Defiant innings by middle-order batsmen Sairaj Patil who struck and unbeaten 60 runs and Ramanpreet Ghuman who also scored an unbeaten 45 runs ensured Victory Cricket Club recover from the jaws of defeat to record a stunning four-wicket win against Cricket Club of India on the second day their two-day semi-final of the UPL-76th Police Invitation Shield Cricket Tournament 2023, at the P.J. Hindu Gymkhana ground on Sunday.
In pursuit of CCI total of 177 all, Victory were reeling at 86 for 6, 12.5 overs at end of play on day one.
When play resumed on Sunday, a determined Patil and Ghuman put their heads down and batted confidently to blunt the CCI bowling attack. The duo slowly and steadily accumulated the runs to score the required 91 more runs while denying the CCI bowlers from another breakthrough. Together they carried Victory over the finish line and secured their place in the final. All-rounder Musheer Khan who had taken 4 for 19 runs could not add a single more scalp to his kitty of victims.
In the second semi-final, New Hind Sporting Club defeated PJ Hindu Gymkhana by 102 runs. New Hind Sporting batting first were dismissed for 190 in 55.5 overs. Later, New Hind skittled out Hindu Gymkhana for a measly 88 runs in 28 overs. Prakshit Valsangkar took 4 wickets for 21 runs.
Brief scores: New Hind Sporting Club 190 all out, 55.5 overs (Siddhaant Aadhhatrao 72, Vishwajeet Jagdale 39; Mohit Avashti 4/31, Juned Khan 3/38) Vs P.J. Hindu Gymkhana 88 all out, 28 overs (Prakshit Valsangkar 4/21). Result: New Hind Sporting Club won by 102 runs.
Cricket Club of India 177 all out, 41.5 overs (Dhrumil Matkar 46, Musheer Khan 41; Atharva Ankolekar 4/47) Vs Victory Cricket Club 178 for 6, 32.1 overs (Sairaj Patil 60*, Ramanpreet Ghuman 45*, Jay Bista 32; Musheer Khan 4/61). Result: Victory CC won by 4 wickets.
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