Estilo Legends scored a 74-run victory over Retro Strikers in a one-sided final of the first edition of Zooter Goa Super League at Panjim Gymkhana ground on Sunday afternoon.
Estilo Legends posted a mammoth total of 205/9 in their allotted 20 overs after being put into bat; before bowling out Retro Strikers for 131 runs in 17.1 overs.
The triumph was a result of a clinical performance from Dr Sagar Salgaocar-owned Estilo Legends, who proved too good in all the departments of the game in the final. Their all-rounders in particular delivered when it mattered and the team as a whole, raised their level approaching the business end of the tournament.
Estilo Legends all-rounders continued their rich form in the final with Basu Madar sizzling with the bat (36 not out off 14 balls; 3×4, 3×6) and bowling a quality spell (1/13 off 3 overs) that stifled Retro Strikers, being crowned the man of the final and player of the tournament.
Estilo’s Shailesh Miskin (35 off 14 balls; 3×4, 3×6), Aditya Naik (35 off 25 balls; 2×4, 1×6),
Sachin Sardesai (30 off 22 balls; 4×4, 1×6), skipper Saheel Dhuri (23 runs off 11 balls; 3×4, 1×6) and wicket-keeper Chandrakant Ghadi (21 off 18 balls; 1×4) all contributed to the huge total in the title-clash, to put their side on the road to glory.
Consistent batter Aditya Naik of Estilo Legends was declared the best batsman of the tournament.
Retro Strikers bowlers Amlon DSouza and Ninad Pawaskar took two wickets each while Siddharth Ghanekar, Sunny Kamat and Balkrishna Hodarkar picked up one wicket each.
Amlon D’Souza of Retro Strikers bagged the best bowler award for taking 11 wickets in the tournament.
In reply, Retro Strikers got off to a confident start with Ninad Pawaskar striking a majestic sixer over mid-wicket off Basu Madar bowling the first over. He continued in the same fashion with good-looking shots before being caught in the deep for 34 runs off 23 balls, which included one boundary and three sixes. Ninad and Sunny Kamat (16) put on 34 runs for the first wicket in 3.5 overs, which also proved to be the highest partnership of the Strikers inning.
As the wickets fell at regular intervals, Retro Strikers failed to get a grip on the proceedings and the contest died down quickly although some resistance came from the lower-order batters Gautam Kankonkar (24 off 15 balls; 2×4, 1×6) and Pranav Biche (17 off 8 balls; 2×4, 1×6).
Estilo Legends leg-spinner Vinay Palekar (3/33) in particular, along with Hydar Carol (2/14) and Vinod Wilson (2/13), who also displayed a safe pair of hands taking three catches in the outfield, played their role to perfection.
Meanwhile, Naroo Panthers’ Anand Majalikar aged 62, was presented a prize for outstanding performance.
