A day after the thrill-a-minute summit clash

 

Lokmat beat The Times of India in a thriller

In a battle of nerves, Lokmat pipped The Times of India by nine runs to win the SJAN-OCHRI Cup Inter-Press Invitational Twenty-20 Cricket Tournament organized by Sports Journalists' Association of Nagpur (SJAN) which concluded at the Ambedkar College ground on Wednesday.

Lokmat players showed lot of character and ultimately notched up victory. Thanks to skipper Amit Khodke who held the fort and knocked off 69 in 62 balls with the help of ten hits to the fence. Earlier Lokmat won the toss and elected to bat first and scored a good total of 150 losing six wickets in 20 overs. Lokmat had a shaky start as dashing batsman Nitin Patariya who was struggling with the form was trapped in front of stumps by Rupesh Bhaik with just eight runs on board. Opening batsman Sharad Mishra (12, 13b, 1x4) also failed to give good start. However,  after the departure of openers, skipper Amit Khodke controlled the innings. Initially playing cautiously he gradually accelerated the scoring by punishing the dead deliveries. Khodke was ably supported by Nitin Shriwas who scored 30 in 24 deliveries hitting one six. For The Times of India, Rupesh Bhaik claimed two wickets conceding 24 runs.

In reply, The Times of India tried their best to achieve the target but missed it by nine runs. Rupesh Bhaik (34, 20b, 1x6, 4x4) and Subodh Ratnaparkhi (28, 17b, 4x4) gave them flying start by adding 48 runs for first wicket partnership. When Bhaik was looking dangerous Devendra Sadavarti gave much needed breakthrough. Then they lost second wicket on 78 in the form of Ratnaparkhi. Suhas Nayse (24, 24b, 2x4) and Piyush Patil (15) made efforts but in vain. For Lokmat, Sadavarti and Mishra got two wickets each.

CEO of Satvik Financial Services Amol Dhake was the chief guest of prize distribution function. Former Vidarbha Hockey Association president Radheshyam Sarda, DGM of Bank of Maharashtra Nandkumar Pujari, Duleep Trophy player Sameer Khare and NUWJ secretary Bramha Shankar Tripathi also graced the occasion. SJAN secretary Kishor Bagde made introductory remarks and proposed a vote of thanks. Dr Ram Thakur conducted the proceedings.

Individual prizes

Man-of-the- final: Amit Khodke (Lokmat); 

Man-of-the-series: Sharad Mishra (Lokmat), 

Best batsman: Suhas Nayse (The Times of India), 

Best bowler: Faizul Qumar (The Times of India), 

Best wicket-keeper: Amit Roshankhede (Lokmat), 

Best fielder: Rupesh Bhaik (The Times of India), 

Best catch: Vivek Vyavhare (Lokmat), 

Century: Pravin Lokhande (Hitavada), 

Hat-trick: Yudhishthir Raich (Punyanagari)

Five wickets: Vikas Barokar, Sharad Mishra and Abhay Dubey

Three Musketeers: The Times of India trio of best bowler Faizal Qamar (from left) flanked by the best batsman Suhas Nayse and the best fielder Rupesh Bhaik after the 15th SJAN-OCHRI Cup Inter-Press T20 Cricket Tournament

Supporters of Lokmat celebrate their teams third triumph

 

The Champs

The Champs... Lokmat Defeated The Times of India by 9 runs to lift the 15th SJAN-OCHRI Inter-Press cricket tournament at the Ambedkar College ground on Wednesday

The Times of India team finished runners-up...

Bhaik, bowlers take TOI to final

 Skipper Rupesh Bhaik (50, 37b, 6x4, 1x6) continued his good form with the bat while bowlers—led by pacers Sandeep Dabhekar (4-0-12-3) and Suraj Nair (3-0-12-2) —put up an impressive show as The Times of India (TOI) beat Sakal by 84 runs to enter their maiden final in the SJAN-OCHRI Inter-Press cricket tournament on Tuesday. They will now play with Lokmat for the title on Wednesday.
Bhaik anchored the innings with a responsible knock and had two crucial stands of 41 and 43 with in form Suhas Nayse (38, 34b, 5x4) and Deepak Gurnani (28, 28b, 1x4) respectively as TOI posted a competitive 145 in their 20 overs. The Bhaik-Nayse stand was going smoothly but ended in a mix-up where Nayse sacrificed his wicket for his captain. Gurnani then played till the end to make sure TOI put up enough on the board for their bowlers to defend.
The score of 145, in the end, turned out too big for Sakal who were bundled out for a paltry 61. Once their key players Kishore Jamkar and Pankaj Borkar went cheaply inside first three overs, Sakal hardly looked like chasing and lost wickets at regular intervals. Nair picked up both Jamkar and Borkar while Dabhekar’s three-wicket burst wrecked the middle order. TOI spinners—Faizul Qamar, Piyush Patil and Umesh Tekade—then yet again made their presence felt and chipped in with crucial wickets. Except for Om Dhakulkar (32), none of the Sakal batsmen managed double-figure runs.
Chairman of Ravi Nair Hospitals Private Limited Uday Bhaskar Nair will be the chief guest during the concluding function. Director of OCHRI Dr Anup Marar, CEO of Satvik Group Amol Dhake, Duleep Trophy player Samir Khare and Tilak Patrakar Bhavan Trust president Pradip Maitra will also remain present.
BRIEF SCORES
The Times of India 145 in 20 overs (Rupesh Bhaik 50, Suhas Nayse 38, Deepak Gurnani 28; Sachin Belvekar 2-17) beat Sakal 61 in 15.3 overs (Om Dhakulkar 32; Sandeep Dabhekar 3-12, Faizul Qamar 2-4, Suraj Nair 2-12, Umesh tekade 1-2) by 84 runs.

ToI vs Sakal -- Second SEMIS pics

Lokmat storm into final

Lokmat stunned last year's runners-up Punyanagari by 56 runs to enter the final of SJAN-OCHRI Cup Inter-Press Invitational Twenty-20 Cricket Tournament at Ambedkar College ground on Monday.
The tournament is organised by Sports Journalists' Association of Nagpur. Batting first Lokamt despite the failure of its dashing batsman Nitin Patariya scored a good total of 150 for six in 20 over. Skipper Amit Khodke top scored with 36 including five boundaries. Amit Roshankhede smashed 36 including three sixes and one four. Sharad Mishra (28) and Sachin Khadke (14) were other scorers.
In reply, Punyanagari lost their wickets at regular interval and were bundled out for 94 in 17.1 overs. Vikas Barokar (17), Kunal Lonkar and Yudhishthir Raich (13 each) showed some resistance.
For Lokmat, Sachin Khadke who was later adjudged as man-of-the match claimed three wickets for 26 runs. Amit Khodke and Sharad Mishra captured two.
Brief scores:
Lokmat: 150 for 6 in 20 overs (Amit Khodke 36, Amit Roshankhede 36, Sharad Mishra 28, Sachin Khadke 14, Avishkar Deshmukh 2 for 27)
Punyanagari: 94 all out in 17.1 overs (Vikas Barokar 17, Kunal Lonkar 13, Yudhishthir Raich 13, Sachin Khadke 3 for 26, Amit Khodke 2 for 22, Sharad Mishra 2 for 4).
Result: Lokmat won by 56 runs.
MoM: Sachin Khadke
Tuesday's semi-final: Times of India vs Sakal at 9 a.m.