Pune: Eagle Nashik Titans beat 4S Puneri Bappa by 7 runs in Maharashtra Premier League

Ruturaj Gaikwad-led outfit tastes defeat in their MPL opener

Pune, June 4, 2024: Eagle Nashik Titans started their Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) 2024 campaign on a winning note with a seven-run victory against Ruturaj Gaikwad-led 4S Puneri Bappa at the MCA International Stadium here Monday.

Nashik posted a formidable 195 for 6 in their 20 overs courtesy of late tonking by Ranjit Nikam’s 66* off 34 balls with five fours and five sixes. 

In response, 4S Puneri Bappa could only manage 188 for 9 despite captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 38 off 21 balls with four fours and a maximum. 

Asked to bat first, Nashik lost their India U-19 opener Arshin Kulkarni on the first ball. He holed out to Piyush Salvi, the only man in the deep on the leg side off Sachin Bhosale. Bhosale in his next over sent the other opener – Mandar Bhandari (5, 5b, 1×4) back to the pavilion. 

However, early wickets did not hamper Eagle Nashik Titans’ run rate as they kept going at 9 runs per over. Hari Sawant (22, 19b, 4xs), Rohit Hadke (24, 19b, 1×4, 2x6s) and Atharva Kale (37b, 26b, 3x4s, 2x6s) kept the scoreboard ticking.

Ranjit Nikam, walking in at No. 5 started with a bang and hit two fours in his first three balls. He then teed off in the 12th over, hitting Roshan Waghsare for consecutive sixes. He smashed 18 off the final over of the innings bowled by Rohan Damle. Nikam was named player-of-the-match for his momentum-changing innings.

Sachin Bhosale, who won the purple cap last season, was the pick of the Pune bowlers with 2 for 21 from his four overs. 

4S Puneri Bappa began their chase on an equally poor note. Arshin, who is with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, forced Shubham Taiswal (0, 1b) to hand a catch at short fine-leg off his first ball. He then removed the other opener Pawan Shah (12, 15b, 2x4s) in his second opener.

Yash Kshirsagar (36, 27b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and Rohan Damle (20, 17b) then steadied the ship before left-arm spinner Hari Sawant removed the latter. Sawant then grabbed the wicket of Rahul Desai (24, 11b, 3×6) to leave Pune 97-4.

Enter captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. He continued his finisher role from the previous season and hit an elegant cover drive off Digvijay Deshmukh’s bowling in the 13th over. Even though the run rate was climbing, along with Suraj Shinde (23, 14b, 2x6s) the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper kept Pune in the hunt. 

However, Gaikwad’s CSK teammate and Nashik’s new icon player Mukesh Chaudhary changed the game in his second spell, bowling the 17th and 19th over, conceding seven runs each. In the 17th, Shinde was caught behind by Mandar Bhandari. In the 19th over, Rameshwar Ghosh (12, 7b, 1×4, 1×6) was dismissed on the first ball. Gaikwad then holed out to long-on on the last ball, effectively ending the game.

4S Puneri Bappa will face Kolhapur Tuskers in the evening game of June 4. The day’s first match is between Ratnagiri Jets and Raigad Royals.

Brief scores: Eagle Nashik Titans: 195 for 6 in 2o overs (Ranjit Nikam 66*, Atharva Kale 37; Sachin Bhosale 2-21) bt 4S Puneri Bappa: 188 for 9 in 20 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 38, Yash Kshirsagar 36, Mukesh Chaudhary 3-30, Arshin Kulkarni 3-25) 

Joyville