while Sapresh Mulvi, Samir Parab, Mrunmay Das and Siddhesh Alvenkar picked up a wicket each.
Earlier put into bat, Naroo Panthers posted a fighting total of 152/9 with Vishwajeet Gaonkar being their top run-getter with 29 runs off 20 balls, which included four boundaries. Kadri scored 24 runs, Switesh Verenkar contributed 18 runs and team owner Ilyas Naroo made 17 before lower-order batter Sapresh scored 15 runs off seven balls with two boundaries and a sixer to push the total beyond the 150-mark. Strikers bowlers Sunny Kamat, Amlon, Ninad Pawaskar took two wickets each.
Strikers will take on Estilo Legends in the Zooter Goa Super League final on 30th April.
