PANAJI
Shirgao Sports Club defeated Mahalaxmi Cricket Club by 20 runs in a GCA (A Division) North Zone match played at the Academy ground, Porvorim on Saturday.
Electing to bat, Shirgao SC rode on a masterly ton by middle-order batsman Chandrakant Ghadi, who struck a magnificent run-a-ball 108 with the help of 13 boundaries and a six to post a healthy 255/8 in the allotted 42 overs. Ghadi raised a match-defining 132-run stand in only 115 deliveries for the fourth wicket with Vishwatej Vaigankar 34 (57b, 3x4).
The other notable contributor in the innings, Govind Ghadi (34, 33b, 3x4, 1x6) played his part as well in a vital 53-run third wicket with Chandrakant after two wickets fell rather early. In the Mahalaxmi CC attack, only off-break bowler Sarvesh Gaude made an impact but was a touch expensive with returns of 5/45 in seven overs.
Chasing a challenging total, Mahalaxmi CC hopes were pinned largely on opener Vipul Khaire. Khaire’s dismissal at 125/3 in 19.5 overs after making a whirlwind 76 (60b, 12x4, 1x6) had the side gradually fading away from the contest. Number 8 Gaurav Naik’s unbeaten 45 (53b, 6x4) was a valiant effort but found little support in the tail-end of the chase. Mahalaxmi CC eventually ended on 235/9, well short of the 256-run target. Right-arm-medium pacer Sachin Gaonkar with 3/38 in eight overs was the only Shirgao SC bowler of note.
In another match, Madel Yuvak Sangh beat Goa Sports Academy. Put in to bat, Goa Sports Academy were all out for 164 in 35 overs. Openers Ajinkya Parte and Ritesh Faldessai raised a solid foundation of 60 runs in 11.2 overs before Faldessai was out for 30 (40b, 6x4).
Parte batting on 23 at that point of time, found an able ally to raise another important stand for the fourth-wicket of 73 runs with Vinayak Palav. Upon Palav’s dismissal for a quick-fire 45 (40b, 4x4, 2x6), and team score 153/4 after 29.2 overs, a collapse was triggered. Parte was the sixth wicket to fall on a well-made 65 (80b, 6x4). Madel Yuvak Sangh spinners, led by slow-left-arm bowler, Basauaraj Gaudar with 5/22 did the damage.
In reply, Madel Yuvak Sangh lost their top four batsmen with only 65 runs on board in the 16th over. But a determined unbroken 101-run fifth wicket stand between Shiv Prathap Singh (50, 55b, 7x4) and Prajesh Bandodkar (47, 49b, 5x4) saw the team through after 31 overs.
