PANAJI: Dempo Challengers fought back from a precarious position to prevail over LPK11 with their 22-run victory in the Qualifier 2 on Saturday, sealing the final berth against Prescon Panthers. Sunday’s battle royale between the top-two teams from the league stage of the Panjim Gymkhana Members League, will also be a befitting culmination of the month-long weekend action of PGML T20 fun competition exclusively for PG members.
Kiran Shirwaikar proved to be the saviour for Dempo Challengers at PG ground here today, first with his quickfire 37 helping them to post a fighting total of 131/8. Kiran then came good with the ball, picking up two wickets and giving away just 8 runs off his alloted 3 overs. He was named the man-of-the match and received the award from Ajit Dalvi of HDFC, in the presence of PGML sponsor & Kineco chairman Shekhar Sardessai, Dempo Group chairman Shrinivas Dempo, Panjim Gymkhana president Manoj Caculo and treasurer Suresh Karapurkar.
LPK 11 seemed to have the proceedings under control first when they had Dempo Challengers on the ropes at 58/4 in the 12th over; and then, when LPK 11 were moving along comfortably in their run-chase with the team score reading 53/1 in 9.4 overs. In both these situations, Dempo Challengers were able to find a way out and that is the hallmark of a gritty outfit that never gives up.
Facing a task of defending a modest total in the do or die tussle, Dempo got wickets at regular intervals in what was a magnificent team effort in bowling and fielding. Captain Mukhtar Kadri, who had a rare failure with the bat in the tournament, gave his team the big breakthrough right in the first over as he took the wicket of hard-hitting opener and his counterpart Anup Kudchadkar.
Devidas Kolkar (30 off 31 balls, 3×4) and Sanjay Netravalkar (22 off 29 balls, 1×4) kept the scoreboard ticking and seemed to have done enough to build a good platform for LPK to get into the driver’s seat. However, the end of the 53 runs partnership for the second wicket, triggered a collapse and despite having strong batters in the middle order; LPK shockingly found themselves sinking in a hole when Manish Kakode was run-out for 12. In the end, Siddharth Ghanekar, who was their hero in the Eliminator with a rescue act; once again found himself carrying the burden of the LPK’s fate. He struck some forceful shots, but his three boundaries in the 16-ball knock of 23 runs, were not enough to save his team from a defeat this time out.
Dempo’s Kadri (2/16), Nakul Mhamal (2/24), Purple cap-owner Ajay Pednekar (1/15), Pranav Dhuri (1/13) and Sargam Falare (1/12) all bowled well as LPK 11 were all out for 109 in 20 overs.
Earlier after electing to bat, openers Naishad Kamat (23 off 28 balls, 2×4, 1×6) and Geet Sail (17 off 29 balls, 2×4) gave a solid start to Dempo Challengers. The duo put on 45 runs in 8 overs to lay a good foundation for their team to build on. However, leg-spinner Manish Kakode changed the complexion of the game in the ninth over as he castled Naishad and followed it up by effecting a run out of in-form Orange cap-holder Kadri (1). On the next delivery, he deceived Mehank Dharwadkar with his length and the young batsman was stumped, to leave Dempo Challengers stunned at 46/3. When in the 12th over, Manish took a well-judged catch of Geet to heap more misery on Dempo (58/4); it seemed that the team would struggle to even get to the three-digit mark as LPK11 had managed to take a firm grip on the match.
It was then left to Kiran to show his mettle with young Aryan Mashelkar (17 off 29 balls) for company, and what a fantastic display of caution and aggression it turned out to be!
Kiran came up with a crucial knock of 37 runs in 19 deliveries, which contained one boundary and three superb sixers. He combined with Aryan for a 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket, which ultimately formed the key part of the Dempo total. Pranav Dhuri scored a valuable 15 runs off 9 balls as Dempo Challengers somehow kept themselves in the hunt in what proved to be a fascinating low-scoring contest.
LPK’s Manish finished with the figures of 2/34. Anish Kakode, Vallabh Haldankar and Siddharth Ghanekar picked up a wicket each. Marwin Carvalho, who opened the bowling, had the best economy with his figures of 3-0-4-0. Sachin Sardessai (3-0-6-0 ) also bowled well.
Brief scores: Dempo Challengers 131/8 (Kiran Shirwaikar 37, Naishad Kamat 23, Geet Sail 17, Aryan Mashelkar 17; Manish Kakode 2/34). LPK11 109 in 20 overs (Devidas Kolkar 30, Siddharth Ghanekar 23, Sanjay Netrawalkar 22; Kiran Shirwaikar 2/8).
