Triumph Knights keep title defence alive

Parikshit Valsangkar and Akash Parkar lived up to their reputations as reliable all-rounders to keep defending champions Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the hunt for a semi-final berth in the second edition of T20 Mumbai.

The duo's impressive efforts with the bat and the ball helped the Knights pocket the must-win game against Eagle Thane Strikers by 38 runs on Saturday.

While Valsangkar's quick-fire 39 (24b, 6x4, 1x6) at No. 3 gave the Knights the early impetus, Parkar's powerful 34 (20b, 1x4, 3x6) - aided by in-form Karan More's 36 (26b, 4x4) - gave the teaam a perfect finish to post a decent 162 for seven.

The Strikers then faltered on a slowing pitch, with an accurate bowling display by all the bowlers.

While Valsangkar was economical with his leggies, conceding just 19 runs in his three overs, Parkar got the prized scalp of dangerous Sarfaraz Khan in the 10th over.

Yash Dicholkar bagged 3 wickets, including that of Strikers' captain Aditya Tare.

Strikers eventually end with 124 for nine and lost the game.

Brief scores: Triumph Knights Mumbai North East 162/7 in 20 overs (Parikshit Valsangkar 39, Karan More 36, Akash Parkar 34; Kruthik Hanagavadi 2/41, Alpesh Ramjani 1/23) bt Eagle Thane Strikers 124/9 in 20 overs (Alpesh Ramjani 40, Sagar Mishra 19; Mohit Avasthi 3/17, Yash Dicholkar 3/25).