In a display of clinical efficiency, the Raigad Royals defeated the Sindhudurg Sailors by eight wickets in their match for the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) played at the Deccan Gymkhana Ground here on Friday.

Batting first, the Sindhudurg Sailors put up a total of 111, which, on a placid pitch, was never going to be enough against the strong Raigad batting line-up. The Sindhudurg openers Ajinkya Joshi and Kedar Jadhav were dismissed cheaply for 10 and 6 respectively. After this, Maharashtra batsman Ameya Shrikhande took charge, and scored a whirlwind 51 off 44 balls. He was out, caught by Nikhil Paradkar off Digambar Waghmare. Paradkar was outstanding in the field, taking three catches in all. Shrikhande was supported at the other end by Chintan Pashankar, who scored a useful 28. The rest of the Sindhudurg batsmen were not able to progress beyond single digits.

Among the Raigad bowlers, Sunil Patel and Nikhil Paradkar took three wickets each, while Digambar Waghmare took two.

Raigad began their innings with a jolt when Harshad Khadiwale was dismissed by Ajinkya Joshi, but soon Rohan Bhosale and Nikhil Paradkar settled down, and kept the scoreboard ticking steadily. Bhosale scored 46 off 37 balls, while Paradkar remained unbeaten on 40. Paradkar was declared the man of the match. In another match on Saturday played at the same venue, Pratapgad Warriors defeated the Shivneri Lions by 27 runs. Shivneri put up a total of 114 in their allotted 20 overs, with Sanjay Pardeshi top scoring with 33 off 18 balls. For Pratapgad, Samad Fallah and Aditya Pole took a wicket each. In other matches of the day played at the PYC Hindu Gykmhana Ground, Panhala Panthers defeated Torna Tigers by 4 wickets, while Sinhagad Supremos tasted their first defeat, when they lost their match against Devagiri Emperors by 4 wickets.

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