Manish Bhogale’s all-round performance helps Dilip Vengsarkar’s XI to win in the Semi Final of Liberal Shield Tournament

Semi-Finals are always much awaited & it was the all important semi-final game of the Liberal Shield Tournament between Dilip Vengsarkar’s XI & Elphinstone at Elphinstone Cricket Ground, Azad Maidan, Mumbai. Elphinstone won the toss & elected to bat first with an aim of making a big score and put Vengsarkar’s XI under pressure.

Things weren’t as hunky dory for Elphinstone as they did not get a good start from their openers and neither did their middle order fired the way they may have wanted to. Elphinstone managed to reach only 112/6 in 20 overs with Ayush being the leading run scorer with a gutsy 38. He lacked support from the other end & hardly any batsman were able to cross the two digit mark which kept their total limited to just 112. Each & every bowler did their job perfectly as everyone scalped a wicket each. Rohan Bane was the most economical of the lot taking 1/14 in his 3 overs. 

Chasing 113 was a mere cakewalk for Vengsarkar’s XI as they won the match by 5 wkts and 3.5 overs to spare. Manish Bhogale who had taken a wicket with his left arm spin also contributed well at the middle order sealing the chase for his side with an unbeaten 39* off just 20 balls. Right-handed batsman Manish just came in and smacked the bowlers at will scoring at a strike rate of almost 200 & helping his team win the semi-finals.

It was a good day in the office for Dilip Vengsarkar’s XI and Manish Bhogale was adjudged ‘man of the match’ for his all-round performance. Looking at the good performance by the Vengsarkar boys, their finals against Sangam CC at Karnataka SC ground will be a match to look out for. Cricketgraph wishes the team all the luck & go on to win the tournament.