Porvorim
United Brothers were crowned champions of the fifth edition of Advocates Cricket League T20, organised by Adv Iftikhar Agha and his team, as they got the better of Risers by 11 runs in an exciting final played under floodlights at GCA ground, Porvorim, on Sunday.
In an all-important final, United Brothers won the toss and elected to bat first. The opening pair of Rahul Shet (30 off 19) and Satyam Ghogale (33 off 32) supported their skipper Prasad Sutar’s decision by giving a strong 47-run stand in the first powerplay.
However, they found themselves in some sort of bother after losing three quick wickets with the addition of just 10 runs.
With the team struggling at 57/3 in the 9th over, two of their in-form batters -- Dattaraj Gawas and Dattaraj Parab -- came together and the duo made sure that there were no more hiccups in their innings.
They began attacking the rival bowlers from the word go and clobbered 72 runs in the next 27 deliveries before Dattaraj Parab was unfortunately run out after making a quickfire 19-ball 44 that had 7 fours and one massive six.
Dattaraj Gawas, at the other end, continued with his onslaught and smashed 6 fours and 3 sixes in his unbeaten 26-ball 57. He received good support from Coburn Franco (10 off 3 balls) and Raghu Parab (20 not out off 6 balls) as their brisk knocks helped United Brothers cross the 200-mark and finish at 209/6 in allotted 20 overs.
Risers’ Pritesh Shetty and Abhinav Marathe were among the wickets taking 3 and 2 wickets respectively.
Risers’ reply to the mammoth 210-run target began on a dismal note, losing opener Shubham Gadekar for nought. Anoop Kudtarkar (17), Sahil Khot (12), Akash Kassar (14) all got starts but none of them could convert them into big ones.
At half stage of their innings, Risers were precariously placed at 79/5 and needed 131 runs in the last 9 overs. The task looked very challenging but Abhinav Marathe and Yogesh Kankonkar took it on themselves and went about it rather ruthlessly. The duo hit some extravagant shots and brought the team very close to the target by scoring as many as 119 runs. But in the end their efforts fell short by 11 runs; they managed 198 for 5 in 20 overs.
Abhinav Marathe tried his best smashing 6 huge sixes and equal number of fours during his unbeaten knock of 88 off just 44 balls. Yogesh Kankonkar gave him solid support as he too hit 3 sixes and 3 fours and remained not out on 44 off just 26 balls.
After proving his mettle with the bat, United Brothers’ Dattaraj Parab did an excellent job with the ball as well by taking 2 wickets, and was eventually adjudged the player of the final. Sanket Salgaokar and Raghu Parab claimed one wicket each.
Honourable Justice Mahesh S Sonak, Judge, High Court of Bombay at Goa, Porvorim, graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest while Irshad Agha, Principal District & Session Judge, South Goa, was the guest of honour. Senior Advocates Coelho Pereira, Saresh Lotlikar, and Subodh Kantak were the other dignitaries present on the dais.
Following prizes were awarded:
Winners: United Brothers
Runners-up: Risers
Player of the Final: Dattaraj Parab (United Brothers)
Player of the Tournament: Abhinav Marathe (Risers)
Best Batsman: Anoop Kurtadkar (Risers)
Best Bowler: Abhinav Marathe (Risers)
Emerging Player: Vaibhav Bandekar (United Brothers)
