PWD annex Civil Services Trophy

TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a cliffhanger of a final, Public Works Department (PWD) edged past Electricity Department by 11 runs to emerge champions of Civil Services Cricket Tournament at SAG ground, Campal, here.
Electing to bat first, PWD started off on a sedate note scoring 43 runs in the first six power-play overs, losing Nilesh Parsekar (18) and Umesh Naik (14) in the process. Though Electricity picked up wickets at regular intervals, PWD’s Shailesh Naik (25) and Naresh Parsekar (14) kept PWD’s hopes alive, scoring at 6.70 runs per over and managed to take the PWD score to 67/3 in 10 overs.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, just when the match was on an even keel, Vaman Mayekar and Vinal Palekar, the old warhorses of the Electricity, struck twice each, removing the well set Shailesh and Naresh, as well as Haresh Kakodkar (0) and Mayur Naik (1), leaving PWD in total disarray. With wickets falling like nine pins at the other end including that of Yeshwant Javvaji (5) and Sudhakar Gad (0), however, Someshwar Naik Adpaikar 43 (39 balls with 5 fours) brought PWD back in contention, blasting 16 off Vinay Palekar’s fourth over, the penultimate over of the innings. Though Someshwar was dismissed in the last over, his heroic effort with the bat helped PWD post a respectable 134/9 in the stipulated 20 overs. Electricity’s Pundalik (2/27), Kiran (2/26), Vaman Mayekar (2/20) and Vinay Palekar (2/29) shared the wickets.
Psychologically down, having conceded 25 runs to PWD in the last two overs, Electricity requiring 135 to win at a run rate of 6.75 runs per over, started briskly through Mangesh 28 (22 balls with 3 fours) and Sandesh 6, making 42/1 in 5 overs. However the introduction of Naresh Parsekar put a check on the Electricity scoring. The resultant pressure of chasing in the finals led to Electricity losing five wickets for 23 runs, that of Pundalik (11), Kiran (19), Vinay Palekar (10), Vaman Mayekar (1) and Rupesh (0), tilting the balance towards PWD with Electricity reaching 80/7 in the 13th over.
Needing 55 in less than eight overs with just the last three wickets in hand, Electricity’s Sharad (7), Deepraj (12) and Harish (7 not out) rattled the PWD, mixing caution with aggression, scoring 43 in 39 balls. However, Someshwar and Shailesh Naik’s double strike ended the Electricity innings at 123 in 18.5 overs, leaving PWD victorious by 11 runs. PWD’s Shailesh Naik (3/14), Naresh Parsekar (3/22), Someshwar Naik Adpaikar (2/38) and Mayur Naik (1/19) were the most successful bowlers.
Someshwar Naik Adpaikar was adjudged man-of-the-match for his gritty all-round display.
PWD were later felicitated by VM Prabhudessai, Director of DSYA alongwith Sunil Gawas, Raut Dessai, and others at a ceremony in the conference hall of DSYA.