KT vs RGD

That brings us to the end of our coverage for this encounter. Till the next time, this is me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Pragadeesh. 

Nishant More (Raigad Royals captain and Player of the Match): Naushad Shaikh was comfortable with opening so I went at No 3. We wanted to take the game deep and felt we could defend anything. The thought was to take wickets as that was the only way we could have won the match. The partnership with Mehul was the match winning partnership. Didn't feel the pressure when Rahul Tripathi was going all guns blazing as we knew wickets would bring us back in the game. Vicky Ostwal is a class bowler, he gets wicket whenever you hand him the ball. Not thinking too far ahead.

Rahul Tripathi (Kolhapur Tuskers Captain) - Yes, the plan was to go hard at the powerplay. We were in good position but couldn't finish it off. It's part and parcel of the game but there is a lot of positives. Bawne batted well. It was a difficult start but he played really well in the middle overs. We are disappointed with the result. The boys knew it's difficult to go there and score straightaway but some of the batters could've batted well. We had a bad day but we look to improve in the upcoming games. The middle order did well in the last game. It's all about putting in a collective performance with the bat. (On Nihal Tusamad) He's bowling well and in the powerplay, there was something for the new-ball bowlers. He utilised it but he can get much better which is what I think

Raigad Royals beat Kolhapur Tuskers by 13 runs

Vishant More 68(47) | Yogesh Dongare 2/19(2)
Ankit Bawne 51(43) | Tanay Sanghvi 3/35(3.5)

It turned out to be another disappointing performance from the Kolhapur Tusker who ended up losing their 4th game on a trot and with that the chances to qualify for the playoffs has gone down significantly. The Tuskers were well ahead in the run chase when Rahul Tripathi was going all guns blazing and looked like finishing the match with overs to spare. However the Raigad Royals bowlers had other ideas. 

They made a sensational comeback in the second half of the innings and picked up their second victory in as many days. The Tuskers lost Harsh Sanghvi early on in the run chase but the pair of Ankit Bawne and Rahul Tripathi which steadied the ship for the Tuskers. Tripathi took the charge early on in the innings and looked in a beligerent mood. He smashed five fours and three sixes during his blistering knock of 46 which came in just 19 deliveries and was studded with five fours and three sixes. 

Bawne proved to be the anchor in the partnership. The score read 100/1 at one stage of the innings and the departure of Rahul Tripathi allowed the Royals to make a strong comeback in the game. Aniket Porwal came out all guns blazing and struck a couple of lusty blows to get going but once Bawne also departed, it was a mountain too steep to climb for the Tuskers. 

Manoj Yadav and Sachin Dhas chipped in with a few boundaries during the latter stages of the innings and in the end the Royals bowlers held their nerves and took them to their second win of the competition. Tanay Sanghvi and Manoj Ingale were the pick of the bowlers, bagging three wickets each while Nikhil Kadam also chipped in with a couple.

19.5 Tanay Sanghvi to Shreyas Chavan, OUT! The Royals emerge victorious. Clears the front leg and tries to hammer the fuller delivery but only manages to find the fielder at long-on

18.5 Nikhil Kadam to Shreyas Chavan, FOUR! Off-pace delivery angling back, Chavan has a wild hack at it but miscues it. The ball runs to the left of square leg for a boundary

The pressure got to Taranjitsingh Dhillon as he ends up ramping it straight down the throat of the short fine leg fielder. This has gone from bad to worse for the Kolhapur Tuskers and they are on the threshold of another defeat here. 

18.3 Nikhil Kadam to Taranjit Dhillon, OUT! Another one bites the dust. Off-pace delivery into the surface, Dhillon tries to scoop but the ball balloons it up off the top-edge. The fielder at short fine leg settles under it and pouches it safely