T20 Mumbai League 2019, 1st Semi-Final Review: North Mumbai Panthers beat ARCS Andheri in a last ball thriller

Skipper Prithvi Shaw led his team from the very front as North Mumbai Panthers beat ARCS Andheri by 2 wickets in a thrilling semi-final to storm into the final. Shaw scored 76 as Panthers chased down the total right on the last ball of the match it was the veteran Pravin Tambe who hit the winning runs for his team. Swapnil Salvi also impressed with the bat by scoring a fine fifty.

Chasing 167 to enter the final, the Panthers were off to the worst possible start. Their in-form opener Vikrant Auti and No.3 Sumeet Dhekale departed for 1 and duck respectively to leave their team reeling at 26 for 2. They soon found themselves three down for 40 as Andheri got hold of the driver’s seat. However, Shaw was going great guns from the other end and made sure that Panthers do not fall too far behind in the chase.

Along with Salvi the duo took charge of the chase and struck fifties en route their massive 114-run stand before the game turned on its head again when Andheri picked up five wickets in quick time. With 9 runs needed from the final over, Panthers lost two wickets before Pravin Tambe hit a four on the final delivery to seal the game.

Herwadkar and Ranjane help Andheri to 166

Earlier in the match, fifties from Akhil Herwadkar and Shubham Ranjane had helped ARCS Andheri post a competitive total of 166 for 6 in the stipulated 20 overs. Prithvi Shaw’s decision to bowl first turned out to be spot on as Prathamesh Dake dismissed the in-form Andheri skipper Kevin Almeida for just 6. However, Herwadkar and Iqbal Abdulla did not let the Panthers make further inroads after the initial breakthrough.

The two added 60 runs for the second wicket to lay the foundation for a good total before Shashikant Kadam struck to remove Abdulla for 27. His dismissal brought Herwadkar and Ranjane together as the duo batted Andheri to a position of strength. They mixed caution with aggression to pace the scoreboard forward. But just when it looked like Andheri would accelerate, veteran spinner Pravin Tambe got the Panthers a huge wicket by dismissing Herwadkar for 69.

Also read- T20 Mumbai League 2019, Semi-Final 2: Sobo Supersonics vs Aakash Tigers MWS – Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Herwadkar’s dismissal completely changed the course of the game as Andheri failed to finish in a position of strength and were at least a few runs short. From 131 for 2 in 15.1 overs, they managed just 35 runs in the last 29 balls while losing four wickets to finish on 166 for 6.

Brief scores:

ARCS Andheri: 166/6 (Akhil Herwadkar 69, Shubham Ranjane 51; Prathamesh Dake 3/37)

North Mumbai Panthers: 170/8 (Prithvi Shaw 76, Swapnil Salvi 62; Tushar Deshpande 2/31)

Result: North Mumbai Panthers won by two wickets.

Man of the Match: Prithvi Shaw