Michael gives Navbharat one-run thriller

Navbharat players (C) celebrate taking wicket of Sakaal's Nikhil Gotmare (L). (Pic Courtesy S Sudarshan)

Ronnele Michael’s dream last over, which included three crucial wickets, helped Navbharat stun Sakaal by one run in a league match of the 11th Orange City Hospital Cup inter-press cricket tournament organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur at Central Railways ground, Ajni.
It was a battle of nerves and Michael showed his mettle after Navbharat posted 116 runs. Needing just two runs to win, Sakaal lost three wickets in the last over. After playing two dot balls, Sakaal’s Manoj Mule gave a simple catch to Manish Shriwas off the third ball. Playing a dot ball Sunil Khorgade failed to read a straighter one from Michael as his furniture was disturbed. On the last ball, Sakaal’s Satish Ingole failed to reach the crease and was run out giving Navbharat a stunning 1-run win.
Batting first, Navbharat’s Ajay Kangali scored 43 runs while Manish Shriwas added 28. For Sakaal, Nikhil Gotmare and Kishor Jamkar took two wickets each while Avishkar Deshmukh and Shrikant Bante took one each.
In reply, Sakaal’s Satish Ingole scored 27 runs. Mule (17), Gotmare (16) and Jamkar (24) too played hard but failed to bail out their team.
For Navbharat, Michael was the most successful bowler with three wickets. Kangali and Ramesh Rao took two wickets while Shriwas took one. Ajay Kangali was declared man of the match.

Times of India players celebrate after taking a .

(pic courtesy S Sudarshan)

TIMES OF INDIA SHOCK LOKSATTA: In another match played at Dr Ambedkar College ground, The Times of India (ToI) shocked former champions Loksatta by 39 runs to record their first win in three years.
After posting a respectable 122, ToI bowled sensibly to bundle out Loksatta for 83 runs. Suhas Nayse shone with both bat and bowl which won him the man of the match award.
Nayse sent four balls to the fence to emerge top scorer for his team with 31 runs. Devendra Ganjare (27) and Niladari Dey (16) too batted well. Sandeep Dabhekar scored 12. For Loksatta veteran Uday Rangnath took four wickets while Ravi Daff chipped in with three wickets. Amol Sultane took two.
In reply, Loksatta lost wickets at regular intervals. Daff was beautifully caught by Dabhekar off his own bowling while Nayse took a breathtaking follow-through catch of Devendra Sadavarti to expose Loksatta’s weak middle order. Sultane tried to steady the rocking ship but he too fell to Dabhekar’s slower.
Nagesh Meshram, Dabhekar, Nayse and Wardhane took two wickets each.
Wednesday’s fixtures: The Hitavada vs Sakaal at Central Railway ground, Ajni; Lokmat vs Tarun Bharat at Dr Ambedkar College ground. Both matches start at 9 am.