DEMPO CRICKET CLUB REIGN SUPREME IN GCA’S GOA PREMIER LEAGUE 2022-23

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PORVORIM: Dempo Cricket Club pulled off a hard-fought 73-run victory over Alcon MCC in the final of Goa Cricket Association’s Goa Premier League at GCA academy ground here on Monday afternoon.

Requiring 183 runs to win with all their wickets intact on the third and final day, Alcon MCC were bundled out for 113 in the extended morning session itself. Dempo CC spinners Rohan Bogati (4/35) and Vikas Singh (4/51) wreaked havoc in the MCC batting lineup on a turning track.

Overnight 4/0, Alcon MCC lost opener Sumiran Amonkar (18) with the team total being 25. Thereafter, the top-order batters followed each other without getting into double digits and half of the team had perished by the time, the team total reached 45. The other opener Prathamesh Gawas, who also scored 18, was the sixth wicket to go down and Alcon MCC were struggling big time at 65/6. Captain Darshan Misal, who has been in great form with bat and ball this season, watched in shock as team-mate Digesh Raikar and Heramb Parab made their way back to the pavilion in no time, leaving Alcon MCC on the brink at 77/8.

Darshan could hardly take risks as Dempo spinners were at the top of their game. He however struck two boundaries when the deliveries were there to put away. No other batter showed an ability to apply themselves and play to the merit of the ball even as a draw would have sufficed for Alcon MCC to win the title due to their first-innings lead.

Darshan, who scored 21 off 69 balls, and Keith Pinto (15 not out off 41 balls) looked like settling down and seeing the morning session off when at the stroke of lunch, the Alcon MCC skipper was caught superbly with a diving effort by Karan Vasshodia at short leg off the bowling of left-arm spinner Vikas Singh. With nine wickets gone now, the first session was extended in view of the impending result. Last-man Samarth Rane (5) played and missed but managed to last 22 deliveries on the pitch before being bamboozled by Vikas Singh, who got one to beat the bat and knock the off stump back.

With this stunning comeback, the Prashant Kakode-coached Dempo side improved from their runners-up place last season to being deserving champions this time around.

Brief scores: Dempo CC 1st innings 157 in 53.5 overs (Deep Kasvankar 50, Lakshay Garg 23; Darshan Misal 7/46) & 2nd innings 205 in 69.3 overs (Manthan Khutkar 108 not out, Deep Kasvankar 59; Darshan Misal 8/78), Alcon MCC 1st innings 176 in 54 overs (Piyush Yadav 44, Shourya Jaglan 37; Rohan Bogati 5/67) & 2nd innings 113 in 48.1 overs (Darshan Misal 21, Prathamesh Gawas 18; Rohan Bogati 4/35, Vikas Singh 4/51).
Man-of-the Tournament: Vikas Singh (Dempo CC).

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