Panjim, February 18:Two-time champions Lawyer’s Challengers will look to claim a hat-trick of titles while Hurricanes will eye their maiden crown as the two teams are set to meet in the final of the 4th edition of Advocates Cricket League (ACL T20) at GCA ground in Porvorim on Sunday.Lawyer’s Challengers and Hurricanes made it to the final after topping their respective groups. They remain unbeaten in the tournament after clinching wins in their matches played last weekend.
The final will be played under floodlights on Sunday evening, and it will be streamed live through YouTube Photosonic from 5 p.m. Speaking about his team’s chances in the all-important final, Hurricanes captain Pravin said, “We expect a win. I think our team is strong enough to face the opposition and get an easy win if we focus and play fair.”
“ It is not about getting a win; it is more about trusting your own players and playing well. We can’t afford to make any mistakes and play according to the plan,” he added. Lawyer’s Challengers captain DattaprasadShirodkar on his part said, “We definitely expect a win and a good game of cricket,
“We are the defending champions for the last two years and we have a good, capable side of beating any other team’, “ he said further adding, “As I am the skipper of the team, I get to understand how to motivate my teammates, how to keep them on their toes and how to achieve my goals through them.” Meanwhile, Vintage Mapusa and Risers Panjim won their last league matches played on Saturday.
While Vintage Mapusa beat Mapusa Troopers by 48 runs, Risers Panjim defeated Stars by 7 wickets. In the first match, Vintage Mapusa scored 141 for 6 in 20 overs. ShaileshRedkar (35*) and SagarParab (30) were the main run-getters.run-getters In reply, GajananKorgaonkar’s sensational bowling spell of 5 for 8 in just 2.4 overs saw Mapusa Troopers’innings fold for 93.Barring Raja Polekar (32) and JitendraGaonkar (19), no other batter from Mapusa Troopers could put up any fight and lost the match by 48 runs.VintageMapusa’sGajananKorgaonkar was adjudged the man of the match for his excellent bowling performance.
In the second match, Stars batted first and could post a meagre 104 before being bowled out in 19 overs. AkshayHegde top-scored with 39 and S. Parab made 18.KashinathPosnaik was the most successful bowler for Risers Panjim as he claimed 4 for 28. JeevanDivkar supported him well by taking 2 wickets.In reply, Risers Panjim made light work of the 105-run target as they made 107 for 3 in just 13.5 overs.CaptainPritesh Shetty hit an unbeaten 29, while SahilKhot (26), YogeshKankonkar (21*) and AkashKassar (16) made the other contributions. Risers Panjim’sKashinathPosnaik was named the man of the match.The fourth edition of the Advocates Cricket League T20 is organised by a group of Lawyers in Goa that began on February 11 at GCA Ground in Porvorim.
This year eight teams: Stars, Hurricanes, Lawyer’s Challengers, Royal 11, Mapusa Troopers, Vintage Mapusa, Risers Panjim and Panjim Rockers competed in the League that is played on the weekends. “It has been overwhelming to see the enthusiasm and response of people towards us lawyers playing cricket,”said Adv. Iftikhar Agha, who is the main organiser of the T20 tournament.
Advocates and their family and friends from Goa who are passionate about cricket, were seen supporting the lawyers on the field. Agha, who founded the League in 2019, said that next year there might be more teams participating and that many corporates have shown interest and it seems that ACL will become bigger, professional and with many more new changes said Agha who will also be playing the finals.
Fixtures
February 19
Finals (5 p.m.)