PANJIM: Salcete Young Stallions beat Delite Titans by 43 runs on the opening day of the Desserts n More U-25 boys Sarsangan Series Cricket match played at Arlem cricket ground.
Electing to bat, Salcete Young Stallions got off to a flourishing start. Smit Dalvi blasted 55* (38 balls, 3 x 4s, 4 x 6s) and Neel Netravalkar scored 50 runs (43 balls, 1 x 4s, 1 x 6s), putting 118 runs for the opening wicket off just 12.5 overs.
Coming into bat at number three, the diminutive Aditya Dalal soon showed his class with a swashbuckling 52* (21 balls, 7 x 4s, 2 x 6s), which had an array of strokes all around the ground, a perfect ‘Dilscoop’ standing out with the Delite Titans fielders being made to look like mere spectators. The trio helped their team post an imposing 199/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
For Delite Titans, only their skipper Sanat Prabhudesai got due respect with figures of 2-18 and was supported by Ashay Ambe and Ved Mahambrey with a wicket each.
In reply, Delite Titans got off to a decent start through their openers Animesh Prabhugaonkar 11 (16 balls. 1 x 4s) and Ved Mahambrey 31 (21 balls, 5 x 4s). But Titans soon lost the momentum with the introduction of double spin attack of right arm off-spin of Smit Dalvi and left arm orthodox spin of Ishan Hodarkar, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Though Sanat Prabhudesai 16 (19 balls, 2 x 4s), Granthik Buyao 25 (21 balls, 1 x 4s, 2 x 6s), Somay Naik 27* (19 balls, 3 x 4s) and Aditya Keni 11* (12 balls, 1 x 4s) helped Delite Titans stay in contention, the asking rate proved too much for the Titans under the fading light as they managed to reach 156/7 in 20 overs, losing by 43 runs
For Stallions, the pick of the bowlers were Smit Dalvi 2-13 and Ishaan Hodarkar 2-14 with support from Neel Netravalkar 1-5 and Anurag Borker 1-22.
Smit Dalvi was awarded the Desserts n More Man of the Match medal for his brilliant all round display for the Salcete Young Stallions.
