Panaji: CQS Veteran Dynamites beat Salcete Veteran Stallions to be crowned champions of the Sarsangan 2020 GSB +45 Veterans Pink Leather Ball Cricket Tournament.
Electing to bat first in the finals, Salcete Veteran Stallions were rocked at the start by a tidy opening spell losing two wickets at the score of 10. A 30-run partnership between Yogesh Naik (17) and Prashant Amonkar (12) steadied the innings but Dr Sunil Kakodkar broke the back of the Salcete middle order picking 3 wickets off his 3 overs, reducing the Stallions to 49-5 in 10.1 overs.
When Rasik Pai Khot (11) fell at the score of 64, it looked like Stallions would fold up soon. However Vinay Sambari 36 (29b, 2x4, 2x6) and wk Laxmikant Kurade 37 no (26b, 5x4, 1x6) combined together to add 74 runs for the 7th wicket in 45 balls to take the Salcete Veteran Stallions to 145 for 7 in 20 overs.
Dr Kakodkar (3-8), Sanjiv Sukhthankar (1-17), Raghuvir Kuncolienkar (1-18) and Balkrishna Hodarkar (1-29) were the succesful bowlers for the Dynamites.
Chasing 146, CQS Veteran Dynamites were reduced to 19-3 in the 3rd over as Sandeep Dalal ran amock with some fiery pace bowling with the new pink ball. However the old war horses, Prasad Bhende 30 (33b, 1x4) and Mahesh Kudchadkar 31 (24b, 5x4) stitched a 66-run partnership for the 4th wicket in 56 balls to mend the innings.
A fine burst of good bowling by Yogesh Naik and some great heroics by wicketkeeper Laxmikant Kurade, behind the stumps brought the Stallions back in contention as the Dynamites slipped to 97-6. But Girish Bene 22 (15b) stood up adding 21 with Dr Satyesh Kamat 12 (14b) and later 16 with Dr Sarvesh Kamat 18 no (9b) to seize the momentum. With the Dynamites needing 12 runs, Sandep Dalal castled Girish Bene off the last ball of the penultimate over, in a game of fluctuating fortunes.
Needing 12 off the last over, Dr Sarvesh Kamat hit two boundaries off the Stallions skipper Sudesh Prabhudesai to seal the match and the fate of the Stallions, winning by 2 wickets and a ball to spare.
Sandeep Dalal was the pick of the bowlers picking 4-24 and was ably supported by Yogesh Naik 2-12. Sudesh Prabhudesai was the most expensive of the bowlers picking 1-37. The chief guest, Dr Sagar Salgaocar gave away the prizes in the presence of the guest of honour Dr Prasad Ghode and the dignitaries, Keshav Bhende and Mitesh Pai.
CQS Veteran Dynamites received the winners trophy while the Salcete Veteran Stallions had to be content with the first runners-up trophy. Tiswadi, Antruz, Bhatagram Veteran Saraswat Royals and Mapusa Veteran Dream Crushers were awarded the second runners-up trophies. Dr Sunil Kakodkar was the man of the finals, Sudin Kamat was awarded the player of the tournament, Mahesh Kudchadkar the best batsman, Yogesh Naik the best bowler, Laxmikant Kurade the best wicket keeper, Sandeep Dalal the best fielder. Mahendra Pai Kuchelkar was awarded the most energetic player while Shekhar Kakodkar (63 years) was given the oldest player trophy.
Dr Satyesh Kamat welcomed the dignitaries, Gomakant Mahambrey compered the function while Santosh Kamat proposed the vote of thanks.