PANAJI: Aditya Suryawanshi scored a dazzling unbeaten half-century to set up Salgaocar Cricket Club’s Bandodkar Premier League T20 title triumph at Panjim Gymkhana ground here on Thursday.
The Salgaocar wicket-keeper put on a masterclass of attacking batting as he scored 84 runs off 43 balls to put his side on the road to a comprehensive 63-run victory over Geno Sports Club in the final.
Salgaocar CC earned a cash prize of Rs 75,000 along with a glittering trophy, while Geno Sports Club were presented Rs 40,000 and runners-up trophy.
Salgaocar captain Deepraj Gaonkar was named the player of the tournament and best batter; while Geno’s Aryan Mishra was awarded the best bowler prize.
Grandson of Goa’s first chief minister Late Dayanand Bandodkar, Sameer Kakodkar was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Panjim Gymkhana secretary Rajesh Khaunte, treasurer Suresh Karapurkar and managing committee member Prashant Kakode.
Put into bat, Salgaocar posted a mammoth total of 191/8, riding on player-of-the final Aditya’s extraordinary performance that was studded with 10 sixes and one boundary. In reply, Geno SC failed to put up a challenge in the run-chase before being all out for a disappointing 128 runs in 19.1 overs.
It was not entirely smooth sailing for
Salgaocar CC, who were in early trouble as they lost three wickets cheaply (24/3) before Aditya played one of his best knocks in Goan cricket. In the company of stroke-maker captain Deepraj, Aditya grew in confidence after a steady start and changed gears in an exhibition of brave batsmanship.
Salgaocar, who were 68/3 in 10 overs, motored nicely to 110/3 in 13.4 overs when on the next delivery Deepraj was out caught behind for a well-made 44 runs (32 balls; 4×4, 2×6) of the bowling of his counterpart Harshad Gadekar after a valuable partnership of 86 runs of 56 balls with Aditya.
There was no stopping Aditya though as he sparkled in the overcast conditions with an array of wonderful shots. He found an able partner in all-rounder Subodh Bhatti 19 off 16 balls (1×4, 1×6) and they put on 50 runs in 26 balls for the sixth wicket. The young Ayush Verlekar also made the most of his time out in the centre as he struck a four and a sixer in his 3-ball 10.
Geno’s Aryan Mishra was the most successful bowler with figures of 4/30. Harshad, Amit Yadav and Manas took one wicket each.
In reply, Geno SC needed a good start, especially the strokeful Ishaan Gadekar to play a big role. Ishaan started off with a cracking sixer over long-on and a sweetly-struck four into the midwicket fence in the first over bowled by pacer Subodh Bhatti. However, his stay came to an abrupt end when his lofted extra-cover drive landed into safe-pair of hands of Deepraj off the bowling of left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar, after the talented Goa Ranji Trophy batter had scored 25 runs in 13 balls, which comprised two boundaries and two sixers.
Sohraab Dhaliwal, who had scored a century in the semi-final, was also dismissed after scoring 11 runs; and when the other outstation recruit Mayank Rawat was out without scoring in the same over, the writing was on the wall for Geno.
Youngster Sanath Nevagi scored 25 runs, Shivendera Bhujbal (21) and Yogesh Kauthankar (16) also chipped in before Geno were all out for 128 runs in 19.1 overs. Lakmesh Pawne was the standout bowler for Salgaocar with four wickets to his name, giving away just 22 runs. Deepraj and Atharva picked up two wickets each.
