PANAJI
RC Goa secured their first win in the ongoing PGML 2.0 defeating Baale Tigers by two runs in a close encounter. In another match, Dempo Challengers defeated Prescon Panthers with a ball to spare.
In the first match on Saturday, RC Goa scored 127-8, powered by a run-a-ball 28 by Om Fadte, with Aryan Mashelkar anchoring the innings with 22 from 36 balls. Mrunmay Das took 3-21 for Baale Tigers. The Tigers got off to a slow start in their chase and could not really pace their innings, managing to score only 125-7. RC Goa’s Nilesh Bhonsle held his nerve to concede just eight runs in the last over. Baale Tigers are the only team in the six-team T20 league without any points after losing all their three matches.
Dempo Challengers moved up the league table by defeating Prescon Panthers. Batting first, the Panthers scored 141 thanks to a quick 35 by Mehul Jirage and 33 by Abhijit Bhandare. The Challengers’ Kiran Shirwaikar and Sazu Naik took two wickets each. Dempo Challengers secured a win with a ball and two wickets to spare, following a calm 35 by Mehank Dharwadkar and a fine rearguard innings of 30 not out by Dattesh Priolkar.
On Sunday, Baale Tigers will take on Manas Mavericks, while RC Goa will lock horns with the Priority Titans. The PGML 2.0 got underway on January 7 at the Panjim Gymkhana grounds and the final of the league will be played on February 5.
