All Pics The Hitavada
An old score was to settle. A loss was to be avenged. A perception was to be changed. As fortunes started fluctuating with each passing over the tension mounted but the belief never diminished. Using their experience, keeping their cool and showing their never-say-die attitude The Hitavada emerged the deserving champions of the 11th Orange City Hospital Cup Inter-Press Cricket T20 Tournament.
By defeating defending champions Lokmat by 20 runs The Hitavada lifted its eighth title in ten finals.
The Men in Blue went through a roller-coaster ride before putting up a competitive 148 for seven in 20 overs. Defending the target against a strong Lokmat batting line-up the bowlers needed to put their hands up. They did. As Lokmat started building partnerships the pendulum swung their way. But Man of the Final Avinash Kahu had a rabbit left in his hat! He used brains to counter Lokmat’s brawn and soon the eighth title came The Hitavada’s way. Lokmat were restricted to 128 for eight in 20 overs. Kahu had figures of 4-0-21-4.
Batting first The Hitavada had a disastrous start losing Kamlesh Waghire and skipper Susheem Kolay with just six on the board. A partnership was needed and Praveen Lokhande (26; 21b, 3x4) forged it with ‘crisis man’ Nikhil Dixit (50; 53b 6x4, 2x6).
Runs were just trickling when left-arm spinner Ashish Budholia came into attack. Dixit and Lokhande launched into him to garner 20 in one over and The Hitavada were on recovery path.
The duo stitched together a stand of 60 in 51 balls for the third wicket. Dixit was his usual cool self never letting go a loose ball. His straight six of Pawan Dhande was sheer delight. Lokhande too kept his calm and picked gaps.
At 66 in 11 overs Lokhande was out but Dixit found Vijay Choure (14; 14b, 2x4) for help. They added 38 for the fourth wicket in 25 balls.
At 104 for 4 in 15 overs an impetus was needed to the innings for a big total. Vice-captain Rahul Dixit joined his elder brother, wielded his willow, and got a quick 18 (10b, 1x4, 1x6). The Dixit brothers’ 31-run stand in just 18 balls provided the momentum to The Hitavada innings.
Lokmat started badly losing in-form Nitin Patoriya for a duck. Amit Khodke (45; 41b, 4x4, 1x6) kept fighting at other end keeping the asking rate under control with Manish Charpe (19). Dhande then joined Khodke for a quick 47-run stand that almost shut the door on The Hitavada.
Stepped in Kahu and the challenge was snuffed out with some excellent fielding and absolutely fantastic catching by Sanjay Chinchole and Hitesh Limbachia.
With an average age of 34 the talk of The Hitavada’s cricket team as a ‘Dad’s Army’ was gaining ground. But the experience that comes with age and playing 10 finals was enough to help them reaffirm their authority on inter-press cricket.
The match was enjoyed live all over Vidarbha on UCN.
Udaybhaskar Nair of Nairsons group was the chief guest at the prize distribution function. The special guests were Dr Anup Marar, Director, Orange City Hospital and Research Institute, Sadanand Fulzele, Secretary, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti, Jaswinder Singh Mukar, Deputy General Manager, Tata Indicom, Nagpur, Sanjay Jog, Deputy General Manager (Marketing), Tata Indicom, Deepak Lalwani of Deepak Agencies, and Pradeep Kumar Maitra, President, Tilak Patrakar Bhavan Trust.
Individual prizes were sponsored by Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited. Deepak Agencies and Panchavati Builders too supported SJAN in organising the tournament.
Kishor Bagde conducted the function, Dr Ram Thakur made the introductory remarks, Naresh Shelke compered the ceremony while Sandeep Dabhekar proposed a vote of thanks.
THE HITAVADA INNINGS
Kamlesh Waghire run out A Budholia 2
Susheem Kolay lbw S Rahangdale 0
Pravin Lokhande c A Seth b S Mishra 26
Nikhil Dixit c&b S Rahangdale 50
Vijay Choure c A Seth b S Mishra 14
Rahul Dixit c S Mishra b A Khodke 18
Hitesh Limbachia Not Out 12
Sanjay Chinchole c P Dhande b A Khodke 0
Paritosh Pramanik Not Out 1
Extras: (w 22, lb 2, b 1) 25
TOTAL: (Seven wickets, 20 overs) 148.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-6, 3-66, 4-104, 5-135, 6-135, 7-140.
Bowling:
Pawan Dhande 4-0-24-0
Amit Khodke 4-0-24-0
Ashish Bodholia 2-0-31-0
Sharad Mishra 4-0-25-2
Gitesh Wanjari 2-0-28-0
LOKMAT INNINGS
Amit Khodke c S Chinchole v A Kahu 45
Nitin Patoria c P Lokhande b V Choure 0
Manish Charpe v P Lokhande 19
Pawan Dhande c V Choure b A Kahu 23
Sharad Mishra run out A Kahu 7
Aasman Seth c&b A Kahu 18
Ashish Budholia c H Limbachia b A Kahu 2
Ravin Singh run out (K Waghire-P Pramanik) 1
Sachin Rahangdale Not Out 2
Gitesh Wanjari Not Out 3
Extras: b 3, w 4) 7
TOTAL: (8 wickets, 20 overs) 128
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-44, 3-92, 4-96, 5-112, 6-121, 7-121, 8-124.
Bowling: Vijay Choure 3-0-24-1
Susheem Kolay 4-0-27-0
Nikhil Dixit 1-0-11-0
Pravin Lokhande 4-0-18-1
Rammurti Nerle 4-0-23-2
Avinash Kahu 4-0-21-4
Result: The Hitavada won by 20 runs.
Man of the final: Avinash Kahu.
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