Team Herald
PANJIM: 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.
Kiran Shirwaikar proved to be the saviour for Dempo Challengers at Panjim Gymkhana ground. 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.
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 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 solid foundation for their team. 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); and 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 sixers.
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.
