MARGAO
In the GSB Unity Cup 3.0 tournament organised by the Goa GSB Sports and Charitable Trust, Shamrao Tridents defeated Rising Stars of Ponda by 15 runs. In comparison, K.K. Strikers overcame Dempo Challengers by 32 runs on Sunday. The matches are being played at the MCC Ground in Margao.
In the morning session, K.K. Strikers posted 205 for 9 in 20 overs. Opener Viraj Puranik smashed 55 runs off just 24 balls, hitting 9 fours and a six. Rauji Kakodkar lit up the innings with a quickfire 44* off 20 balls, including five sixes and two fours, helping the team cross the 200-run mark. Ramnath Prabhu Bam contributed a useful 37 runs. For Dempo, Shridhar Keni was the most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 29.
In reply, Dempo were bowled out for 173 in 19.1 overs. Captain Samar Dubhashi (55 off 30 balls), Tunish Sawkar (32 off 19 balls), and Vibhav Pai (34 off 21 balls) fought hard, but poor contributions from the middle and lower order meant they fell short. For K.K. Strikers, Rasik Pai Khot delivered a match-winning spell, taking 4 wickets for just 22 runs in his 4 overs.
The second match of the day was comparatively closer. Shamrao Tridents successfully defended a modest total of 150 for 9, restricting Rising Stars of Ponda to 135 all out in 19.3 overs.
Deval Karmali (53 off 34 balls) and Abhijit Bhandare (20 off 12 balls) provided a brisk 50-plus opening stand in just 4.4 overs, but the Tridents could not build a big total. Siddhant Kunde's unbeaten 37 helped them reach 150. For Rising Stars, Tanmay Sukhthankar and Shaunit Sawardekar picked up three wickets each.
Chasing the target, Ponda got off to a poor start. Despite captain Prasheel Kamat (34) and Ved Mahambre (50 off 37 balls) putting up a fight, they could not carry the team to victory. Kritin Bhangui impressed for the Tridents with figures of 3 for 18.
Rasik Pai Khot was named Desserts N More Player of the Match, while Viraj Puranik received the Kamat Realty Hero of the Match award from Rajesh Colvalkar and Kapil Borker.
For the second match, Siddhant Kunde won the Desserts N More Player of the Match award, and Deval Karmali received the Kamat Realty Hero of the Match award from Sudesh Prabhudesai and Vikram Gaitonde.
