Bandra Blasters rout North Mumbai Panthers by 10 wickets

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 here today.

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 for Mumbai.

Bandra join Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the play-offs, which begin from tomorrow.

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.

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.