The opening match of the Desserts n More Sarsangan Super Series Cricket 2024 was played between last year’s winners Salcete Stallions vs the Runners up Mapusa Dream Crushers. Put in to bat, Mapusa Dream Crushers started on a cautious note through Mahendra Pai Kuchelkar 14 and Sarvesh Kamat 23, putting on 35 in 5 overs. The introduction of the man of the series of the last edition, Durgesh Prabhugaonkar, immediately paid dividends as he scalped 2 wickets, reducing Mapusa to 37-2 in 6 overs.
Having a woeful season with the bat, Adv. Sahish Mahambrey, leading the team, tried his hand with the ball, giving the wk duties to Atchut Naik Dalal, which proved to be a masterstroke. The man with the golden arm struck twice in his very 1st over and was unlucky to not bag a hattrick, reducing the Dream Crushers to 67-5 in the 12th over.
Pankaj Naik 49, Rajesh Colvalcar 14 and Sarvesh Sinari 15 tried to up the ante at the fag end to help the Dream Crushers reach 140/8 in 20 overs. Durgesh Prabhugaonkar 3-25, Sahish Mahambrey 2-17, Sahil Neurenkar 1-21 and Samprabh Phaldesai 1-25 were the pick of the bowlers for the Stallions.
In reply, Salcete Stallions got off to an explosive start with Durgesh Prabhugaonkar making full use of the life given by Mahendra Pai Kuchelkar on the very 1st ball behind the stumps, smashing 55 (24 balls) with 4 x 4s and 5 x 6s. He was ably supported by Saurabh Prabhudesai 21, Atchut Naik Dalal who made 25 and Saaiel Kossambe 14.
Even though Sarvesh Kamat picked 2 wickets in the 13th over, the Stallions cantered home with 5.3 overs to spare making 141/5 in 14.3 overs. For the Dream Crushers, Sarvesh Kamat 2-29 was supported by Mahesh Kudchadkar 1-13 and Rajesh Colvalcar 1-18.
Durgesh Prabhugaonkar was awarded the Desserts n More Man of the Match medal and the Estilo Moderno Realty Man of the Match trophy along with a cash prize of Rs.2000 for his brilliant all round display for the Salcete Stallions. The presentation was done by Vithaldas Bhat, Dinesh Pai, Rajesh Colvalcar, Jaiprakash Kunde in the presence of Gomakant Mahambrey.
