Times of India enter semis with narrow win

Sandeep Dabhekar bowled a superb last over which helped Times of India secure a narrow two-run win over Tarun Bharat and storm into the semi-finals of the ongoing SMHRC-SJAN 25th Inter-Press T20 Cricket Tournament organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) at DNC’s Vasant Nagar ground on Saturday.
Needing 12 to win from 20th over, Tarun Bharat could manage only nine as Dabhekar bowled cleverly starting with three successive dot deliveries.
Om Dhakulkar, who was the star batter for Tarun Bharat with an unbeaten 85 runs from just 63 deliveries, hit the fourth ball for a boundary. They needed at least a boundary from the next delivery but Dabhekar bowled another dot ball to kill the hopes of Tarun Bharat. The next delivery was a wide and six runs were needed from the last ball to tie the game but Dhakulkar managed to hit a boundary as Tarun Bharat fell short by two runs.
Dhakulkar’s fine knock had 11 boundaries and a six. He and Mannu Bawa (55) added 91 runs from 58 deliveries for the sixth wicket which kept them into the game. Bawa hit four boundaries and as many sixes from 27 balls.
Earlier, batting first, Times of India scored 179 for five in 20 overs. Opener Dabhekar hit 43 runs from 41 balls while Piyush Patil scored 39 from 28 deliveries. While Dabhekar smashed seven boundaries, Patil clobbered four fours and two sixes. Harshal Kuthe contributed 34 from 16 balls with the help of three sixes and two fours.
For Tarun Bharat, Atul Shivankar took three wickets while Bawa took one.
Mohan Nahatkar gave the man of the match award to Piyush Patil.