MARGAO
Pai Khot Fighters beat Mapusa Dream Crushers in a last ball thriller by 4 runs in the finals to clinch the Desserts n More Sarsangan +45 Veterans cricket championship at Arlem cricket ground.
Put in to bat first, Pai Khot Fighters put up 148/9 in 20 overs with contributions from Sarvesh Kamat (12), Shiraj Pai Khot (19). Anish Dharwadkar 23, Laxmikant Kurade (13) and Amit Kamat (15), with 4 of the batters dismissed on very close crease line decisions decided by the 3rd umpire’s Decision Review System. It was only their skipper Rasik Pai Khot (32) who stood like a rock against the fiery bowling of Mapusa Dream Crushers bowlers, Shailesh
Mahajan (3-30), Mahesh Kudchadkar (2-16) and Mahesh Churi (2-26), helping the Pai Khot Fighters put up a decent 148/9 on board.
Mapusa Dream Crushers, in reply, having lost an early wicket, built the innings through Sudin Kamat (31), Abhay Karande (19), Rajesh Colvalcar (11) and Mahesh Kudchadkar (15). Needing 53 off the last 4 overs, Sagar Salgaocar (32) and Shailesh Mahajan (16 no)put up a brave fight to take Mapusa Dream Crushers on the cusp of victory. However, with Shailesh
Mahajan not able to score 5 runs required off the last ball bowled by Sudesh Prabhudesai, Pai Khot Fighters emerged victorious by 4 runs.
For Pai Khot Fighters, Pratap Prabhugaonkar had dream figures of 3-1-12-1 and received support from Sarvesh Kamat 1-31 and Sudesh Prabhudesai 1-31.
Shailesh Mahajan, though finished on the losing side was awarded Desserts n More Man of the Finals award for his brilliant all round display.
Padmashree Brahmanand Shankhwalkar gave away the prizes in the presence of Dr Satish Kudchakar, Shirish Kamat and Pooja Kunde.
Sarvesh Kamat (152 runs and 4 wickets from 5 matches) was awarded the Sarsangan Player of the Tournament. Sudin Kamat (155 runs in 5 matches) was awarded the Best Batter while Sandesh Kamat Bambolkar (5 wickets from 3 matches) collected the Best Bowler award. Rasik Pai Khot (123 runs and 3 wickets in 5 matches) collected the Most Energetic Player award. Mahendra Pai Kuchelkar (8 dismissals from 4 matches) was adjudged the best wicketkeeper while Shailesh Mahajan (6 dismissals from 5 matches) got the best fielder award.
