Tag: Cricket

Sports

18 Juners, United Brothers Open ACL-7 Campaign with Winning Starts

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The seventh season of the Advocates Cricket League (ACL-7) commenced on Sunday at the SAG ground in Chicalim, with competitive cricket and spirited participation from the legal fraternity. The opening day witnessed 18 Juners and United Brothers registering victories in their respective matches, marking confident starts to their campaigns.

In the first encounter of the day, 18 Juners defeated Lotlikar Lions by 15 runs in a closely contested match. Batting first, 18 Juners posted a total of 144 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, with Viraj Tar top-scoring with 37 runs, while Abhay Rivonkar and Sahish Mahambrey contributed 21 and 19 respectively. The bowlers of Lotlikar Lions kept things tight, with Chetan Sangelkar returning figures of 2 for 25.

In reply, Lotlikar Lions managed 129 for 9 in 20 overs despite efforts from Aditya Naik, who scored 29, and Prashant Borkar with 25. Kashinath Posnaik emerged as the standout performer for 18 Juners, delivering an all-round performance by scoring 14 runs and claiming three wickets for 25 runs, earning him the Man of the Match award.

The second match saw United Brothers edge past Lawyer Challengers by three wickets in an exciting chase. Lawyer Challengers posted 148 for 7, with Shailesh Redkar scoring a solid 51 and Dattaprasad Shirodkar adding 43. Mylen D’Souza was impressive with the ball for United Brothers, picking up three wickets for 26 runs.

Chasing the target, United Brothers reached 149 for 7 in 19.3 overs, guided by a superb unbeaten knock of 73 runs off 49 balls by Dattaraj Parab, which included eight boundaries and a six. He received able support from Raghu Parab and Dattaraj Gawas, scoring 26 and 25 respectively. Dattaraj Parab was deservedly named Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.

Earlier, the tournament was formally inaugurated in the presence of the chief guest, Irshad Agha, Principal District and Sessions Judge, North Goa, while Civil Judge (Junior Division), JMFC Margao, Adv. Sabino Braganza, attended as the guest of honour. Advocates Cricket League president Adv. Iftikhar Agha briefed the gathering about the tournament, highlighting its role in promoting sportsmanship, camaraderie, and team spirit among members of the legal fraternity.

Several dignitaries including Adv. S. N. Joshi, Adv. Gajanan Korgaonkar, SAG officer Prajyot Chodankar, senior advocate Saresh Lotlikar and others were present at the opening ceremony. With competitive matches and enthusiastic participation, ACL-7 promises an exciting season of cricket that blends sporting excellence with professional camaraderie.

Sports

Blind Goa Cricket Makes History, Finishes 9th at 8th Nagesh Trophy National Tournament

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

A new and inspiring chapter was written in Goa’s sporting history as the Goa Blind Cricket Team secured a place among the top 10 teams in the country at the 8th Nagesh Trophy National Blind Cricket Tournament. Finishing 9th among teams representing over 28 states, the achievement highlighted not only cricketing skill but also extraordinary resilience and self-belief.

The Nagesh Trophy is regarded as the biggest platform for blind cricket in India, and Goa’s journey through the tournament stood out for its consistency and tactical brilliance. The team dominated Group E, registering four emphatic victories. Goa began its campaign with a commanding win over Manipur, bowling them out for 111 and winning by 169 runs, with Nilesh Mirgal named Man of the Match. In the second encounter, Goa posted 233 runs against Railways, with Mirgal scoring a century and helping restrict the opposition to 132. The third match saw Goa defeat Vidarbha after scoring 157 and restricting them to 112, with captain Aftab Patel earning the Man of the Match award. Goa concluded the group stage by defeating Jammu & Kashmir, scoring 170 runs, with Mirgal once again delivering an all-round performance of 87 runs and key wickets.

The team’s success was powered by strong contributions across categories. In the B1 category, captain Aftab Patel led from the front, supported by Kailash Sainath, a key bowler, and Akshay Harsh. The B2 category featured impactful performances from Nilesh Mirgal, a consistent match-winner with both bat and ball, and Chander Dinesh, known for his bowling, fielding and dependable batting. In the B3 category, Jignesh emerged as an important all-rounder, while Arvind and Nilesh N contributed steadily. Young wicketkeeper-batsman Vibhishan impressed on debut, earning his place directly in the Goa national team with his sharp keeping and batting skills.

Behind the scenes, the guidance of Treasurer and Head Coach Yashwant Nageshkar played a crucial role. His confidence in the players and constant encouragement helped shape the team’s mindset and performance. Coach Omkar and Manager Prathamesh also played key roles in ensuring preparation and team cohesion.

Captain Aftab Patel’s leadership stood out throughout the tournament. One of the youngest captains in Indian blind cricket, he took charge at a time of transition after senior players retired and led the team to a historic national ranking. His journey reflects both personal determination and the mentorship he received from the coaching staff.

Blind cricket relies on sound, instinct and trust, and Goa’s team proved that strong intent can overcome physical barriers. With this top-10 finish, the team now looks ahead to future national challenges, with hopes of greater support from the Goa government and sports fraternity. Several players are now aspiring for selection to the Indian National Blind Cricket Team, carrying forward the belief that success is driven not by sight, but by vision.

Sports

Sachin Tendulkar Meets T20 Blind Women’s World Cup Champions in Mumbai

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

In a moment filled with inspiration and pride, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar met the Indian Women’s Blind Cricket Team, the newly crowned T20 Blind Cricket World Cup champions, at the MIG Cricket Club in Mumbai on December 17, 2025. The interaction marked a defining milestone for the team, whose journey to the world title has been shaped by resilience, determination, and unwavering belief.

