Mumbai: Skipper Nikhil Patil, and seamer Ankur Singh powered Tata Sports Club to 14-run win over Nanavati Hospital, and a place in the final of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Cup, RCF T20 cricket, at the RCF ground here on Wednesday. Tata put ion 150 on broad after being put to bat, but Nanavati falied in their bid to chase the target as they were bundled out for 135 in the 19th over.
Tata were in disarray, as they lost three top order batsmen. Kaustubh Pawar and Sufiyan Shaikh and Chirag Khurana with just 23 runs of board. But, Patil along with Praful Waghela anchored them to safety zone putting on 62 runs for the fourth wicket. Later, Patil and Dev Chouhan added another 52 runs for the fifth wicket, to take to side to 149 for the lose of six wickets.
Ankur who was welcome by Nanavati’s skipper Bhushan Shinde who he lofted to him for a huge six over the bowlers, gave it back to when he claimed him in the next ball. And that set the ball rolling in favour for Tata. The seamer with a long run-up went on to finish with an impressive 4-31 as Nanavati fell short of the target by 15 runs. Tata were home with seven balls to spare.
Nanavati did make a steady start as openers Pranav Kela and Kusal Shah put on 46 runs for the fist wicket. The introduction of spinner Brijesh Gharat paid off for Tata. But, spinner Gharat got the vital break through for them when he dragged Kela out of the crease and Sufiyan Shaikh did the rest.
Brief scores
Semi-finals: Tata Sports Club 149-6 (Nikhil Patil 55, Ian Dev Chouhan 31, Praful Waghela 22, Vishwajeet Thakur 4-27, Sahil Madgaonkar 2-27) bt Nanavati Hospital SC: 135, (Bhushan Shinde 30 (26b, 2×4, 1×6), Kusal Shah 24 (19b, 3×4); Ankur Singh 4-31, Brijesh Gharat 2-20) by 14 runs. MoM: Ankur Singh (Tata’s SC).
Quarter-finals: Mumbai Police: 134 (Shrikant Limbole 32, Swapnil Kulaye 32; Karan Nande 2-17, Prasad Patil 2-18, Harshad Khadiwale 2-19) lost to Mafatlal SC 135-6 (Armaan Shaikh 50, Umang Shah 28; Anirudha Mainkar 3/31) by 4 wickets. MoM: Armaan Shaikh (Mafatlal SC).
Air India take off
Hosts Air India Sports Club opened their campaign on a rousing note as they overcame NKGSB by 55 runs, in an opening match of the Air India T20 invitation cricket tournament organised by Air India Sports Club, Western Region, at their home ground in Kalina, on Wednesday.
Brief Scores
Air India: 157 (A Pandey 56, BM Mudliar 33) bt NKGSB: 102 (R Kamath 35). MoM: A Pandey. Mumbai Fire Brigade: 185-5 (H Ambhire 57, Rupesh Naik 27) bt MBPT 89-8. MoM: Hanuj Ambhire.
