PANAJI: Dempo Challengers scored a clinical 13-run victory over Manas Mavericks in the first match of the Matchday 3 at the inaugural Panjim Gymkhana Members League (PGML) at PG ground, Campal here on Saturday. Dempo thus tasted their second consecutive victory in the exclusive members t20 fun event, to be the only undefeated team in the PGML.
Electing to bat, Dempo were off to a flying start with openers Naishad Kamat (39 off 34 balls, 2 fours and 2 sixes) and Geet Sail (35 off 39 balls, 4 fours) putting on 64 runs partnership in 9.1 overs. Captain Mukhtar Kadri also contributed a maximum according to the 35-run cap for the batsmen, with his knock coming up at the highest strike rate, off 24 balls and consisted two boundaries and three sixers. With the top order providing a solid base, Dempo looked set to reach a formidable total in excess of 160 but that was not the case.
In the end, the total of 154/6 proved sufficient as Manas Mavericks failed to make a contest out of it. Requiring 27 runs off the last over, Mahendra Pai Kuchelkar hit a six and a four to make it a 17 off 4 ball-equation. But that assault on Aryan Mashelkar’s bowling, proved too little too late. Thus, Manas Mavericks suffered their second successive loss and remained at the bottom of the table with no points earned.
Opening batsman Sandeep Signapurkar was the top-scorer for Manas with 37 runs off 44 balls, which included just one hit to the fence. Shailesh Miskin scored 12-ball 23 with two boundaries in his knock. Nakul Mhamal (2/5), Pranav Dhuri (2/24), Ajay Pednekar (2/28) were the main wicket-takers for Dempo.
Brief scores: Dempo Challengers 154/6 (Naishad Kamat 39, Geet Sail 35, Mukhtar Kadri 35; Shailesh Miskin 2/17). Manas Mavericks 141/6 (Sandeep Signapurkar 37, Shailesh Miskin 23, Ilyas Naroo 19; Nakul Mhamal 2/5, Pranav Dhuri 2/24, Ajay Pednekar 2/28).
