Patil, Dabhekar guide TOI to semifinals in SJAN

Inter-Press T20 Cricket

Nagpur: Leading from the front, Piyush Patil delivered an all-round performance to take The Times of India to the semifinals of the 26th Inter-Press T-20 Cricket Tournament organised by the Sports Journalist Association of Nagpur (SJAN).

In their last league match, played at Dhanwate National College's Vasant Nagar ground, The Times of India defeated Navbharat by 40 runs.

Batting first, TOI scored 119 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Sandeep Dabhekar top-scored with 47 runs, while Piyush Patil contributed 22 and Rupesh Bhaik added 18 runs. For Navbharat, Junaid Sheikh took 3 wickets and Abhishek Singh claimed 2 wickets.

Later, TOI defended the modest total, with Patil making the Navbharat batters dance to his tunes. Patil scalped 4 wickets, giving away just 14 runs. Atul Pande continued to be consistent as the seasoned campaigner claimed 3 wickets in his quota of 4 overs.

Chasing the total, Navbharat's innings folded at 79 runs in 17.4 overs. Barring Manish Shrivas' 17 runs, Sameer Mohanty (15), and Rakesh Phender (12), none of their batters reached double figures.

Chief guests Bankers Sports Council vice president Sharad Padhye and secretary Ravi Joshi presented the Player of the Match award to Piyush for his all-round performance.

On Saturday, Sakal will play Punyanagari at 8.30 am.

 

 

Ganar leads Deshonnati to victory with unbeaten half century in SJAN cricket

Nagpur: Sandeep Ganar's unbeaten half-century innings gave Deshonnati a four-wicket win over Punyanagari in the 25th Inter-Press T20 Cricket Tournament organised by the Sports Journalist Association of Nagpur (SJAN) at the Vasant Nagar ground on Thursday.

Batting first, Punyanagari's innings folded for 118 runs in 18.3 overs. Deepak Mane scored 39 runs off 31 balls with 3 fours and 1 six, while opener Shrikant Kotgule made 30 runs (22 balls, 2 fours, 1 six).

Samrat Gotekar and Shubham Borghare took 3 wickets each, while Roshan Bhusari claimed 2 wickets. Deshonnati achieved the victory target of 119 runs in 15.3 overs, losing 6 wickets. Opener Ganar smashed an unbeaten 80 runs off 46 balls with the help of 11 fours, giving his team their first victory.

Deepak Mane and Pankaj Pande took 2 wickets each. Sandeep was honoured with the Man of the Match award by Raisoni Group's public relations officer Amit Gandhare.

On Friday, The Times of India will take on Navbharat at 8.30am.

 Nitin Pataria's All-Round Performance in Lokmat's 162-run win

Nagpur: Centurion Nitin Pataria's all-round performance powered defending champions Lokmat to crush Loksatta by 162 runs and register their second consecutive victory in the 26th Inter-Press T-20 Cricket Tournament organized by Sports Journalists Association of Nagpur (SJAN).

At the Vasant Nagar ground on Wednesday, Lokmat won the toss and elected to bat first, piling up a mountain of 231 for 4 in the stipulated 20 overs. Opener Pataria smashed 106 runs off 51 balls with the help of eight fours and seven sixes. Besides, Sharad Mishra scored 70 off 43 balls with one four and three sixes, while Sarang Walwatkar made 35 runs. For Loksatta, Manoj Chandankhede took the maximum three wickets.

The victory target of 232 runs proved beyond Loksatta's reach as their innings folded for 69 runs in 14.1 overs. Ajinkya Dalal scored 11 while Chandankhede and Suraj Nimbalkar made 10 runs each. Lokmat's Devendra Sadavarti took the maximum four wickets giving away just six runs. While Sachin Khadke and Pataria claimed three and two wickets respectively. For his all-round performance, Pataria was presented the Man of the Match award by cricket coach Sunil Mujumdar. 

On Thursday, Punyanagari and Deshonnati will square up at 8.30am.

 

 

 Nimbarte scalps five as TOI-MT defeat Dainik Bhaskar by 93 runs

Nagpur: Prashant Nimbarte took five wickets as The Times of India (TOI-MT) defeated Dainik Bhaskar by 93 runs in the SJAN Inter-Press T20 cricket tournament at the Vasant Nagar ground on Tuesday.

Dainik Bhaskar won the toss and invited TOI to bat first, restricting them to 139. Openers Sandeep Dabhekar (30) and Subodh Ratnaparkhi (20) gave TOI a good start. Piyush Patil (22), Manish Thakare (20) and Amit Paunikar (16) also reached double figures, but TOI were all out for 139 on the last ball of their innings.

For Dainik Bhaskar, Sujan Masid took 4 wickets.

Defending the total, TOI bowled a consistent length and dismissed Dainik Bhaskar for 46 in 8.3 overs. Nimbarte delivered a four-over spell in which he took five wickets for 19 runs. Atul Pande took three wickets off nine balls, conceding two runs.

Nimbarte was adjudged Man of the Match. Vidarbha Ranji team coach Usman Ghani presented the award.

On Wednesday, Lokmat will face Loksatta at 8.30 am.

Brief Scores: The Times of India 139-10 in 20 overs (Sandeep Dabhekar 30, Piyush Patil 22, Subodh Ratnaparkhi 20, Manish Thakare 20, Amit Paunikar 16, Sujan Masid 4-18, Sudhir Mehare 2-16, Shrikant Bhalerao 2-17) bt Dainik Bhaskar 46-10 in 8.3 overs (Shrikant Bhalerao 21, Prashant Nimbarte 5-19, Atul Pande 3-2, Rupesh Bhaik 1-25) by 93 runs.

 Sakal win 8-over contest with ease to start SJAN Inter-Press cricket campaign in style

Sakal started their campaign  in the SJAN Inter-Press T20 cricket tournament at the Vasant Nagar ground with an eight-wicket win over Deshonnati on Monday.

After winning the toss, Sakal chose to field and kept Deshonatti to 63 for five in the eight-over contest that saw a delayed start. Overnight rain delayed the start and forced officials to reduce the contest to eight overs a side, putting a premium on quick runs and tight bowling. Deshonatti’s innings was held together by Samrat Gotekar, who made 22, and Shubham Borghare, who added 21, but they struggled to accelerate consistently against disciplined spells. Both the Deshonnati openers were retired out.

Nitin Baitule was the pick of the Sakal bowlers with 2 for 11, applying pressure through the middle overs, while Avishkar Deshmukh chipped in with 1 for 23 as boundaries were kept in check.
Chasing 64, Sakal reached the target in seven overs to win by eight wickets. Pratik Vairagade anchored the reply with an unbeaten 37 off 24 balls, striking two fours and three sixes to ensure the chase stayed on track. Amit Roshanklhede supported with 10, while Sandeep Ganar took 1 for 15 for Deshonatti.

On Tuesday, TOI-MT will face Dainik Bhaskar at 8.30am

BRIEF SCORES
Deshonnati 63-5 in 8 overs (Samrat Gotekar 22, Shubham Borghare 21, Nitin Baitule 2-11, Avishkar Deshmukh 1-23) lost to Sakal 64-2 in 7 overs (Pratik Vairagade 37, Amit Roshanklhede 10, Sandeep Ganar 1-15) by 8 wickets.