PANJIM: Salcete Young Stallions beat Pai Khot Fighters by 19 runs in the last league match of the Desserts n More U-25 boys Sarsangan Cricket Series played at Arlem cricket ground.
Electing to bat first, the skipper Aditya Dalal 50* (30 balls, 6x4s, 1x6s) and Smit Dalvi 42 (35 balls, 3x4s, 1x6s) put on 78 for the opening wicket in 8.4 overs to lay the foundation of a big total.
Saish Hegde 21 (21 balls, 2x4s) and Pratham Kossambe 25* (12 balls, 3x4s, 1x6s) helped Salcete Young Stallions put on a mammoth 182/6 in 20 overs. For the Pai Khot Fighters, 12-year-old child prodigy Ayan Borker picked 2-31 with his leg breaks. Karan Mahale 2-31 and Krish Pai Khot 1-21 were the other successful bowlers.
With nothing much to lose, both teams having secured a place in the final to be played on December 31, Pai Khot Fighters went on a rampage putting on 92 in 11.5 overs through their openers Pranav Kamat 50* (44 balls, 5x4s, 1x 6s) and Neelay Naik Dalal 45 (33 balls, 4x4s, 2x6s). Atchut Naik Dalal 34 (25 balls, 3x4s, 1x6s) and Sahil Neurenkar 16* (10 balls, 1x6s) tried their best but their efforts fell short by 19 runs with Pai Khot Fighters finishing at 163/4 in 20 overs.
For Salcete Young Stallions, Neel Netravalkar and Aditya Dalal picked a wicket apiece. Aditya Dalal were awarded the Desserts n More man-of-the-match award by Balkrishna Hodarkar and Amod Borker in the presence of Gomakant Mahambrey.
