Kolhapur beat Pune, face Ratnagiri in final
Pune, June 28, 2023: Kolhapur Tuskers put on a complete performance to defeat Puneri Bappa by 5 wickets in Qualifier 2 to enter the final of Shriram Capital Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) at the MCA International Stadium on Wednesday.
Kolhapur will face Ratnagiri Jets in the rematch of Qualifier 1 on Thursday, which promises to be a blockbuster game. Kedar Jadhav-led Kolhapur are the team on the ascendancy and lost Qualifier 1 by a whisker in a game that started on Monday but ended on Tuesday morning. Azim Kazi has marshalled his troops brilliantly and are the underdogs of the tournament.
In a correct call taken by the Maharashtra Cricket Association, Qualifier 2 was advanced by an hour (6.30pm start), to make the most of the clear skies. Puneri Bappa were once again without their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Chasing a modest total of 134, Kolhapur were reeling at 16 for 3. Left-arm pacer Sachin Bhosale bowled an outstanding opening spell in which he trapped both Kolhapur openers in front Jadhav (5 off 4) in the first over and Ankit Bawne (5 off 4) in the third. For once, Ankit has failed in the tournament. He followed that up by castling Kirtiraj Wadekar on the very first ball to leave Kolhapur at 16 for 3.
Siddharth Mhatre survived the hat trick ball and showed the intent from the first ball to take his side home with senior batters back in the hut. He scored a smashing unbeaten half-century 58 (41b, 6x4s, 2×6). Mhatre and wicketkeeper bat Sahil Autade 24 (14b, 2x4s, 1×6) put on an unbeaten 52 for the fifth wicket to take the team home. Mhatre finished off the game with a six off Bhosale to seal a spot in the final.
Earlier, Kedar Jadhav won the toss and asked Pune to bat first. The Pune batters never got going. Left-arm pacer Atman Pore trapped opener Pawan Shah (5 off 4) to start the proceedings. Offie Taranjitsingh Dhillon then removed two key batters of Pune – Yash Kshirsagar (6 off 8) and Rohan Damle (9 off 20). At one point, Pune were reeling at 68 for 7 by the end of 14 overs.
Left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar 3-29 was the pick of the Kolhapur bowlers.
But late tonking by Suraj Shinde (26b, 21b, 1×4) and Abhimanyu Jadhav 42 (21b, 3x4s, 3x6s) took Pune to 133 for 7, a total which they hoped they could defend.
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.
