Lokshahi Varta in Super Six; Lokmat top Group B

Nitin Patariya slammed a quickfire half century (54; 30b; 5x4; 3x6) to help last year’s runners-up Lokmat thrash Sakal by seven wickets and top Group B in the Sports Journalists’ Association’s of Nagpur organised 13th Orange City Hospital Cup Inter-Press Invitational T20 Cricket Tournament at Dr Ambedkar College ground, Deekshabhoomi on Sunday.
With this win, Lokmat finished their league round matches with a maximum nine points from three games.
In the other match played at Dhanwate National College’s Vasant Nagar ground, debutant Lokshahi Varta rode on Sarang Chavan’s unbeaten 62 to oust Dainik Bhaskar by 38 runs and sneak into the Super Six from Pool B.
Batting first, new entrant Lokshahi Varta amassed 173 runs losing five wickets from 20 overs. Man of the match Chavan was in fine form and hit a fine half century with the help of 11 boundaries and two sixes. He faced 48 balls in his unbeaten 62 runs. Sandeep Ganar was the other notable scorer with 36 runs from 30 balls. He hit seven boundaries.
For Dainik Bhaskar Vijendra Yadav was the most successful bowler with three wickets.
In reply, Dainik Bhaskar managed to score 135 runs losing nine wickets from allotted 20 overs.
Avinash Bhagat top scored with 27 runs who hit four boundaries in his 20 balls stay at the wicket. Yadav added 22 runs while Sunil Deshmukh contributed 19 runs.
For Lokshahi Varta Rahul Chonde Sarang Chavan and Abhay Dubey tool one wicket each.
At Dr Ambedkar College ground, Lokmat bowled a tight spell to restrict Sakal to a mere 100 runs from 20 overs.
Avishkar Deshmukh was the top scorer with 28 runs which were laced with three boundaries. Rajesh Vyavahare added 26 from 27 balls. Om Dhakulkar contributed 10.
For Lokmat, Man of the match Nitin Patariya took two wickets for five runs. Sachin Rahangdale, Amit Khodke and Aashish Budholiya took one wicket each.
In reply, Patariya (54) slammed three huge sixes and five boundaries to complete the match in 12.1 overs. Sharad Mishra added 21 while Khodke scored 13.
For the losers, Sachin Belwarkar, Manoj Muley and Prashant Nimbarte took one wicket each.
Super Six: Pool X: The Hitavada, Sakal, Lokshahi Varta.
Pool Y: Lokmat, Punyanagari, Tarun Bharat.
On Monday: Tarun Bharat vs Punyanagari at 9 am at Dr Ambedkar College ground.