T20 MUMBAI | Parkar’s heroics in vain as Panthers triumphs in Super Over

Suved Parkar produced a captain’s innings, equalling the highest individual score in T20 Mumbai history with a scintillating 110 (54b, 10×4, 7×6). Yet, even that wasn’t enough as North Mumbai Panthers scripted another extraordinary chase before holding its nerve in a dramatic Super Over to register a second successive victory against Bandra Blasters.

Chasing a daunting 229 at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, Panthers once again found inspiration through opener Hardik Tamore, whose second consecutive half-century — 83 (39b, 10×4, 4×6) — ensured the chase never drifted away. His 67-run partnership with Abhigyan Kundu, who contributed 39 (24b, 3×4, 1×6), kept Panthers firmly in contention through the middle overs.

Tanush Kotian then played the finishing act to perfection with 32 n.o. (14b, 2×4, 2×6), while Vaibhav Mali unleashed 32 (14b, 2×4, 2×6) as Panthers remarkably drew level at 228.

Even after Mali’s dismissal in the penultimate over, the chase remained alive courtesy left-arm spinner Rahul Sawant, whose consecutive pull shots — a boundary and a six off Royston Dias — shifted momentum dramatically.

Needing 14 off the final four deliveries, Kotian responded with characteristic composure, reducing the equation to three off the final ball. When Dhanit Raut’s last delivery was driven over covers for a couple, the game headed into a Super Over.

Mali once again turned aggressor, taking on Atif Attarwala’s left-arm pace with two sixes and a boundary to set a challenging target. Seasoned seamer Mohit Avasthi then produced a near-flawless Super Over, sealing a memorable victory for the Ajinkya Rahane-led Panthers.

Earlier in the afternoon, Parkar’s conventional strokemaking set Blasters on course for a a gargantuan total. But once he perished in the 15th over after scoring 110 — the same as Jay Bista in 2019, the Blasters couldn’t pile on 250. Those last five overs, in the end, turned out to be the difference.

The scores: Bandra Blasters 228/5 in 20 overs (Suved Parkar 110, Prateek Ravishankar 33, Pratik Mishra 3/38) tied with North Mumbai Panthers 228/8 in 20 overs (Hardik Tamore 83, Abhigyan Kundu 39, Tanush Kotian 32 n.o., Vaibhav Mali 32, Sagar Chhabria 3/9, Dhrumil Matkar 3/32).

Super Over: North Mumbai Panthers 20/1 bt Bandra Blasters 7 for no loss.

SoBo Mumbai Falcons 126 in 18.2 overs (Aditya Tare 59, Shivam Dube 3/17, Ajay Mishra 3/27, Deepak Shetty 2/32) lost to ARCS Andheri 127/5 in 14 overs (Divyaansh Saxena 50).

Women’s League: Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs 113/9 in 20 overs (Sayali Satghare 4/29, Swara Jadhav 3/19) lost to SoBo Mumbai Falcons 117/3 in 15.5 overs (Sarika Koli 33 n.o., Sayali Satghare 30 n.o.).