PUNE: Royal Pasalkar showed excellent team performance in all three sectors and defeated unbeaten KK Paltan team by 6 runs to lift the ‘Lions Celebration Veterans Cup’ T20 Cricket Championship organised by Lions Club district 3234 D-2 and played at Vision Cricket Ground, Sinhagad Road.

In the finals, Anil Mandke’s all-round performance guided Royal Pasalkar a narrow win over unbeaten team, KK Paltan and clinch the victory. In the do-or-die last league match, Royal team out played Nimbalkar Warriors. In finals they had the challenge of KK Paltan, who won all three league matches and entered in the finals.

Royal Pasalkar won the toss and elected to bat. Anil Mandke scored 38 runs while, Surabh Ravalia (29 runs) and Sachin Kapade (22 runs) helped team to put 145 runs in 20 overs. In reply, KK Paltan couldn’t start their innings easily. They lost early wickets. Bhupender Dullat (40 runs), and Santosh Shah (36 runs) fought back but they fell short of 6 runs, resulting in Royal Pasalkar lifting the trophy for the first time.

FINAL SCORE
Royal Pasalkar: 145/5; 20 (Anil Mandke 38, Surabh Ravalia 29, Sachin Kapade 22, Rajiv Navgare 1/18, Krishna Kadam 1/19) bt KK Paltan: 139/6; 20 Overs (Bhupender Dullat 40, Shriniwas Sarwade 35, Santosh Shah 36, Anil Mandke 1/31, Sachin Kapade 1/31);
Player of Match: Anil Mandke (Royal Pasalkar);
Individual Awards
Player of the tournament: Shreenivas Sarawade (KK Paltan, 94 runs; 9 wickets); Best Batsman: Anil Mandke (Royal Pasalkar, 116 runs);
Best Bowler: Sachin Kapde (Royal Pasalkar, 7 wickts); Best Fielder: Chetan Joshi (Nimbalkar Warriors); Best Wicket keeper: Santosh Deokar (Royal Pasalkar.