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T20 Mumbai League 2019: Eknath Kerkar puts an end to Supersonics’ winning streak

Meanwhile, along with defeating the Supersonics, the opener also smashed a magnificent 70 to propel his team to a second straight win

T20 Mumbai League 2019: Eknath Kerkar puts an end to Supersonics’ winning streak
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A gritty effort from wicketkeeper-batsman Eknath Kerkar and some hard-hitting from Prasad Pawar towards the end helped the NaMo Bandra Blasters beat the SoBo Supersonics by four wickets in the afternoon game at the Wankhede on Tuesday. Blasters’ victory ended the Supersonics run of four straight victories this season.

Having been put in to bat first, SoBo Supersonics openers Jay Bista and Hersh Tank scored 32 off the first four overs to get their team off to a decent start. however, midway through the fifth, Tenk’s flick on the on-side didn’t travel the distance and went straight to fielder Prasad Pawar who made no mistake in reeling in the catch.

A couple of overs later, a short ball from Nikhil Date flicked off captain Bista’s glove and went straight into the gloves of keeper Eknath Kerkar, as the Supersonics found themselves two down for 51. Wickets continued to tumble for the Supersonics, and it was in form Parag Khanapurkar who was next to depart after his lofted shot found fielder Shrideep Mangela at long-off for an easy catch.

Having dismissed Khanapurkar, all-rounder Sujit Nayak picked up another scalp in his very next over, getting rid of Dhrumil Matkar, who edged his shot to short third man.  Over the next six overs, batsman Yogesh Takawale and Japdeep Randhawa curbed the fall of wickets while also scoring at an excellent rate as the two forged a 37-ball-61-run partnership to get their team in a position to finish the inning strong.

However, both batsmen had to depart in a space of three deliveries in the 17th over, extinguishing the momentum of the Supersonics’ inning, as they scored just 28 off the final four overs to finish with 151-8.

In reply, the NaMo Bandra Blasters started off slow, scoring just sixteen midway through the powerplay and the pressure that the Supersonics built paid off, as Shashank Attarde’s slog sweep attempt found fielder Mangela at deep midwicket to give the bowling side their first breakthrough.

In walked skipper Shreyas Iyer and batted beautifully over the next few overs, rotating the strike with ease and putting any bat deliveries on offer. Kerkar, too, complimented the captain perfectly as the pair conjured a 43-run partnership to put the Blasters in command of the chase.

However, two dismissals in a space of 15 deliveries slowed the scoring rate and helped the Supersonics claw their way back into the contest. After two relatively quiet overs, Kerkar, batting on 54, decided to up the ante and added 21 to his team’s score in the next two overs, alongside Prasad Pawar, leaving 24 to get off the next three overs.

Kerkar smashed eight off three balls in the 18th but had to depart for 70 after his lofted shot found Bista in the deep. Pawar’s boundary on the final ball of the 18th over left the Blasters just 12 to get off the final two overs and despite losing a couple of wickets in the penultimate over, the batsmen did just enough to get their team over the line.

Brief Score:

NaMo Bandra Blasters (Eknath Kerkar 70, Prasad Pawar 31, Khizer Dafedar 2-23) beat SoBo Supersonics (Yogesh Takawale 32, Japjeet Randhawa 27, Nikhil Date 3-23) by four wickets.

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