PANAJI
Salgaocar will take on Dempo in what promises to be a needling encounter in the finals of the 3rd All India Late Babu Naik Cricket Tournament at SAG, Fatorda on Sunday. In the semi-finals played on Saturday, Dempo CC thumped Chowgule CC by 204 runs at Fatorda while Salgaocar SC defeated BSNL by five wickets in Sanguem.
In Fatorda, Dempo elected to bat first upon winning the toss. And they made hay in their stipulated 40 overs bolstered by an inclusion of a few Mumbai Indians IPL hopefuls in their playing XI. Their score of 271/7 -- their highest score in the tournament -- was propped up by a whirlwind 75 by Saurabh Dube with Sagun Kamat (44) and Darshan Misal (40) playing the supporting act. In the Chowgule attack, Vijesh Prabhudessai and Vishamber Khlon took two wickets apiece with Felix Alemao, Vedant Naik, Srinivas Fadte picking a
wicket each.
In reply, Chowgule were jolted with twin strikes in a first over maiden bowled by Subodh Bhatti and never recovered in their chase. Bhatti (4-26) and Akshay Darekar (3-3) demolished the Chowgule batting order which capitulated for 68 inside 15 overs. Saurabh Bandekar and Shivam Dube chipped in with a wicket each. Subodh Bhatti was rewarded for his sterling bowling efforts with a Man of the Match award.
Meanwhile in Sanguem, Salgaocar overcame BSNL by five wickets in a steady run chase. Winning the toss and electing to field, Salgaocar restricted BSNL to 227/8 in 40 overs. Anshul Kapoor (61) and Joginder Singh (47) tried to steady the innings with an 80-run partnership. K Makhwana (28*) also played a good hand for BSNL.
For Salgaocar, Atif Sayyed was the pick of the bowlers with 3-43 with Prajval Gund scalping two wickets, and Balkrishna Shivar and Sher Bahadur Yadav taking a wicket each.
In reply, Swapnil Salvi (102) and Swapnil Asnodkar (46) laid down a 147-run foundation for the opening wicket for Salgaocar. The stand sufficed for a comfortable run chase achieved in the 34th over at 228/5. Amogh Dessai (23) and Vishrant Dessai (23*) were the other run-getters.
BSNL's bowling attack was heralded by Makhwana's three-fer, with Salil Yadav and Kuldeep Diwan picking the other two wickets to fall. Swapnil Salvi was later adjudged as the Man of the Match for his sparkling ton.
