PANAJI
was a Maharashtra-derby delight on a relaxed Sunday afternoon in Goa as the highly anticipated showdown unfolded at the picturesque 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium in Verna. In the 12th match of the World Legends Pro T20 League, the Pune Panthers faced off against the Maharashtra Tycoons in a contest loaded with context and consequence.
Playing their final match of the group stage, the Panthers came in with four points from four games and knew a win would take them to six, keeping them firmly in the hunt as Delhi Warriors and Rajasthan Lions sat comfortably in the top two spots with qualification to the semi-finals guaranteed.
Fresh from a massive victory against the Dubai Royals, Martin Guptill once again led the charge for Pune despite Tharanga and Shane Watson falling early. What followed was a different shade of Guptill. The New Zealand international put composure over carnage, using his experience to patiently stitch the innings together and steady the Panthers after early jolts.
The Tycoons, equally desperate for a result, were playing their fourth game of the season with just one win so far. On paper, they boasted a stellar line-up of international legends”Sir Alastair Cook, Dale Steyn and the Universe Boss Chris Gayle. A packed and gusty 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium was buzzing, blue flags flying as chants echoed around the ground to lift the Tycoons.
The game, played on pitch number six, used for the first time this season, saw runs coming by a little hard. The 15th over of the Panthers’ innings hinted at a late push, but the drift didn’t last long. Carlos Brathwaite struck to bowl Guptill for a well-made 62, cutting short a knock that had held Pune together. In walked fan favourite DJ Bravo, joining former West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard and raising hopes of a Caribbean flourish. The party, though, was short-lived. The Panthers lost their way at the death and eventually finished on 142/8 from their 20 overs, failing to fully cash in on the platform Guptill had set.
In reply, the Tycoons came out swinging in intent. Gayle departed early, but Sir Cook served up a Super Sunday special, rolling back the years with composed strokeplay. Maharashtra cruised to 45/1 at the end of the powerplay, needing a paltry 98 from the remaining 14 overs.
The Panthers hit back through spin as Pratik Athavale and Stuart Binny fell in quick succession to Amit Mishra and Sakuja, despite it seeming that the Tycoons would cruise their way to a win. Wickets kept tumbling, and the game tightened when the ever-reliable Mishra removed Cook in the ninth over, tilting the balance and bringing the contest nicely back into the middle.
The next few moments of the game belonged to DJ Bravo, who got the fans on their feet chanting “champion, champion” as the all-rounder struck back with two crucial wickets, leaving the Tycoons struggling at 81/6. For a brief spell, the Tycoons seemed to be cruising towards the target, until the legendary DJ Bravo came back to haunt them, removing Peter Siddle and Rahul Sharma in back-to-back deliveries, guiding the Panthers to their third victory in five games and taking them to six points on the table.
BRIEF SCORES
Pune Panthers 142/8 (20 ov) (Martin Guptill 62, Robin Uthappa 19; Dwayne Bravo 4/30, Amit Mishra 2/30 beat Maharashtra Tycoons 130 all out (18.5 ov) (Shaun Marsh 42, Sir Alastair Cook 39; Dwayne Bravo 4/30, Amit Mishra 2/30) by 12 runs
