PANJIM: Alcon MCC and Dempo Cricket Club have almost booked their respective berths in the final of GCA Goa Premier League 2022-23. In the ongoing semi-finals, Alcon MCC and Dempo took first-innings leads over Salgaocar Cricket Club and Manas Panjim Gymkhana respectively.
Resuming the Day 2 at 74/0 at Panjim Gymkhana ground, Alcon MCC batted pretty well before being all out for 345 in 99.5 overs. Shourya Jaglan with 67 runs, was the top scorer, while captain Darshan Misal (57) and Piyush Yadav (45) helped boost the lower-middle order with decent partnerships. Earlier, opener Sumiran Amonkar was dismissed for his overnight score of 40 while Prathamesh Gawas scored 37.
Amongst Salgaocar bowlers, Yash Kasvankar was the most successful one with 4/81 being his return, while Lakmesh Pawne and Amulya Pandrekar claimed two wickets each. Salgaocar, in their second innings, lost an early wicket, and were 14/1 at stumps, still trailing by 124 runs.
At GCA Academy ground, Porvorim, Dempo CC scored 402 in their first innings and then bowled out Manas Panjim Gymkhana for 208 runs. At stumps on Day 2, Dempo were 6/0.
Resuming at the overnight 364/9 powered by unbeaten Vikas Singh on 117, Dempo went on to add 38 runs to their total. It was Vikas doing the bulk of the scoring while Fardin Khan ensured he played safe at the other end. Finally, after facing 53 deliveries for a single run, Fardin lost his wicket LBW to Prathmesh Dongre, who took his haul to three. Vikas remained not out on 152 off 183 deliveries, which comprised 19 fours and a six.
Vikas continued his splendid run chase, living up to his reputation as a match-winning all-rounder. After his unbeaten century, the spinner bowled magnificently for another five-wicket haul. Rohan Bogati bagged four wickets while Fardin Khan took one wicket. In the face of dominant bowling by Dempo, Manas Panjim Gymkhana failed to come up with anything special and their innings folded up in 76.1 overs.
Captain and experienced Ranji Trophy star batter Snehal Kauthankar scored a half-century. However, his knock of 57 off 102 balls was not of enough help to his team to make a contest out of it. Rahul Mehta chipped in with 48 runs and was involved in a 91-run stand for the third wicket with the skipper.
Shubham Desai contributed 39 runs, but that was not enough for Manas Panjim Gymkhana to put up a challenge to Dempo CC, who have one foot in the summit clash as Wednesday is the third and final day and two innings have to be completed for an outright result.
