PORVORIM
Three-time champions and holders Lawyer’s Challengers started their title defence with an emphatic 93-run win over Mapusa Troopers, and United Brothers defeated Mapusa Vintage by 13 runs to record their second successive win, on day two of the Advocates Cricket League 2024, organised by Adv Iftikhar Agha and his team, at GCA ground in Porvorim, on Friday.
Sachin Sardessai of Lawyer’s Challengers became the second centurion of the league as his swashbuckling innings of 101 off 59 balls helped his team post a challenging 204/4.
Sachin’s knock was studded with 13 fours and 3 sixes. He was well supported at the other end by his captain and opening partner Dattaprasad Shirodkar, who scored an equally entertaining 48-ball 65 (7x4s, 1x6s). Their opening stand of 178 runs in just 16.5 overs enabled the team cross the 200-run mark as the defending champs finished at 204 for 4 in 20 overs.
Raja Polekar of Mapusa Troopers took 2 wickets, while Harshal Ghate and Dominic Pereira claimed wicket apiece.
Mapusa Troopers, in their reply, never looked like getting any closer to the mammoth 205-run victory target, as they kept losing wickets at regular interval. In the end they managed just 111/9 in 20 overs and handed a massive 93-run win to Lawyer’s Challengers
Harshal Ghate (30) and Siddhesh Bhaip (29) were their main run scorers.
Salim (3/24) was the most successful bowler for Lawyer’s Challengers. Vedank Naik and Iftikhar Agha took two wickets each, while Dattaprasad Shirodkar and Harsh Parekh claimed one wicket each.
Centurion Sachin Sardessai was the obvious choice for the man of the match award.
In day’s first match, United Brothers won the toss and opted to bat first against Mapusa Vintage, but managed to post only 140 runs before being bowled out in 18.5 overs. Opening pair of Rahul Shet (45) and Satyam Ghogale (33) scored 53 runs in first powerplay. However, once they departed the remaining batters -- except skipper Prasad Sutar (21) and Raghu Parab (21) -- couldn’t do anything substantial.
Gajanan Korgaonkar of Mapusa Vintage claimed 4/14; he was well-supported by Shailesh Redkar (3/20) and Ramkrishna Shetye (2/42). Vincente Colaco took one wicket.
Mapusa Vintage tried their best to overhaul the 141-run target, but fell short by 13 runs as they managed only 127/7 in 20 overs.
Dattaprasad Gawas waged a lone battle with an unbeaten 41. Shailesh Redkar (23) and Gajanan Korgaonkar (16) were the other contributors.
For United Brothers, Vaibhav Bandekar, Sanket Salgaonkar and Satyam Ghogale took 2 wickets each, while Dattaraj Parab claimed one wicket.
Satyam Ghogale (33 runs and 2 wickets) was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round show.
