Puneri Bappa Secures Thrilling Victory Over Nashik in Shriram Capitals Maharashtra Premier League
Pune, June 28, 2023: The match between Puneri Bappa and Eagle Nashik Titans in the Shriram Capitals Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) turned out to be a thrilling encounter that ended with Puneri Bappa emerging victorious by three wickets in the eliminator. The match took place at the MCA International Stadium in Gahunje, Pune, and witnessed an exciting finish.
After a rain delay of two and a half hours, the game was reduced to 18 overs per side. Nashik won the toss and elected to bat first. Captain Rahul Tripathi showcased excellent form, scoring a brilliant 60 off 41 balls with nine fours and a six. However, apart from Tripathi, the other Nashik batsmen struggled to find their rhythm, resulting in a below-par total. Mandar Bhandari, Varun Deshpande, and Dhanraj Shinde were the only other contributors with double-digit scores.
Pune’s bowling unit displayed a disciplined performance, with left-arm pacer Sachin Bhosale and Rohan Damle taking two wickets each, while Piyush Salvi also contributed with a wicket. Their combined efforts restricted Nashik to 131 for 8 in their allotted 18 overs.
In response, Pune faced early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, Pawan Shah, Yash Kshirsagar, and captain Rohan Damle played crucial innings to keep their team in the chase. It was Advay Shidhaye’s unbeaten knock of 27 runs, including a massive six, that sealed the victory for Puneri Bappa. With 7 runs needed off 3 balls in the final over, Shidhaye hit a six and then took a single to guide his team to a thrilling win.
Nashik’s bowlers put up a spirited fight, with pacer Rehan Khan taking three wickets and left-arm spinner Akshay Waikar picking up one wicket. However, their efforts fell short as Puneri Bappa reached the target of 132 runs with just one ball to spare.
The match witnessed a turning point when Siddhesh Veer of the Indian U-19 team dropped a catch of Shidhaye in the 15th over, allowing him to capitalize on the opportunity and guide his team to victory.
With this win, Puneri Bappa advances to Qualifier 2 where they will face Kolhapur Tuskers in what promises to be a highly anticipated encounter.
Brief scores: Eagle Nashik Titans: 131 for 8 in 18 overs (Rahul Tripathi 60, Dhanraj Shinde 18; Sohan Jamale 2-19; Rohan Damle 2-23) lost to Puneri Bappa: 132 for 7 in 17.5 overs (Advay Shidhaye 27, Pawan Shah 25, Yash Kshirsagar 25; Rehan Khan 3-20) by three wickets.
