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.

 Punya Nagari beat Loksatta by eight wickets in high-scoring T20 league match

Loksatta won the toss and chose to bat, posting a competitive 181 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. Their innings was built around steady contributions from the top and middle order, with Suraj Nimbalkar leading the scoring with 42. Manoj Chandankhede added 39, while Nilesh Doye chipped in with 31 to keep the run rate healthy. Dhananjay Khedkar’s 28 provided late momentum, helping Loksatta cross the 180 mark. For Punya Nagari, Dipak Mane was the standout bowler, returning figures of 3 for 32, while Shridhar Hatagade supported well with 1 for 33 to limit further damage.

In response, Punya Nagari produced a dominant chase, reaching 183 for 2 in just 16 overs to win by 8 wickets with 4 overs to spare. Opener Shrikant Kotgule anchored the innings with an unbeaten 73 off 55 balls, striking 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. He found an ideal partner in Pankaj Pande, who played the decisive attacking role with 59 off 27 balls, including 5 fours and 4 sixes. Loksatta’s bowlers managed only 2 breakthroughs, with Chandankhede taking 1 for 25 and Doye 1 for 26.

Brief Scores: Loksatta 181-5 in 20 overs (Suraj Nimbalkar 42, Manoj Chandankhede 39, Nilesh Doye 31, Dhananjay Khedkar 28, Dipak Mane 3-32, Shridhar Hatagade 1-33) lost to Punya Nagari 183-2 in 16 overs (Shrikant Kotgule not out 73, Pankaj Pande 59, Manoj Chandankhede 1-25, Nilesh Doye 1-26) by eight wickets.

 

 

Junaid Sheikh guides Navbharat 
to emphatic start

Navbharat opened their campaign in the 26th SJAN Inter-Press Cricket Tournament with a commanding nine-wicket win over Dainik Bhaskar at the Vasant Nagar ground on Thursday. The tournament for media persons is being organised by the Sports Journalists Association of Nagpur (SJAN).  

The match belonged to Junaid Sheikh, who produced an all-round performance to set up Navbharat’s emphatic start. After Dainik Bhaskar opted to bat first, their innings never gained momentum and they were bundled out for 80 in 16.2 overs. Sujan Masid fought a lone battle with 28 off 32 balls, striking four boundaries, but lacked support at the other end.  

Navbharat’s bowlers kept things tight, with Sheikh and Ujjwal Kumar Sinha doing the bulk of the damage. Both claimed three wickets apiece, Sheikh returning 3 for 11 and Sinha 3 for 17, as Dainik Bhaskar collapsed under sustained pressure. Rakesh Fender also chipped in with 1 for 1.  

In reply, Navbharat chased down the target comfortably, reaching 84 for 1 in 10.3 overs. Sheikh top-scored with a brisk 50 off 34 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes, while Manish Shrivas added 20 off 21 deliveries with two boundaries.

Brief Scores
Dainik Bhaskar 80 all out in 16.2 overs (Sujan Masid 28, Sudhir Mehare 18, Junaid Sheikh 3-11, Ujjwal Kumar Sinha 3-17, Rakesh fender 1-1) lost to Navbharat 84-1 in 10.3 overs (Junaid Sheikh 50, Manish Shrivas 20, Shrikant Bhalerao 1-36) by nine wickets.