T20 Mumbai League: Shreyas Iyer, Eknath Kerkar help Blasters thrash Panthers by 10 wickets; Supersonics beat Lions

Mumbai: Shreyas Iyer and Eknath Kerkar made a mockery of a listless North Mumbai Panthers bowling attack as NaMo Bandra Blasters thrashed them by 10 wickets in a T20 Mumbai League encounter on 18 March. Chasing a modest 125, Iyer, who also plays for India, took the opposition bowlers to task. He was ably supported by Kerkar, who plays Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. [caption id=“attachment_4395953” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Shreyas Iyer smashed a brilliant fifty against North Mumbai Panthers. Image Courtesy: T20 Mumbai League[/caption] Bandra join Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the play-offs, which begin from 19 March. While Iyer remained unbeaten on 71 off 34 balls, Kerkar was not-out on 50 off 36 balls as the two took the side home without much fuss and with 8.3 overs to spare. Iyer, who notched up his 50 in 28 balls, took the bowlers to task at the Wankhede Stadium and smashed three consecutive sixes off Dinesh Salunkhe in the 11th over. He hit hit eight fours and three sixes. Kerkar, too, freed his arms as he struck four boundaries and three sixes in his knock. Earlier, electing to bat, North Mumbai Panthers managed to post a paltry 125/9 on the board with Sairaj Patil top-scoring with 26 in 17 balls. Skipper Yogesh Takawale made 23 after opening the innings, but after he and Patil returned to the pavilion, no batsman stood tall. For the Blasters, veteran leg-break bowler Pravin Tambe was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-16. In the second game of the day, Sobo Supersonics defeated Shivaji Park Lions by three wickets. Chasing 150, skipper Jay Bista laid the foundation with his 34-run knock while Gaurav Jathar (22 not-out off 11 balls) sealed the victory for his team. Earlier put into bat, Shivaji Park Lions posted 150/7 on the board from their alloted 20 overs. For the Lions, Shivam Dubey scored an unbeaten quickfire 37 in 26 balls to enable them to reach the 150-run mark. Shams Mulani (37) and Bravish Shetty (32) also played handy knocks. For the Sobo Supersonics, Badre Alam and Rohan Raje picked up two wickets each. Sobo Supersonics have qualified for the play offs, and despite this loss the Shivaji Park Lions too have made the play offs. Brief Scores North Mumbai Panthers 125-9 (Sairaj Patil 26, Yogesh Takawale 23, Praveen Tambe 2-16) lost to NaMo Bandra Blasters 126/0 (Shreyas Iyer 71 not out, Eknath Kerkar 50 not out, Yashasvi Jaiswal 0-14) by 10 wickets. Shivaji Park Lions 150-7 (Shivam Dubey 37 not out, Badre Alam 2-26) lost to Sobo Supersonics 154-7 (Jay Bista 32, Shivam Dubey 3-43) by three wickets.