Kolhapur Tuskers Secure Final Spot with Victory over Puneri Bappa
Pune, June 28, 2023: In an exhilarating match, the Kolhapur Tuskers defeated Puneri Bappa by 5 wickets in Qualifier 2 of the Shriram Capital Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) at the MCA International Stadium. With this win, Kolhapur has earned their place in the final where they will face the Ratnagiri Jets, setting the stage for a thrilling rematch of Qualifier 1.
Led by Kedar Jadhav, the Kolhapur Tuskers have been displaying consistent performance throughout the tournament. In the closely contested Qualifier 1, they narrowly missed out on a victory, and now they are determined to make a strong comeback. Under the astute leadership of Azim Kazi, the team has emerged as the underdogs of the tournament and has been performing exceptionally well.
In a wise decision by the Maharashtra Cricket Association, Qualifier 2 was advanced by an hour to take advantage of the clear skies. Unfortunately, Puneri Bappa once again had to play without their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Chasing a target of 134, Kolhapur faced early setbacks, losing three wickets for just 16 runs. Sachin Bhosale, the left-arm pacer, bowled brilliantly and dismissed both Kolhapur openers, Jadhav and Bawne, in quick succession. He further showcased his skills by dismissing Kirtiraj Wadekar on the first ball he faced, leaving Kolhapur struggling at 16 for 3.
However, Siddharth Mhatre emerged as the hero for Kolhapur. He showed resilience and determination, leading the team to victory with an unbeaten half-century, scoring 58 runs off 41 balls, including six boundaries and two sixes. Mhatre received support from wicketkeeper-batsman Sahil Autade, who contributed an unbeaten 24 runs off 14 balls, including two boundaries and a six. The duo’s unbeaten partnership of 52 runs for the fifth wicket guided Kolhapur to a comfortable victory. Mhatre sealed the win with a six off Bhosale’s bowling.
Earlier in the match, Kolhapur won the toss and elected to field. The Puneri Bappa batsmen struggled to find their rhythm, and the team faced early setbacks. Atman Pore, the left-arm pacer, struck early by dismissing opener Pawan Shah. Off-spinner Taranjitsingh Dhillon further added to Puneri Bappa’s woes by removing two crucial wickets, Yash Kshirsagar and Rohan Damle. By the end of the 14th over, Puneri Bappa was reeling at 68 for 7.
Left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar was the standout bowler for Kolhapur, claiming three wickets for 29 runs. However, some late hitting by Suraj Shinde and Abhimanyu Jadhav helped Puneri Bappa reach a total of 133 for 7, giving them hope of defending the target.
In the end, Kolhapur’s strong batting performance led by Siddharth Mhatre proved to be the difference as they chased down the target with ease. The team will now face the Ratnagiri Jets in the final, promising an exciting and closely contested match.
Brief scores: Puneri Bappa: 133 for 7 in 20 overs (Abhimanyu Jadhav 42*, Suraj Shinde 26*; Akshay Darekar 3-29) lost to Kolhapur Tuskers: 134 for 5 in 17.4 overs (Siddharth Mhatre 58*, Sahil Autade 24*, Naushad Shaikh 24; Sachin Bhosale 3-33) by five wickets.
