Hiren’s hat-trick, Ritesh and Yash’s 50s help Choughule SC win in the 48th Thanevaibhav Inter Office Cricket Tournament

Fluent fifties from Ritesh Punyarthi and Yash Pathak and a splendid bowling effort from Hiren Rangani powered Choughule Sports Club to a 104-run win over Godrej Staff on Tuesday at the Central Maidan in the 48th Thanevaibhav Inter Office Cricket Tournament. 

Batting first, Choughule Sports Club posted a competitive score of 230 in 35 overs. Opening batter Punyarthi scored a delightful 56 (62), including seven fours and was well-complimented by Pathak, who struck 52 (59), an innings featuring five fours. Though Choughule Sports Club lost two early wickets, Punyarthi and Pathak absorbed all the pressure and stitched a crucial 84-run partnership for the third wicket. Despite making a good start with the ball, Godrej Staff could not restrict Choughule Sports Club for a lower total. Vaibhav Kadam (2/42), Poovaya Gounder (2/37), and Ashraf Khan (2/38) were the bowlers that stood out for Godrej Staff.

Chasing 231 for a win, Godrej Staff faltered with the bat as they were bundled out for 126 in 29.3 overs. Hiren Rangani, who opened the bowling for Choughule Sports Club, wreaked havoc with the ball as he scalped 4/26 in seven overs, including one maiden. This left-arm speedster also claimed a hat-trick in the fifth over of the innings as he dismissed three batters on the first three balls of his over. Godrej Staff had a disappointing day with the bat as none of the batters, except Tushar Patil (47), managed to impress.

Brief Scores: Choughule Sports Club 230/9 in 35 overs (R Punyarthi 56, Y Pathak 52; P Gounder 2/37) beat Godrej Staff 126 all out in 29.3 overs (T Patil 47; H Rangani 4/26) by 104 runs