VIDARBHA Ranji Trophy stars Aditya Sarvate and Akshay Wadkar used all their experience in an important game to help Navniketan Cricket Club take first innings lead against Ministerial Services Sports Club (MSSC) in final of the MN Dorairajan Trophy at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Civil Lines ground on Wednesday. Sarvate took four wickets while Wadkar hit an unbeaten half century on opening day of the summit clash. Sarvate’s excellent spell where he took four wickets bundled out MSSC for 94 runs in their first innings in 32.2 overs. In reply, Navniketan were 179 for six in 46 overs at the end of day’s play taking a handy lead of 85 runs. Barring Mandar Mahalle, no other MSSC batter showed courage in the summit clash as they fell like nine pins.

 

Opener Mahalle (39) and Harshit Bawane (15) were the only MSSC batters to score in double digits. Navniketan captain Wadkar’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss was vindicated by his bowlers as they shot out MSSC’s star-studded line-up for a paltry score. Sarvate bowled seven overs for just 16 runs as he ran through MSSC middle and lower order. His first scalp was captain Akshay Kolhar after Yash Kadam and Suniket Bingewar had sent both the openers back in the 14th over. Abhishek Gupta then took the wickets of Aniket Pande (2) and Siddharth Kapre (4) to floor MSSC. Sarvate’s other scalps were Harshit Bawane (15), Dipesh Parwani (7) and Sahil Sheikh (0).

 

Navniketan too were in a spot of bother as they lost five wickets for 63 runs in 17 overs. But captain Akshay Wadkar played a sensible knock hitting an unbeaten half century (56) to help his side take the crucial first innings lead. At stumps, Wadkar had the company of Tushar Gill who was undefeated on 39. Brief Scores: Ministerial Services Sports Club 1st innings: 94 all out in 32.2 overs (Mandar Mahalle 39; Suniket Bingewar 2-22, Abhishek Gupta 2-29, Yash Kadam 2-25, Aditya Sarvate 4-16). Navniketan Cricket Club 1st innings: 179-6 in 46 overs: (Akshay Agarwal 35, Akshay Wadkar batting 56, Tushar Gill batting 39; Sooraj Rai 2-39, Dipesh Parwani 2-29).