PORVORIM
Dempo Juniors and Nityanand Sports Club entered the semi-finals of the inaugural Geno Prudent T20 Cup at GCA Academy ground, Porvorim, on Wednesday. A formidable Dempo outfit edged out star-studded Albert Developers by one run in the first match, while Nityanand SC crushed Mayem Union by nine wickets in the second match of the day.
Nityanand SC will clash with Ghumteshwar-Margao in the first semi-final, while Dempo Juniors will play Krishna Constructions Sunday Champs in the other semi-final on Friday. Thursday is a rest-day.
In the first match of the day, Dempo Juniors won the toss and batted first. After a cracking start with man-of-the match from their last outing, Rajat Shet pulling Lakshay Garg for a boundary of the first ball, Dempo looked in total control before Shet was adjudged LBW to the same bowler with 23 runs on the board in 2.2 overs. Tunish Sawkar then joined Bharat Arkas, and the duo continued in the attacking mode, taking Dempo to 66 runs in six overs before Bharat (16) was dismissed by Basu Madar.
Keenan Vaz then came to the fore with a powerpacked inning, scoring 58 runs off 43 balls, studded with two sixers and three fours. His partnership with Tunish was threatening to take the match away from Albert Developers but experienced all-rounder Robin D'Souza clinched the breakthrough when Tunish (39 off 26balls, six boundaries) was caught on the boundary by safe-pair of hands Sarfaraz Navaz, as Dempo lost their third wicket at the total of 84 in the 10th over.
Sufiyan Alam's 23-ball knock yielded 17 runs before he was caught by Sarfaraz. Robin bowled an excellent last over, picking up two wickets, including that of Keenan; and giving away just two runs as Dempo's total of 159/6 looked below-par and at least short by 20 runs of what it could have been. Robin's return of 3/15 off his four overs was the most impressive of the pack, while Lakshay claimed two wickets.
Albert Developers with their power-hitters, seemed set for the duel as they maintained a superb run-rate despite losing wickets at regular intervals- at times with poor application by the batsmen, spelling doom for Mukhtar Kadri's side. Lakshay Garg came up with a pinch-hitting gem of an inning, scoring 43 runs off 21 balls, studded with seven boundaries. His 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with Vishwajit Phadte (31), set Albert Developers for the chase, after quick loss of first three wickets although the asking rate was under control from the word go.
Dempo Juniors hopes were ignited when Malik Shirur caught and bowled Lakshay with Albert's score reading 85/4 in 9.3 overs. That was the first sign of things to come as Dempo started a fightback. Nevertheless, the patient Vishwajit played safe at one end and needed a steady partner at the other. After the quick dismissal of in-form Robin D'Souza, castled by Darshan Misal, captain Mukhtar brought a cool head in the centre. He scored 25 runs of 17 balls with two boundaries and one sixer, before Mukhtar was bowled by Malik when Albert Developers required 27 runs off 25 deliveries.
Experienced Amit Yadav walked to the crease at that stage and it seemed that the Goan Ranji Trophy off-spinner, who is a capable batsman, would take his club side to victory with common-sense cricket. However, that was not to be and his poor lofted shot, kept Dempo in the hunt. Albert Developers were not finished yet as big-hitter Sher Bahadur Yadav unleashed a big sixer in the second-last over keeping his team's hopes alive. At the other end, Sarfaraz Navaz scored a boundary before he was caught excellently diving low, by Sufiyan Alam in the last over bowled by Samit Aryan Mishra. With Sher Bahadur (12) stranded at the non-striker's end, four runs were needed off the final ball, however, Basu Madar's uppish shot on the off-side resulted in a couple of runs and Albert Developers' innings ended on 158/9 in the allotted 20 overs. Samit was named man-of-the match for his 4/28 off his four overs. He was presented the award by Prashanth Segu, Manager (Sales), Timex Group; and Vivek Korde, MD, Time Square.
The second match was a one-sided affair with Mayem United winning the toss and batting first only to post a meagre total of 91 runs in 18.4 overs before being bowled out by a strong Nityanand Sports Club unit. Surya Divkar top-scored with 26 runs, while Sunny Kanekar made 16 runs. Nityanand SC captain Sagar Gosavi was the wrecker-in-chief as he picked up four wickets giving away 20 runs in his 3.4 overs. Dhiraj Yadav claimed three wickets for 16 runs in four overs.
Nityanand SC cruised to victory with Goa Ranji Trophy opener Sumiran Amonkar playing an unbeaten knock of 42 runs from 31 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and one sixer. Pushpashil Desai was not out on 38 runs. His 31-ball stay at the crease included four boundaries and one sixer as Nityanand raced to victory in 12.2 overs, with nine wickets in hand. For his splendid bowling performance, Sagar Gosavi was named man-of-the match presented by Sonia Kuncalienker, General Manager of Prudent Media.
