MARGAO
Priority Titans edge past MLT PDK Kings by 1 run in a last ball thriller in the Desserts n More Sarsangan Super Series Cricket at Arlem Cricket ground.
Electing to bat, Priority Titans found the right opening combination in Sairaj Dhond 28 (15 balls) and Sukrut Pai 50 (37 balls) as they put on a blitzy 65 runs in 29 balls for the opening wicket, tearing into the bowling of Mehank Dharwadkar, Saish Hegde and Mihir Gaitonde all going for over 10 runs per over. The introduction of the left arm spinner Animesh Prabhugaonkar paid dividends as he not only picked the dangerous Sairaj but also put brakes on the scoring rate.
Vibhav Pai and Gaurav Gaitonde bowled quite well to get the Kings back into the match dismissing Rajendra Prabhudesai, Venkatesh Salelkar and Varun Kudchadkar in quick succession to peg the Titans to 107-5 in the 13 th over. A steady innings from the skipper Aditya Prabhugaonkar 29 (21 balls) and Swapnil Kakodkar 19 (19 balls) and some lusty blows by Dinesh Pai 14 (6 balls) helped the Priority Titans put up a decent 172-5 in 20 overs. Gaurav Gaitonde picked 2-22 while Animesh Prabhugaonkar 1-18, Vibhav Pai 1-17 and Ved Mahambrey 1-26 played their part with their innocuous bowling.
In reply, MLT PDK Kings were jolted by Sairaj Dhond and Amey Prabhudesai who picked a wicket each to remove Ved Mahambrey (0) and Animesh Prabhugaonkar (9) to peg the Kings to 12-2 in 2.2 overs. A steady innings by Siddesh Sinai Amonkar (18) and a blazing 52 (27 balls) by the south paw Mehank Dharwadkar lifted the Kings out of the woods as they reached 68-3 in the 9 th over.
However, a double strike by Venkatesh Salelkar got the Titans right back into the match as the Kings reached 88-5 in 11 overs. In a game of fluctuating fortunes, Pratham Kossambe played a gem of an innings scoring 41 (24 balls) but two eventful overs by the old warhorse Mahesh Churi in which he gave just 3 runs and took 2 wickets turned the game on its head as the Kings lost wickets in a heap to be reduced to 159-9 in 18.4 overs.
Needing 5 off the last ball, Vibhav Pai (7 no) and Jatin Padwal (6 no) tried their best but could manage only 3 as the MLT PDK Kings finished at 171-9 in 20 overs, with the Priority Titans winning the match by the thinnest of margin of 1 run. Venkatesh Salelkar 2-17 and Mahesh Churi 2-24 were well supported by Sairaj Dhond, Sukrut Pai, Aditya Prabhugaonkar and Ameya Prabhudesai who picked a wicket each.
Sukrut Pai was awarded the Desserts n More Man of the Match medal and the Estilo Moderno Realty Man of the Match trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 2,000 for his brilliant all round show for the Priority Titans.
