PANAJI: Alcon MCC suffered their second successive loss and crashed out of the Bandodkar T20 League, at Panjim Gymkhana ground here on Wednesday. The result meant, Chowgule Sports Club, who won the match by 23 runs, have qualified for the semi-finals of the six-team league-cum-knockout competition . So does, Karimabad Sports Club, who had beaten Alcon MCC on the opening day.
Chowgule Sports Club’s outstation recruit Atharva Kale’s 56-run knock proved to be the highlight of the low-scoring match against Alcon MCC, who were in a must-win situation to stay alive in the competition.
Having elected to bat, Chowgule could only manage to post a modest total of 123/9 on the board. Atharva from the Maharashtra cricket setup, was the lone warrior with the bat as he played some superb shots even as Alcon MCC bowlers were dominating the situation with a disciplined exhibition, especially the spinners who were drawing good turn from the track. Atharva’s batting lit up the overcast day as the classy right-hander struck seven boundaries and one sixer in his 48-ball stay at the crease. He was named the man-of the match, and the award was presented by Panjim Gymkhana managing committee member Prashant Kakode.
Chowgule Sports Club batting failed to build on to the foundation laid by the 58-run second-wicket partnership between Atharva and Rahul Mehta (18). Alcon MCC bowlers Nitish Kumar Reddy (3/27), Heramb Parab (3/29) and Omprakash Chowan (2/34) got wickets at regular intervals; while Saiesh Kamat and Yadla Vasu bowled very economical spells to mount the pressure on Chowgule batters.
It was Chowgule captain Darshan Misal, who finally broke the shackles towards the fag end, returning a cameo knock of 22 runs of 14 balls. It included two boundaries.
Alcon MCC were restricted to 100/9 in their reply. Their batting card made disastrous reading as none were able to make an impact. Saiesh Kamat remained unbeaten on 33 of 23balls, with the gritty all-rounder finishing the match with two successive sixers off Darshan Misal to take his team’s total into triple digits. Outstation recruit Nitish Kumar was out on 17 off 22 balls. Deep Kasvankar (12) was the other batter to get into double digits.
In a dominant performance, Chowgule’s Shadab Khan picked up four wickets while Darshan and Krishna Thakur claimed two wickets each. Felix Alemao had one wicket to show for his fine effort.
