PANAJI
Curtorim Warriors snatched a dramatic 1-wicket victory over United Divine Boys in a Friendship Shield 2025 league stage match in a nail-biting encounter at SK ground, Malkarnem.
Curtorim Warriors, after winning the toss, opted to field first. United Divine Boys faced an early setback, losing three wickets for just 43 runs, with Manjunath Rathod striking twice for the Warriors. However, a resilient partnership between Siddharth Desai (76) and Rajdeep Fatarpekar (35) propelled United Divine Boys to a respectable 159/3 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 160, Curtorim Warriors endured a shaky start, losing wickets at regular intervals. Vaibhav (21) and Ditendra Naik (18) provided some resistance, but Rohit Kholkar's three-wicket haul put the Warriors in dire straits at 86/9.
With 74 runs needed and only one wicket in hand, Manjunath Rathod and Viraj Vaigankar orchestrated a remarkable comeback. Their composed partnership of 77 runs guided Curtorim Warriors to a stunning victory, sparking jubilant scenes.
Manjunath Rathod's all-round performance, featuring crucial wickets and a match-winning knock of 42, earned him the Shin Player of the Match award. Viraj Vaigankar's crucial contribution under pressure secured him the Cafe 108 Game Changer of the Match award.
