09 June,2025 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | G Krishnan
Eagle Thane Strikers’s Ajit Yadav celebrates his half-ton against ARCS Andheri at Wankhede yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble
Eagle Thane Strikers (ETS) wicketkeeper Anish Chaudhary showed good presence of mind and an awareness to the laws of cricket to run out ARCS Andheri No. 4 left-hander Monil Soni at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
In a match that was of mere academic interest as ETS had already qualified for the semi-finals and ARCS were out of the reckoning, Strikers won by four wickets to top the table. After restricting ARCS to 134-6, ETS were cruising along before needlessly losing too many wickets towards the end. But, opener Ajit Yadav's 66 not out ensured Strikers won comfortably with 13 balls to spare.
The win took Strikers to eight points from four wins and a loss. As it stood at the end of this match, with two other league matches to be completed (Panthers vs Knights and SoBo Mumbai Falcons vs Tigers) later on Sunday, Strikers will face No. 4 Maratha Royals in the first semi-final on Tuesday at 2.30pm while Blasters and Falcons will play the other (7.30pm), both at Wankhede.
Strikers bounced back brilliantly to stem the ARCS run flow. Soni had just replaced opener Akhil Herwadkar (40) at the crease in the 15th over. First ball, Soni turned off-spinner Shashank Attarde to the off-side and set off for a non-existent single. He did not receive support from his partner and well-set half-centurion Prasad Pawar. Strikers captain Atharva Ankolekar threw the ball to Chaudhary, who had accidentally dislodged the bails with his gloves before collecting the ball. Immediately, he uprooted a stump to complete the process of running Soni out, who showed his displeasure at Pawar on his way back.
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Attarde (3-19) then had Herwadkar caught at long off, and in his next over, removed half-centurion Prasad Pawar for a well-made 57, and trapped Moin Khan leg before off successive deliveries.
From 102-1 in the 15th over, ARCS eventually finished on 134-6 in their 20 overs.
Brief scores
AA 134-6 in 20 overs (P Pawar 57, A Herwadkar 40; S Attarde 3-19) lost to ETS 135-6 in 17.5 overs (A Yadav 66'; P Singh 3-27) by 4 wickets
