Hardik hammers 26-ball century

Opener Hardik Tamore, the Mumbai Police Cityriders opener hit a 26-ball century – the fastest in the league -,but his team went down fighting against strong title contenders Bandra Heroes by 46 runs in their return tie in the doubleleg Mitsui Shoji T-20 League, sponsored by Lal Bharwaney and held at Police Gymkhana ground, here on Monday. Hardik scored 135 with 7 fours and 15 sixes.

Chasing Bandra Heroes huge score of 292 for eight in 18 overs –match was restricted to 18 overs because of delayed start-, Hardik and Jay Bista went after their rivals pace and spin attack with both hitting flurry of fours and sixes as the pair put on 90 runs in just 4.3 overs. After Jay departure,the scoring rate fell and after Hardik ‘s hurricane hitting, too,came to an end for 135, the rest of the batsmen, however, could not make much contributon as the Cityriders fell shot by46 runs.

However, Mumbai Police Cityriders, earlier in the morning beat defending champions Ghatkopar Jets by 4 wickets. Brief scores: Bandra Heroes 292/8 0ff 18 0vers (Aman Khan 66 – 8x4, 5x6), Kevin Almedia 93 -3x4, 12x6), Khizar Dafedar 45, Sujit Nayak 31; Santosh Shinde 3/35, Ratnesh Palande 4/37) bt Mumbai Police Cityriders 246 all out in 17.5 0vers (Jay Bista 55 – 4x4, 6x6), Hardik Tamore 135- 7x4, 15x6); (Minad Manjrekar 4/32, KhizarDafedar2/38) by 46 runs.,

Ghatkopar Jets 190/7 in 18 overs (Gaurish Jadhav 106 – 6x4,10x6), Akhtar Shaikh 31; Rakesh Prabhu 4/33, Ratnesh Palande 2/27) lost to Mumbai Police Cityriders 195/6 0ff 17.4 overs (Hardik Tamore 61 – 6x4, 5x6), Rakesh Prabhu n.o.55 (1x4,7x6); Yash Dicholkar 2/33, Puneet Tripathi 2/35) by 4 wkts.