Lokmat clinch title

(ALL PICS PARITOSH PRAMANIK/SJAN)

Lokmat are champions

Lokmat thrashed Punyanagari by 98 runs to emerge champions in the Orange City Hospital Cup 13th Inter-Press Invitational Twenty20 Cricket Tournament at Dr Ambedkar College ground, Deekshabhoomi on Wednesday.
The tournament was organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur and sponsored by Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI). Satvik Group was the co-sponsor of the tournament.
After pipping The Hitavada in the semi-final, Punyanagari looked a bit carried away when, wresting on previous laurels, they decided to bowl first against an outfit which banks on their batting prowess.
Lokmat made sure that they make Punyanagari pay heavily for it. Despite losing Nitin Patariya early, the former champions made no mistake in pouncing on the opportunity as Sharad Mishra (106*; 61b, 13x4, 1x6) and Amit Khodke (61; 46b, 5x4) dominated the proceedings with their brilliant strokeplay. Lokmat cruised to 197 for two wickets in 20 overs.
Mishra, in particular, used the long handle to precision scoring at a brisk rate. His innings was studded with 13 boundaries and one six. Punyanagari’s Pankaj Pande and Yudhishtir Raich got a wicket each.
Chasing close to ten runs per over, Punyanagari never looked in command. With half their side back in the hut with just 38 on board, Punyanagari were always fighting a lost battle. Sachin Rahangdale (4-45), with his superb bowling, helped Lokmat complete the formalities with more than four overs to spare as Punyanagari were cleaned up for 99 runs. Ashwajeet Moon (20*), Manoj Zariya (17) and Ravi Daff (14) reached double figures.
The winning team pursed Rs 15,000 while runners-up got Rs 12,000.
Khodke was adjudged man of the series for his brilliant all-round show in the tournament. The Hitavada’s Hitesh Limbachia, Paritosh Pramanik and Rammurti Nerlay got the best fielder, best wicket-keeper and best bowler awards, respectively. Punyanagari’s Ravi Daff got the best batsman’s prize.
Earlier, the players were introduced to Arundev Upadhyaya, Director, Centre Point School.
Udaybhaskar Nair, Chairman, Nairsons Group, was the chief guest at the prize distribution function. Dr Anup Marar, Director, Orange City Hospital and Research Institute, Devendra Singh Rotele, Director, Satvik Group, Deepak Lalwani of Deepak Agencies, Sanjay Lokhande, Secretary, Nagpur Union Working Journalists, Dr Ram Thakur, President, SJAN and Rahul Dixit, Secretary, also graced the concluding function.

SJAN’s noble gesture

In a noble gesture, Central Railway’s cricketer Vinay Yadav, who met with a tragic accident, was given monetary assistance by SJAN. The Hitavada’s Hitesh Limbachia and Paritosh Pramanik along with the Lokmat team also joined the noble cause to help Yadav by donating their prize amounts.