Lokmat meet Punyanagari in final

PUNYANAGARI held their nerve in a thriller to stun defending champions The Hitavada by one wicket and make the final of the 13th Orange City Hospital Cup invitational inter-press cricket tournament organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur.
In the second semi-finals, title favourites Lokmat thrashed new entrant Lokshahi Varta by 142 runs to make it to the summit clash for the fifth time.
The final would be played on January 19 at Dr Ambedkar College ground at 9 am.
Put in to bat, The Hitavada got off to a flying start but some tight bowling by Punyanagari bowlers restricted them at 144 for 6 in 20 overs. Middle order batsman Pawan Sawade was the top scorer with 36 runs. Opener Kamlesh Waghire scored a brisk 27 with the help of four boundaries. Captain Susheem Kolay made a quick 15-ball 15 runs while Salim Sheikh made 19. For Punyanagari, Vaibhav Sonwane was the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets. Ravi Daff took two.
In reply, Punyanagari got off to a flying start scoring 81 runs from 10 overs. Opener Daff slammed six boundaries to hit a 17-ball 31 runs. But The Hitavada managed to restrict their free flow of runs as the match headed towards an exciting finish. However, Pankaj Pande (24) and Srikant Kotgule (26) kept the scoreboard ticking with ones an twos and occasional boundaries.
Punyanagari lost wickets in heap in the death overs and needed four off the last over.
They lost two wickets of Ashwajeet Moon and Prashant Khurpude but Yudhishtir Raich and Roshan Bhakte managed to score the required runs with two balls to spare.
In the second other semi-finals, last year’s runners-up Lokmat thrashed Lokshahi Varta by 142 runs to make it to the fourth straight final.
Batting first, Lokmat once again rode on Amit Khodke (82) and Sachin Khadke’s (73*) 129-run third wicket partnership as they posted a whopping 204 for four in 20 overs.
Man of the series contender Khodke slammed 13 fours in his 48-ball stay at the wicket to hit 82 runs. Khadke hit one six and five fours from 55 balls to remain unbeaten on 73. For Lokshahi Varta, Rahul Chonde and Sarang Chavan took two wickets each.
Chasing a daunting task, Lokshahi Varta were never in the race as they lost wickets at regular intervals. They were bundled out for a paltry 61 in 11.1 overs.
Lokmat’s Sachin Rahangdale took a hat-trick, second of this edition, finishing with figures of 6-28. Ashish Budholiya took two wickets while Khadke and Khode took one each. For the losers, Sandeep Ganar and Arvind Tupe scored 14 runs each.
Earlier, the teams were introduced to State Minister for Energy and Finance Rajendra Mulak, businessman Radheshyam Sarda and Chairman of Tirupati Urban Bank Sameer Meghe.