Puneet Balan Group Kolhapur Tuskers team defeated Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings by 32 runs in the Eliminator and entered the Qualifier 2 match in the Maharashtra Premier League organized by the Maharashtra Cricket Association.
PBG Kolhapur Tuskers team scored 173 all out in 20 overs in the first innings thanks to Siddharth Mhatre’s inspiring performance. After the top order of Harsh Sanghvi (11), Ankit Bavane (22), and Rahul Tripathi(16), failed to make an impact, PBG Kolhapur Tuskers found themselves stranded at 54 for 4. In stepped their saviour of the day, Siddharth Mhatre, who scored a fiery 64 runs off 36 balls swinging the momentum back in his team’s favour. Together with Aniket Porwal (11), he strung a 60-run partnership of 38 balls for the 5th wicket which included 3 fours and 4 sixes from his end. After both of them were dismissed, Srikant Mundhe (24), and Yogesh Dongre (10) increased the team’s run rate by scoring some crucial runs. In the end, Rajvardhan Hungergekar 4-29, Yatin Mangawani (2-44), and Hitesh Walunj (1-34) from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings did well with the ball in hand to restrict Kolhapur Tuskers to 173 runs.
Chasing a challenging total on the Gahunje pitch, the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings could score only 141 runs for 8 in 20 overs. Opening batsmen Om Bhosale (1) the competition’s leading run-getter, and Murtaza Trunkwala (1) returned to the dugout cheaply. Kolhapur’s Nihal had Om Bhosale caught and bowled. While Murtaza Trunkwala was caught by Shreyash Chavan off Nihal. Then Omkar Khatpe played a modest knock of 43 runs off 44 balls which included 2 fours and a maximum. Omkar and Digvijay Patil shared a partnership of 44 runs off 38 balls for the fourth wicket out of which Digvijay scored 34 runs off 22 balls with 5 fours. But the partnership was broken when spinner Atharva Dakwe caught Digvijay Patil. With wickets falling from one side, the fight given by Omkar Khatpe was insufficient. From the Kolhapur Tuskers side, Atharva Dakwe (3-22), Nihal (2-25), and Umar Shah (1-22) bowled accurately finished off the game for the team.
Brief scoreboard: PBG Kolhapur Tuskers: 173 all out in 20 overs (Siddharth Mhatre 64, Srikanth Mundhe 24, Ankit Bavane 22, Rahul Tripathi 16, Harsh Sanghvi 11, Aniket Porwal 11, Rajvardhan Hungergekar 4-29, Yatin Mangawani 2-44, Hitesh Walunj 1-34) Winner vs Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings: 141 for 8 in 20 overs (Omkar Khatpe 43, Digvijay Patil 34, Saurabh Navale 15, Atharva Dakwe 3-22, Nihal 2-25, Umar Shah 1-22).
Man of the match: Siddharth Mhatre.
