Staff Reporter
Margao
VMCL Scorpions opened their Season 3 campaign with a convincing five-wicket win over VMCL Hustlers in the curtain-raiser of the Margao Cricket Club Ferdinand Coelho Memorial Veteran Members Cricket League (VMCL), played under lights at the MCC ground on Tuesday.
The match also marked a special moment for the Club as former president, businessman and hotelier Ivo Coutinho—who played a key role in laying MCC’s first turf pitches—graced the opening ceremony as Chief Guest, alongside other dignitaries and club members.
Batting first, the Hustlers were bundled out for 106 in 18.3 overs, despite a promising 46-run opening stand between Venkatesh Nevagi (33) and Shailu (15). Brief resistance came from Mahendra Pai Kuchelkar (14) and Anoop Borkar (13), but it was Scorpions’ veteran Dr. Satyesh Kamat who stole the show with a stunning 4/17 spell that turned the tide.
In reply, Scorpions chased down the target with an over to spare, finishing at 107/5 in 19 overs. Jude Cardozo top-scored with 23, while Iftikhar Agha (19), Sandeep Dalal (unbeaten 19), and Nilesh Prabhudesai (15) chipped in to complete the job.
For the Hustlers, four bowlers—Nevagi, Neelam Korgaonkar, Sachin Kenkre, and Sarvesh Kamat—picked up a wicket each, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Scorpions’ charge.
Satyesh Kamat’s game-changing spell earned him the Player of the Match honours as the Scorpions got their campaign off to a flying start.
