Hitavada emerge champ

Nagpur, Feb. 7: In an interesting encounter, The Hitavada pipped Lokmat by four wickets to win the 18th edition of OCW-SJAN Inter-Press Cricket Tournament that was organised by Sports Journalists' Association of Nagpur at Dr Ambedkar College ground on Sunday. 

Lokmat won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 137 all out in 19.5 overs. After losing top order batsmen including Amit Khodke, Nitin Patariya, Praveen Lokhande and Sharad Mishra cheaply, Nitin Shrivas (42, 23b 1x6, 4x4) and Devendra Sadavarti (36, 22 b, 1x6, 4x4) played sensibly under the pressure and developed 77 run partnership for fifth wicket to help Lokmat to score a challenging total. 

For The Hitavada, skipper Susheem Kolay claimed match winning five-wicket haul conceding just 11 runs. Rammurthy Nerlay got three for 27. 

In reply, The Hitavada chased the target in 18.4 overs sparing four wickets. They too had a shaky start losing three wickets for 28. But then Vinay Pande (59, 41b, 1x6, 7x4)  and Rahul Dixit (27, 22b, 3x4) added 73 run for fourth wicket partnership that ultimately proved match winning. Deval Kakde (14) and Paritosh Pramanik (13) remained unbeaten and ensured the innings. For Lokmat Praveen Lokhande got two wickets. 

OCW director (PR) KMP Singh, director of Vithoba Industries Kartik Shende and secretary of Tilak Patrakar Bhavan Trust Shirish Borkar distributed the prizes. SJAN secretary Kishor Bagde made introductory remarks. President Dr Ram Thakur and treasurer Suhas Nayse conducted the proceedings. 

Brief score

Lokmat: 137 all out in 19.5 overs (Nitin Shriwas 42, Devendra Sadavarti 36, Susheem Kolay 5 for 11, Rammurty Nerlay 3 for 27). 

The Hitavada: 138 for six in 18.4 overs (Vinay Pandey 59, Rahul Dixit 27, Deval Kakde 15*, Paritosh Pramanik 13*, Praveen Lokhande 2 for 19). 

Result: The Hitavada won by four wickets. 

Man-of-the-Match (League matches)

1. Suhas Nayse (TOI) Scored 28 runs and claimed four wickets agianst Lokshahi Varta

2. Anupam Timothy (Hitavada) Scored 72* and took two wickets agianst Lokmat

3. Pankaj Pande (Punyanagari) Scored 69* runs and got one wicket

4., Pankaj Borkar (Sakal) Scored 37* and took one wicket against Tarun Bharat

5. Anup Motghare (Lokshahi Varta)  Claimed three wickets against Sakal

6. Shrikant Bhalerao (Bhaskar) Scored 79* runs against Deshonnati

7. Deval Kakde (The Hitavada) Claiemd six wickets against Deshonnati

8. Lakhan Jaiswal (Tarun Bharat) Scored 33 runs and claimed five-wicket haul against Punyanagari

9. Pankaj Pande (Punyanagari) Scored 95* against Sakal

10. Rahul Thakur (Bhaskar) Scored 59 runs and took one wicket against Loksatta

11. Sharad Mishra (Lokmat) Scored 59 runs and got two wickets against Deshonnati

12. Nikhil Kelapure (Lokhahi Varta)Scored 60 runs against Tarun Bharat

13. Piyush Patil (TOI) Scored 32* runs and claimed three wickets against Tarun Bharat

14. Pravin Lokhande scored unbeaten 90 runs against Bhaskar

15. Vinay Pande (The Hitavada) Scored 73* runs and took two wickets against Loksatta

16. Sharad Mishra (Lokmat) Slammed 104 against Loksatta

17. Amit Khodke (Lokmat) Scored 102 against Loksatta

18. Rupesh Bhaik (TOII) Scored 81* against Sakal

19. Vinay Pandey (The Hitavada) Scored 52 runs and took four wickets against Bhaskar

20. Satish Kanchanwar (Deshonnati) Scored 42* runs and took two wickets against Loksatta

21. Sarang Chavann (Lokshahi Varta) Scored 66* runs and took two wickets against Lokshahi 

1. Man-of-the-Match (Play offs)

22. Sunil Khorgade (Punyanagari) Claimed four wickets against Dainik Bhaskar 

23. Suhas Nayse (TOI) Scored unbeaten 73 against Lokshahi Varta

24. Pravin Lokhande (Lokmat) Scored 61 runs against The Hitavada

25. Sandeep Dabhekar (TOI) Toook three wickets against Punyanagari

26. Anupam Timothy (The Hitavada) Scored 35 runs and took four wickets against TOI

Man-of-the-match (final)

27. Susheem Kolay (The Hitavada) Claimed five-wicket haul against Lokmat

Individual prizes

Man-of-the-series: Vinay Pandey (The Hitavada),
man-of-the-final: Susheem Kolay (The Hitavada),
best batsman: Rupesh Bhaik (TOI),
best bowler: Anupam Timothy (The Hitavada),
best fielder: Ravi Daf (Punyanagari),
best wicket-keeper: Paritosh Pramanik (The Hitavada),
best catch: Nitin Shriwas (Lokmat),
centuries: Amit Khodke and Sharad Mishra (Lokmat),
five-wicket haul: Deval Kakde (The Hitavada),  Susheem Kolay (The Hitavada), Lakhan Jaiswal (Tarun Bharat),
Team spirit trophy: Loksatta


Pics By S Sudarshan