PORVORIM: Captain Darshan Misal’s whirlwind 82 off 30 balls powered MCC to 211/4 against Khorlim XI in the first semi-finals at GCA academy ground, here on Friday morning.
Goa Ranji Trophy all-rounder, Darshan’s day began in the perfect manner as he won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a fantastic batting surface.
The 28-year-old left-hander was in terrific touch with the bat as he struck seven sixers and six boundaries, also bringing up the fastest half-century of the tournament in the process. Darshan, who came to the crease after the fall of opener Manthan Khutkar (50 runs off 32 balls) in the 12th over, struck three consecutive sixers in a Maliksab Shirur over with the first one of the lot taking Darshan to 50 off 21st ball. The earlier fastest fifty (off 23 balls) of the competition had come from the bat of Porvorim Warriors captain Swapnil Asnodkar.
Darshan, who put on 107 runs for the third wicket with Aditya Suryawanshi, carried on hammering Khorlim XI bowlers adding 30 more runs in nine balls to his kitty before being caught in the deep by Ishan Gadekar in the final over bowled by Rupesh Asgaonkar.
Aditya, who was dropped twice when on 8 by Maliksab and then on 48 by Asgaonkar, also scored a half-century with his 51 coming off 42 balls. The No 3 batsman was involved in a 62-run stand with Manthan, who played a perfect opener’s knock in a commanding style striking three fours and sixers each, for the second wicket.
MCC, who were 88/1 after 10 overs and 134/2 in 15 overs, finished with a flourish as they scored 77 runs in the last five overs. Khorlim XI bowlers Amit Yadav, Asgaonkar and captain Saheel Dhuri took a wicket each.
