Monday, January 12, 2009

The Hitavada's Lokhande hammers hurricane ton



ON JANUARY 13: Sakal vs Navbharat at Ajni (9 am); Loksatta vs ToI at Ambedkar (9 am).

A middle-order collapse after a fine start had provided the perfect setting for a rescue act. Pravin Lokhande did not miss on the opportunity by blazing a hurricane century to set up a convincing 81-run win for The Hitavada over Punyanagari at Central Railways ground, Ajni.
Lokhande slammed the second century (109*; 50b, 8x4, 7x6) of the 11th edition of Orange City Hospital Cup Inter-press Cricket Tournament organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) at Dr Ambedkar College.
The Hitavada had started off well with skipper Rahul Dixit (22; 4x4) and Anupam Timothy (26; 3x4, 1x6) putting on 56 for the first wicket. Manish Gadekar claimed both in his first over to halt the progress. Number three batsman Lokhande watched two more fall to Gadekar (4-30) as The Hitavada slumped to 73 for four.
Lokhande then took charge with his monstrous hitting sending Punyanagari on a leatherhunt. He was severe on each bowler hitting eight fours and seven huge sixes that landed many a mile. The Hitavada piled up 202 for five in 20 overs.
Man of the Match Lokhande was ably supported by Hitesh Limbachiya who was willing to stay at the wicket. Limbachiya hit two fours in his valuable 24. The duo shared a stand of 106 for the fifth wicket.
In reply, Punyanagari lost a wicket on the second ball and were never in the chase. They were all out for 121 in 19.1 overs. Umesh Tekade (25) and Manoj Zariya (23) used the long handle for a while but Avinash Kahu bowled intelligently to pick up four for 20 to end the challenge. Vijay Choure got two for 19 while Nikhil Dixit, Gaurav Lakhe and Rahul Dixit picked up a wicket each.
In another thriller at Ambedkar College ground, Lokmat beat Loksatta by three runs.
Lokmat posted a healthy 155 for seven in 20 overs thanks to Nitin Patariya (42), Manish Charpe (39*) and Amit Khodke (36).
Loksatta’s reply was led by veteran Uday Rangnath who remained not out on 52 (57b, 5x4). Ravi Daff scored 45 off 28 balls with seven fours and a six.
Loksatta needed 18 off the last over. Man of the Match Rangnath hit three boundaries to bring the target to four off the last ball but could not see his team through as Loksatta ended at 152 for five in 20 overs.











(Pics S Sudarshan)

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