Fancied Tata Sports Club stormed into the penultimate round by recording an easy 61-run victory against Repro SC in a quarter-final match of the 10th RCF T20 Cricket Tournament 2019 for the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Cup, organized by Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited under the auspices of MCA and played at the RCF Colony ground, Chembur on Monday.
Repro SC were restricted to 126 for 9 wickets in 20 over in reply to Tata’s mammoth score of 187 for 9 from their 20 overs.
Repro after electing to field first, found the going tough as the Tata’s opening batsmen Kaustubh Pawar 45 runs (36b, 45m, 5×4), Sufiyan Shaikh 47 runs (38b, 73m, 3×4, 2×6) provided their team a solid start. Both the right-handed openers were in good form and they put together a substantial 72 runs partnership for the first wicket, which laid the foundation for the other batsmen to build on and they finishing their innings at a healthy total of 187 for the loss of four wickets from their stipulated 20 overs.
Later, skipper Nikhil Patil cracked an unbeaten 55 runs from just 27 balls with four knocks to the fence and three huge sixes. Yash Mahale (2/26) was the only successful bowler in the Repro attack.
Later, Tata’s spin combination of Chirag Khurana (4/20) and Aditya Dhumal (3/33) caused the main damage to the Repro innings which collapsed and fell short of their target by 61 runs and their exit from the tournament.
Nehal Katakdhond 43 (32b, 4×4, 1×6) and Bhupen Lalwani 29 (26b, 1×4, 2×6) were the only two Repro batters who got some runs on the board.
Brief scores: Kaustubh Pawar 45 (36b, 45m, 5×4), Sufiyan Shaikh 47 (38b, 73m, 3×4, 2×6), Nikhil Patil 55 not out (27b, 41m, 4×4, 3×6); Yash Mahale 2/26) beat Repro SC 126 for 9 wickets, 20 overs (Nehal Katakdhond 43 (32b, 39m, 4×4, 1×6), Bhupen Lalwani 29 (26b, 37m, 1×4, 2×6); Chirag Khurana 4/20, Aditya Dhumal 3/33) by 61 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Chirag Khurana (Tata’s SC).