Aditya Pawashe’s all round show gets J3D on the board, with a win against CCD AVENGERS.

Things certainly reaching business end in CCD PROGRESSIVE CUP 2019. Every team is trying hard to qualify for the play-offs. J3D having lost their previous 2 encounters in the competition took on CCD Avengers at picturesque Badlapur ground. Winning the toss, J3D opted to bat first. Openers Rohit and Aditya began briskly. Rohit hit 5 four’s in his 20 of 14 balls. Aditya was also scoring freely from other end. Barring opening maiden over by Chetan Dunakhe, in-consistent line and length by Avengers bowlers cost them dearly. Even though Chetan foxed Rohit brilliantly, trapping him plumb in front of the wicket, the runs flowed at ease. Opening batsmen made full use of the perfect batting track and conditions which laid a great platform for J3D middle order batsman. It was a great show of classic batsman-ship by Aditya, who scored a brisk 38 of 26 balls, which included 8 boundary’s. After losing Aditya and Mandeep in quick succession, local lad Bhuvan Patil and Kunal Jadhav took the reins in their own hands, building a terrific partnership for J3D. Bhuvan Patil’s 39 off 26 balls knock sparkled with 4 fours and 3 humungous sixes. Kunal Jadhav also played brilliantly for his 41 of 30 balls. 5 crisp boundary’s highlighted this gifted players knock. Kunal and Bhuvan’s partnership was the best highlight of J3D’s innings. Santosh Gole knocked over Bhuvan, but damage was done by then. Mohsin walked in and fired away 25 of 11 balls, studded with 4 four’s and a classic six over long on region, which was a treat to watch. Mohsin’s innings certainly put the icing on the cake for J3D, who finished with 186 runs from their stipulated 20 overs. In spite of Vasu Mhatre’s brilliant bowling spell of 3 wkts for 21 runs, Avengers could do very less as inconsistency in their bowling and brilliant show by Bhuvan and Kunal left them to chase down a stiff target of 186 runs.

Mangesh Surve and Abhijit Pednekar walked out to bat with great confidence. 22 yard strip was very much to their liking as ball was coming on to the bat quite nicely. Both batsmen struck a positive note immediately hitting boundary’s from both ends. Abhijit smashed 2 wonderful fours in his brief stay at the crease. He and Sandesh Patange who followed him were both foxed by Aditya. He castled both of them with well disguised slower ones. Sandeep walked in to bat and made his intention quite clear by hitting a six and a four off first four balls that he faced. Mangesh and Sandeep played quite aggressively. This was a rich phase for Avengers as score tickled on nicely and easily at the run rate that was required. Mangesh’s attitude was superb. He was ignorant about what was happening at the other end. He was on spree of hitting them cleanly and consistently. Mangesh’s 42 runs of 30 balls, included 6 fours and a magnificent six. His knock was a shot in the arm for Avenger team. Partnership between and Sandeep and Mangesh gave much needed impetus for the chase. Sandeep certainly commands a star status in this team. His score of 32 runs of just 15 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes kept Avengers on course towards a big chase.

After losing Sandeep, Shrikant and Mangesh kept the chase on. Shrikant collected one’s and twos and gave strike very well to the hitters that were batting on the other end. Mangesh’s dismissal was a jolt for Avengers, as he was a set batsman at the crease. Aniket’s quick fire 23 of 13 balls including 2 sixes and 1 solitary boundary, kept Avengers at the asking run rate required. Aniket’s dismissal set the cat amongst the pigeons. A few more big hits by Shrikant could’ve sealed the deal for Avengers, but he just couldn’t get going. Mounting run rate certainly put pressure on the batsman who followed. Quick wickets of Santosh Gole and Devendra Rane I think was the last nail in the coffin for Avengers, as they lost by 19 runs. A good match where Avengers fought brilliantly chasing a huge target, but in the end were outwitted by class bowling of Aditya Pawashe and Kunal Jadhav. A good victory for J3D.