Nilesh Gadekar’s magnificent 68 ball 110* helps Abbott Qualify for the Platinum Cup of Shiraz-e-hind Tournament

It was a wonderful match (pink ball tournament) between Abbott Healthcare & Laxmi Soap factory at Parsee Cyclists ground, Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Both the teams were equally competitive and an exciting competition was on the cards. Laxmi Soap factory won the toss & elected to field first and make most of the conditions to put Abbott under pressure.

Batting first, Abbott lost both their openers Rehman Siddique & Nitin for 0 & 10 respectively & it looked like Laxmi Soap were off to a perfect start until their no.3 batsman Nilesh Gadekar entered the crease. The Right handed aggressive batsman went on to score one of the blazing centuries of the tournament & counter attacked the bowlers. Nilesh Gadekar scored a magnificent 68 ball 110* to take his team out of trouble & help them post a big total on the board. Nilesh smashed 16 glorious boundaries and a great six in his 68 ball stay at the crease & he was nothing but a joy to watch! Nilesh got some adequate support from Ishan Mithbavkar too who chipped in with a handy 40 runs of just 27 balls before ending their innings at 193/3 in 20 overs. Harshad Tervankar was the pick of the bowlers with bowling figures of 1/18 in 4 overs.

Chasing 194 at almost 10 runs per over, Laxmi Soap were off to a blazing start by their openers Harshad Terewankar and Arun Madhu who scored 25 (13) and 37 (23) respectively. Their partnership also included 2 sixes each from both the openers. However, the middle order & the lower order could not capitalize on the good start given by their openers and they managed to reach only 157/8 in 20 overs. Right arm off-spinner Ajit Sonawane was the pick of the bowlers scalping 3/19 in 3 overs followed by their left arm spinner Amol Dixit who took 2/30 in his 4 overs. Nilesh Gadekar who scored a century also took 2 great catches at mid off which were important wickets in the game.

All in all it was a great match and Abbott team won the match by 36 runs. Nilesh Gadekar was rightly adjudged ‘man of the match’ for his entertaining century and some great fielding. Cricketgraph wishes the whole team as well as Nilesh all the luck to go on & win the tournament.