Tata’s Sports Club powered by the combined brilliant efforts of skipper Nikhil Patil, who cracked a 46-ball 55 runs and medium pacer Ankur Singh, who claimed 4 wickets for 27 runs, snatched a close 14 runs victory against Nanavati Hospital in a semi-final match of the 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 Wednesday.
Nanavati Hospital raised hope of an upset win as they did well to restrict Tata’s to 149 for 6 wickets in 20 overs. But, Nanavati found the going tough and were unable to chase down the 150-run target as they were bowled out for 135 runs in 18.5 overs.
Electing to bat first, Tata’s started on a dismal note as they lost the top three batsmen – both openers Kaustubh Pawar and Sufiyan Shaikh and one drop Chirag Khurana with just 23 runs on the board in the fifth over. But, Praful Waghela (20 runs) and the aggressive Nikhil Patil rescued the team with a fighting 62-run fourth wicket partnership. Later, Patil carried on the good work and along with Ian Dev Chouhan (31 runs) added 52 valuable runs for the fifth wicket, which enabled Tata’s reach a modest total of 149 for the loss of 6 wickets. Nanavati bowlers Vishwajeet Thakur (4/27) and Sahil Madgaonkar (2/27) were responsible in getting the wickets
In reply Nanavati made steady progress as the openers Pranav Kela (17 runs) and Kusal Shah (24 runs) batted sensibly and kept the scoreboard ticking as they reached 46 by the sixth over. But, spinner Brijesh Gharat (2/20) got the vital breakthrough when he had Kela stumped by Sufiyan Shaikh. Thereafter, Ankur picked up wickets at regular intervals to knock the fight out off their opponents and clinch a narrow win to take their place in the summit round.
Earlier, Mafatlal SC recorded a comfortable four-wicket win against Mumbai Police in a quarter-final encounter.
Brief scores – semi-finals: Tata Sports Club 149 for 6 wickets, in 20 overs (Nikhil Patil 55 (46b, 3×4, 2×6), Ian Dev Chouhan 31 (24b, 2×4, 1×6), Praful Waghela 22 (20b, 1×6); Vishwajeet Thakur 4/27, Sahil Madgaonkar 2,27) beat Nanavati Hospital SC 135 all out, (Bhushan Shinde 30 (26b, 2×4, 1×6), Kusal Shah 24 (19b, 3×4); Ankur Singh 4/31, Brijesh Gharat 2/20) by 14 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Ankur Singh (Tata’s SC).
Brief scores – quarter-finals: Mumbai Police 134 all out, 20 overs (Shrikant Limbole 32, Swapnil Kulaye 32; Karan Nande 2/17, Prasad Patil 2/18, Harshad Khadiwale 2/19) lost to Mafatlal SC 135 for 6 wickets, in 18.5 overs (Armaan Shaikh 50, Umang Shah 28; Anirudha Mainkar 3/31) by 4 wickets.
Man-of-the-match: Armaan Shaikh (Mafatlal SC).