T20: Mumbai North East thrash North Mumbai Panthers by 34 runs 

Mumbai: Mumbai North East Triumph Knight bowlers put up a spirited show as they convincingly defeated North Mumbai Panthers by 34 runs in their T20 Mumbai League encounter here today.

With this win, the Mumbai North East team, which has 8 points from 5 games, became the first team to qualify for the play-offs. Defending a competitive 179, Mumbai North East spinners ran through the North Mumbai Panthers as they were restricted to 145/8. Pacer Vaibhav Singh (3-21), Aditya Dhumal (2-11), Atif Attarwala (1-21), Vinayak Bhoir (1-31), Kalpesh Sawant (1-29) were all impressive as they took wickets at regular intervals and never allowed the opposition batsman to settle down.

For the North Mumbai side, barring Sairaj Patil (34 off 25 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (29 off 24 balls), no other batsman stood tall as Mumbai North East won without much difficulty at the Wankhede stadium here.

Earlier, a late onslaught by Sumit Ghadigoankar (41 not out off 13 balls) helped the Triumph Knights Mumbai North East post a healthy 179/8 on the board in their allotted 20 overs against North Mumbai Panthers. Their opener Shikhar Thakur scored 41 in 27 balls laced with seven boundaries and a six, which set the platform for a big score. One-down Parikshit Valsangkar also chipped in with a valuable 27 in 23 balls. But it was a late cameo from Ghadigoankar, who smashed 26 runs in the final over, that took his side beyond the 175-run-mark.

Ghadigaonkar hit four boundaries and three sixes in his knock. Apart from these three batsmen, other North East batsman fell cheaply. For North Mumbai Panthers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (3-23) was the pick of the bowlers, while Shivam Malhorta (1-22), Vijay Gohil (1-34), Rakesh Prabhu (1-62) and Saeed Shaikh (1-37) took a wicket each.

Brief Scores: Triumph Knights Mumbai North East (179/8, Sumit  Ghadigoankar 41 not out, Shikhar Thakur 41, Yashasvi Jaiswal 3-23) won against North Mumbai Panthers (145/8, Sairaj Patil 34, Vaibhav Singh 3-21) by 34 runs.

In the second game of the day, Sobo Supersonics defeated ARCS Andheri by 78 runs. Chasing 237,  ARCS Andheri were bundled out for just 158. Shubham Ranjane made 58 but that did not help his side overhaul the target. For the Sobo Supersonics, Badre Alam starred with the ball as he returned figures of 5 for 28.

Earlier, Sobo Supersonics posted a huge 236/3 on board in 20 overs after being asked to bat. Sujit Nayak remained unbeaten on 99 off 42 balls as Andheri bowlers were brutally punished. Nayak struck six boundaries and nine towering sixes, with three in the final over.

Brief scores: Sobo Supersonics (236/3; Sujit Nayak 99 not out,  Vineet Sinha 1-37) beat ARCS Andheri (158 all out, Shubham Ranjane 58, Badre Alam 5-28) by 78 runs.

PTI