Ratnagiri beat Kolhapur to reach final on reserve day
Pune, June 27, 2023: Ratnagiri Jets defeated Kolhapur Tuskers by four runs (DLS method) to enter the final of the Shriram Capital Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) in a rain-affected game that spilt to the reserve day and was completed at the MCA International Stadium on Tuesday morning.
The game was affected by showers from the onset. During the playoffs and the final, there is a two-hour time window, before over-reduction begins. That allowed for the 9.30pm start and full game.
Kolhapur won the toss and inserted Ratnagiri in as skipper Kedar Jadhav’s decision proved correct. Rushikesh Sonawane (0 off 3) and Preetam Patil 4 off 6) were removed by Atman Pore’s brilliant opening spell of 2-23 in 3 overs. Pacer Manoj Yadav (2 for 25 in 3) scalped Ratnagiri skipper Azim Kazi for just 1 to reduce them to 25-3.
The rain interrupted the game at the end of Ratnagiri’s powerplay, reducing the game to a 15-over affair.
On either side of the rain break, a partnership of 64 between Kiran Chormale 34 (22b, 1×4, 2x6s) and Dhiraj Phatangre 46 (26b, 6x4s, 1×6) steadied the ship. They were dismissed by left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar (1-26 in 3) and leggie Shreyash Chavan (1-22 in 3) in space of three deliveries to leave Ratnagiri 89 for 5. Divyang Hingnekar’s unbeaten 25 (17b, 1×4, 1×6) took Ratnagiri to 136 for 8 in their 15 overs.
The second major rain interruption came with Kolhapur 18 for no loss after 1.5 overs into their chase. As the showers persisted, the game was suspended for the evening and moved to Tuesday, the reserve day for the playoff.
On Tuesday morning, Kolhapur started brightly with in-form Ankit Bawne 18 (18b, 3x4s) and skipper Kedar Jadhav 55 (37b, 2x4s, 4x6s) taking their side to 46 in the powerplay. However, confusion in the middle saw the former short of his ground in a bid to take a quick single.
Jadhav and wicketkeeper bat Sahil Autade 20 (16b, 2x6s) took Kolhapur closer to a victory but the penultimate over bowled by Vijay Pawale, a tennis-ball sensation, proved to be a gamechanger. He removed both set batters, caught by Sonawane and Hinganekar respectively with the first and the third ball of the over.
Requiring 19 off the last over, Taranjit Dhillon hit two boundaries but they proved inadequate as Ratnagiri players celebrated reaching the MPL final in style.
Kolhapur will now face a winner of Eliminator between Eagle Nashik Titans and Puneri Bappa on Wednesday, for a place in the final.
Brief scores: Ratnagiri Jets: 136 for 8 in 15 overs (Dhiraj Phatangre 46, Kiran Chormale 34; Atman Pore 2-23, Manoj Yadav 2-25) bt Kolhapur Tuskers: 130 for 5 in 15 (Kedar Jadhav 55, Sahil Autade 20; Vijay Pawale 2-22) by four runs (DLS method).
Women’s game called off
The women’s exhibition game between MCA Yellow and MCA Red was called off due to persistent rain.
When the game was abandoned, MCA Red were 97 for 4 in 12 overs with Gautami Naik unbeaten on 39 (28b, 6x4s, 1×6) with skipper Devika Vaidya 30 (28b, 1×4) at the other end.
On Wednesday, MCA Red face Smriti Mandhana’s MCA Blue.