Sachin Tendulkar spent close to an hour with the players, congratulating them on their historic achievement and listening intently to their personal journeys. He praised the team for overcoming challenges and crossing the final hurdle through sheer perseverance and hard work, noting that their World Cup victory would be remembered far beyond the tournament itself.

During the interaction, Sachin acknowledged the vital role played by the players’ families, particularly their parents, for providing encouragement and freedom rather than limitations. He emphasised that such support enabled the athletes to pursue cricket at the highest level and transform dreams into reality.

The cricket legend also reminded the team that success brings greater responsibility. With expectations set to rise, he said the players would need to work harder and stay focused, describing the World Cup win not as an endpoint but as the beginning of a longer journey that now carries the power to inspire countless others.

For the players, meeting Sachin Tendulkar was an emotional and unforgettable experience. Many described it as validation of years of dedication and sacrifice, and a moment that reaffirmed that their achievements have been recognised at the highest level of Indian sport.

Team captain Deepika TC expressed her emotions, calling the meeting a dream come true and sharing that Sachin’s words of encouragement deeply touched the team. She said the interaction would remain with them for life and motivate them to work even harder while carrying Indian cricket to greater heights.

Sachin Tendulkar gave autographs to all the players and posed for photographs with the team. In a gesture of gratitude, the players presented him with an autographed bat. Dr. G.K. Mahantesh, President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India, described the meeting as a moment to cherish forever, stating that recognition from a legend like Sachin Tendulkar provides immense confidence to players and strengthens the entire blind cricket ecosystem in India.

The Cricket Association for the Blind in India expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sachin Tendulkar for his time, warmth, and unwavering belief in the abilities of blind cricketers, calling the interaction a landmark moment for the sport and its champions.

Sports

IPL 2026 to Begin on March 26, Final Scheduled for May 31

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The Indian Premier League 2026 season is set to begin on Thursday, March 26, with the final scheduled for Sunday, May 31. The dates for the upcoming edition were revealed by IPL CEO Hemang Amin during a briefing with all ten franchises ahead of the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi, according to Cricbuzz. While the complete match schedule is yet to be announced, it is expected to be made public in the coming days.

It has been confirmed that defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will feature in the opening fixture of the tournament. However, uncertainty remains over whether the match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Traditionally, the IPL season opener is hosted at the home venue of the defending champions, but the availability of the stadium is yet to be finalised.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association has received conditional clearance from the state government to host IPL matches, with final approval pending the fulfilment of safety and security requirements. The venue has not hosted matches since a tragic stampede outside the stadium during victory celebrations last year resulted in the loss of 11 lives, following which even Women’s World Cup matches were relocated.

Ahead of the auction, the Board of Control for Cricket in India held a meeting with representatives of all ten franchises, during which teams were informed about the tentative window for the tournament. Attention will now shift to the IPL 2026 auction, where franchises will compete for 77 available slots, including 31 overseas player positions. The highest reserve price has been set at ₹2 crore, with 40 players registering in this bracket.

Several prominent international and domestic players, including Cameron Green, David Miller, Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Gus Atkinson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Venkatesh Iyer and Liam Livingstone, have entered the auction at the top base price. Meanwhile, notable absentees from the auction list include Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis. As teams prepare to finalise their squads, anticipation continues to build for the return of one of cricket’s most-watched tournaments.

Sports

MCC Thunder Edge Avengers in Thrilling Finish to Go Top of the Table

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

MCC Thunder moved to the top of the MCL 11 table after pulling off a tense 2-wicket win over MCC Avengers in a gripping T20 contest at the MCC Ground in Margao. The match went down to the very last over, with Thunder successfully chasing the target of 166 in 19.5 overs. The win, which takes their tally to 8 points, showcased disciplined bowling, calm batting under pressure and a standout all-round performance from Ved Mahambrey, who was adjudged Man of the Match.

MCC Avengers, batting first, posted 165/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Their innings was built on steady contributions from Venkatesh Nevagi, who struck 24, followed by a valuable 35 from Amod Borkar and a well-compiled 40 from Vedant Naik. However, the Thunder bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings. Sudhir Shet delivered an impressive spell with figures of 2/22, while Sudesh Rane picked up 2/44. Ved Mahambrey chipped in with 1/17, and the experienced Dr. Rohan Badve bowled economically for his 1/14. Om Fadte also contributed with the ball, returning figures of 1/27.

Chasing 166, MCC Thunder began steadily but faced resistance from the Avengers’ bowlers. The innings gained momentum through a composed 36 from Om Fadte, followed by a crucial 39 from Roshan Naik, who kept the scoreboard ticking at a vital phase. The chase was anchored beautifully by Ved Mahambrey, whose 38 proved to be the defining knock in the pressure-filled chase. With wickets falling around him, Mahambre’s calm presence ensured Thunder stayed on course.

The Avengers bowlers fought back valiantly. Amod Borkar picked up 2/32, while Siddhant Amonkar claimed 1/30. Venkatesh Nevagi showed his all-round ability with 1/25, and Gopal Gawas chipped in with 1/17. Despite their efforts, the total proved just short as Thunder held their nerve to cross the finish line with one ball remaining.

The thrilling victory reflected Thunder’s resilience and teamwork, taking them to the top of the standings and further intensifying the race in MCL 11.