Jitesh Sharma hit the match-winning last ball six to take his side Neco Master Blasters into the final the maiden Vidarbha Pro T20 League on Friday. The Master Blasters batters showed their batting prowess with some hard-hitting stuff as they quelled the challenge from Bharat Rangers thumping them by six wickets. The target of 205 looked too small for Neco Master Blasters but there was a twist in the tail in the last over when they needed six runs and lost the wicket of R Sanjay to Athtarva Taide. Jitesh stood furious at the other end watching Sanjay throw his wicket. He patiently waited for a chance to take strike. Adhyan Routam played a dot ball and then picked a single to give strike to Jitesh on the penultimate delivery.

 

The captain then played a dot ball. The Master Blasters fans were tensed. But not Jitesh. The RCB wicket-keeper kept his cool and hit a straight six to secure a fine win. Sharma hit some huge sixes while Aryan Meshram continued his dream run with a 35-ball 49. The chase was perfect for Neco Master Blasters as they raced to 50 in four overs with both the openers Adhyan Daga (66; 37b, 5x4, 4x6) and Vedant Dighade (35; 21b, 5x4, 1x56) picking up easy boundaries. By the end of powerplay they fetched 75 runs without any loss. Bharat Rangers did manage to break the partnership in the seventh over when Daga was castled by Gaurav Farde on a personal score of 35 runs. Daga and hard-hitting left-handed batter Aryan Meshram (49; 35b, 4x4, 2x6) had put up a fine 52 for the second wicket but Daga could not clear the boundary and holed up an easy catch to Varun Bisht off Nachiket Bhute. Earlier, Taide kept his best for the semi-finals as he slammed an unbeaten 94 and along with Neel Athaley (39; 29b, 3x4, 1x6) and Varun Bisht (50; 15b, 3x4, 5x6) took their score to 204 for three.

 

While Taide carried his bat through hitting seven fours and six sixes from 53 deliveries for his 94, it was the hard-hitting batting from Bisht which entertained the crowd and took their total past 200-run mark. The third wicket unbeaten partnership saw 66 runs coming from just 21 deliveries from which Bisht scored 50 runs from 15 balls while Taide contributing 15 from six deliveries. After 15 overs, Bharat Rangers were 132 but they scored 72 runs from the next five overs losing only a wicket to show their batting prowess. Bharat Rangers’ start was slow as Taide and Updesh Rajput could manage to put only 42 runs in Powerplay. Master Blasters’ continued pressure got them the first breakthrough when Ananmay Jayaswal got the better of Rajput being caught in the deep by Sanmesh Deshmukh on the first ball after Powerplay.

 

Rangers got a big jolt when they lost the last match’s centurion Danish Malewar to part-time spinner R Sanjay for just two runs in the next over. Malewar swept only to find Kartik Rathod in the deep. Taide, meanwhile, showed maturity and played responsibly picking runs and keeping his wicket intact at one end. He completed his half century in the 13th over from 33 balls. Neel Athaley was an able ally to Taide as he showed eagerness to pick quick runs.

 

Their partnership of 88 runs from 56 balls for the third wicket took their total near 150-run mark. But Jayaswal once again gave Neco Master Blasters a crucial breakthrough taking the wicket of Athaley in the 17th over. Bisht then joined Taide and the duo hammered Neco Master Blaster bowlers with disdain. Taide moved to 80s’ with a six over mid-wicket off Praful Hinge and a couple of deliveries later cleared the long off fence to move into the 90s. From there on Bisht took over and changed the complexion of their innings. Jayaswal was the most successful bowler for Neco Master Blasters with two wickets for 34 runs while R Sanjay bowled an economical spell giving 27 runs from his four overs and taking the prized scalp of Malewar.