Team Herald
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MASHEM: Sportsweek staged an impressive comeback to defeat Stamina Cricket Club by four wickets, securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the 43rd Nanda Lolayekar Trophy leather ball cricket tournament at Nirakar Maidan, Mashem-Canacona,.
Chasing a target of 197, Sportsweek recovered from a precarious position thanks to a brilliant fifth-wicket stand of 131 runs between Swapnil Yevle and Ved Mhambre. Their partnership turned the game around after a top-order collapse had left Sportsweek in trouble.
Swapnil Yevle delivered a match-winning performance, scoring a scintillating 88 off 55 balls, studded with 12 boundaries and two sixes. Ved Mhambre played a vital supporting role, contributing a patient 36 off 55 balls with just one boundary, demonstrating his composure under pressure.
Sportsweek ultimately achieved the victory target in 28 overs, finishing strongly at 197/6. For Stamina CC, bowlers Ajinkya Kudtarkar and Shreyas Natekar claimed two wickets each.
Earlier, Stamina CC won the toss and elected to bat. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the team managed to post a competitive total of 196/7 in their allotted 35 overs. The innings was anchored by Siddhesh Pandit (44) and Gautam Nandrekar (25), who shared a crucial 54-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Abhishek Singh added late fireworks, scoring an unbeaten 37 off 21 balls and forming a valuable seventh-wicket partnership of 49 runs with Ajinkya Kudtarkar (18). Other notable contributions came from Arjun Morajkar (24), Vishwajeet Phadte (16), and Nitesh Vaiguinkar (15).
For Sportsweek, Deepak Kumar (2/33) and Sujay Naik (2/47) emerged as the main wicket-takers, helping restrict Stamina CC.
In reply, Sportsweek got off to a flying start, thanks to opener Yash Prabhugaonkar, who smashed 30 off just 13 balls, hitting three sixes and an equal number of boundaries. However, after his dismissal following a 32-run stand in 2.5 overs, Sportsweek suffered a collapse and were reduced to 59/4 by the 10th over.
It was then that Swapnil and Ved took charge, guiding Sportsweek to a remarkable victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
