T20 Mumbai League: All-rounder Deshpande helps Maratha Royals beat Bandra Blasters

Tushar Deshpande during his 2-12 at Wankhede on Saturday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The experience of Tushar Deshpande, 31, and Rohan Raje, 39, came to the fore as they not only dealt in sixes, but also took crucial wickets to steer holders Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals (MSCMR) to a sensational 25-run victory over Bandra Blasters (BB) in the T20 Mumbai League at Wankhede on Saturday.

After MSCMR were reduced to 130-8 in 14.3 overs, Deshpande (55 not out off 25 balls; 6x6) and Raje (28 not out off 14 balls; 3x6) shared an unbeaten 73-run stand for the ninth wicket to take their team to 203-8.

In a dramatic collapse, BB lost eight wickets for 18 runs in 21 deliveries to be bowled out for 178. With their third loss in four matches, BB are all but out of the semi-final contention.

"We lost wickets because the ball was gripping. When I went out to bat, the spinners were bowling really well. It was important to negotiate them and once I started seeing the ball well and got a hold of the wicket, I went for the runs. The only thinking while batting was to post a commendable score and give cushion to our bowlers," Deshpande said

"As for bowling, it was very important to take wickets, otherwise, the game was out of our hands. Luckily, I got two and that changed the game all around."

Well set at 160-2 after 14 overs, courtesy opener Prateek Yadav's 47 off 22 balls (4x4, 4x6) and No. 4 Jay Jain's 46 off 23 balls (4x4, 3x6), and their fifty-plus stands with skipper Suved Parkar, BB needed 44 in 36 balls.

However, Deshpande struck off successive deliveries in the 15th over, dismissing Jain and Dhrumil Matkar. BB lost their third wicket in four deliveries when Om Keshkamat tried to steal a single and succumbed to Maxwell Swaminathan's direct throw from mid-on.

Left-arm spinner Atharva Bhosale removed Parkar (56) in the 16th, with the batter top-edging a sweep to wicketkeeper Sachin Yadav.

Raje came on for his only over in the 17th and removed Aashray Sajnani with his first delivery. Raje bowled the fourth delivery down the leg side to Sagarr Chhabriaa, who tried to take a single. In the process, non-striker Aadit Bahutule was run out to Sachin's direct hit.

Having lost six wickets for eight runs, it was only a matter of time before MSCMR sealed victory, which came in the 18th over courtesy left-arm pacer Irfan Umair, who picked up two wickets with catches taken inside the circle.