Reigning champions D.Y. Patil Red won a low scoring tie against CAG by four wickets in the first semi-final of the 19th DY Patil T20 Cup at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Nerul on Wednesday.

Chasing 92 for a win the reigning champions were served well by their skipper Krunal Pandya’s unbeaten knock of 35 and Abdul Samad 14-ball 33 blitzkrieg, after they had lost their top four batters for 41 soon after powerplay (13 for 3 in 3.1 overs), following a hostile spell by Indian pacer Mukesh Kumar (2/17). The host won with four wickets in hand and 49 balls to spare in the end.

Earlier batting first on a seaming wicket the high flying CAG were bowled out for 91 runs following a disciplined bowling by their pacers Puneet Datey (3/12), Pradyumn Sanan (3/18) and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (2/20). Vishvaraj Jadeja (27) was the top scorer, following a rare failure from in form Punjab batter Sanvir Singh (13) who had scored an unbeaten century on a winning cause against BPCL in the quarter- finals, in addition to two fifties earlier in the league phase.    

In the other semi-final Income Tax beat Route Mobile by 25 runs at the University Ground to make it to the final.

Income Tax riding on Pramod Chandila 39-ball 73,  Mahipal Lomror 43 off 30-ball and a quick fire unbeaten 20 by all-rounder Tanush Kotian in seven balls late in the innings scored 205 for six in their 20 overs against Route Mobile. In their response Route Mobile, despite valiant knocks by Mayank Agarwal (57) and skipper Shams Mulani (40) fell short of the target, after Kotian provided a crucial break through with the wicket of his Mumbai Ranji team mate, not before the two well set batters had added 87 runs for the third wicket   .

Brief Scores (Semi-finals):

CAG - 90 all out in 18.1 overs (Vishvaraj Jadeja 27 (28b: 2x4s), Sharath B.R 14 (16b: 2x4s), Sanvir Singh 13(12b: 1x4); Puneet Datey 3/12, Pradyumn Sanan 3/18, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 2/20, Saumya Pandey 1/20) lost to D.Y. Patil Red - 94/6 in 11.5 overs (Krunal Pandya 35* (24b: 4x4s, 1x6), Abdul Samad 33 (14b: 2x4s, 3x6s), Aman Khan 8 (10b: 1x4); Mukesh Kumar 2/17, Writik Chatterjee 2/11, Ajay Kookna 1/6) by 4 wickets and 49 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Puneet Datey (D.Y. Patil Red).

Income Tax – 205/6 in 20 overs (Pramod Chandila 73 (39b: 7x4s, 4x6s), Mahipal Lomror 43  (30b: 2x4s,3x6s), Urvil Patel 32 (16b: 2x4s, 3x6s), Anuj Rawat (25b: 2x4s, 1x6), Tanush Kotian 20* (7b: 3x4s, 1x6); Anunay Singh 2/33, Shafeequddin 2/41, Shams Mulani 1/24, Ayush Vartak 1/25) beat Route Mobile - 180/8 in 20 overs (Mayank Agarwal 57 (34b: 5x4s, 3x6s), Shams Mulani 40 (23b: 4x4s, 1x6), Ashutosh Sharma 19(15b: 1x4, 1x6); Pankaj Jaiswal 3/24, Atharva Ankolekar 2/37, Saurabh Dubey 1/15, Tanush Kotian 1/30) by 25 runs. Player of the Match: Pramod Chandila (Income Tax).

Photo Cover: D.Y. Patil Red pacer Puneet Datey followed his four wickets haul in quarters with another three against CAG in the semis on a pitch that provided assistance to the fast bowlers early on.

Player Above: Pramod Chandila starred for Income Tax with a quick fire 73 inclusive of seven fours and four sixes against Route Mobile.