Chowgule Global's Shivendra Bhujbal receives Player of the Match prize from Panjim Gymkhana Managing Committee member Girish Parekh at Panjim Gymkhana on Friday.
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Shivendra Bhujbal scored a strokeful half-century to power Chowgule Global to an emphatic 8-wicket win against Salgaocar Cricket Club in the opening match of Bandodkar League T20 tournament organised by Panjim Gymkhana here on Friday.
The lanky wicket-keeper batter hammered 72 runs off 35 balls, which were studded with 7 sixes and 4 boundaries. With Aryan Narvekar as his opening partner, Shivendra's blazing knock also helped register a 119-run partnership as Chowgule Global chased down the target of 146 runs in 14 overs, losing only two wickets. Aryan contributed 47 runs off 29 balls (4x4, 6x2). Sohraab Dhaliwal (14 not out) and Ayush Verlekar (11 not out) ensured there was no further damage as they guided their team to 147/2. Shivendra was named Player of the Match.
Earlier, Chowgule captain Darshan Misal won the toss and chose to field first. And instantly, the Men in Orange reaped the benefit as Salgaocar CC top order failed to fire and half their side were dismissed with 49 runs on the board around the half-way stage of the inning. The saving grace for Salgaocar was a rescue act of sorts in the form of a 60-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Mayank Rawat (47) and Vision Panchal (25).
Mayank's 34-ball knock comprised 3 boundaries and as many sixes as his counter-attack propelled Salgaocar to a fighting total. Vision also joined the act with two maximums coming off his bat, before the 8th-wicket partnership of Sher Bahadur Yadav (14 not out) and Pundalik Naik (11) put on 24 runs to take the team total close to 150-mark.
Chowgule bowling attack spearheaded by Shubham Tari (3/35) came under attack in the latter stages, with experienced Saurashtra all-rounder Chirag Jani returning the most economical figures of 1/19 off his 4 overs. Srinivas Fadte and Amit Yadav took one wicket each. Darshan went wicketless, but was economical at 0/21.
The other scheduled match for the day, did not happen as Priority Construction MCC failed to report due to unavoidable circumstances. Their opponents Dempo Cricket Club were awarded 2 points from the resultant walkover.
BRIEF SCORES
Salgaocar CC 145/8 (Mayank Rawat 47, Vision Panchal 25, Aditya Suryawanshi 17; Shubham Tari 3/35, Chirag Jani 1/19), Chowgule Global 147/2 in 14 overs (Shivendra Bhujbal 72, Aryan Narvekar 47, Sohraab Dhaliwal 14 not out; Pundalik Naik 2/13). Chowgule Global win by 8 wickets.
