Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unusual run-out in the match between the Ratnagiri Jets and Puneri Bappa in the ongoing Maharashtra Premier League quickly went viral, capturing the attention of cricket fans. The incident occurred during the 12th over of the first innings when Gaikwad, the skipper, attempted to run for two. He was nearly successful but fell agonizingly short of the crease by mere inches.
As he approached the crease, his bat got caught on the edge, and his foot was airborne. Simultaneously, he lost his grip on the bat, leading to his unfortunate dismissal. This moment was not just a physical misstep but a significant turning point in the game.
Gaikwad had flicked the ball towards the left side of the field and was aiming to secure a double. However, Krish Shahapurkar, showcasing remarkable athleticism, covered a significant distance to retrieve the ball and threw it accurately to Nikhil Naik. Naik then collected the ball cleanly and dislodged the stumps, leading to Gaikwad’s run-out.
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This dismissal brought an abrupt end to Gaikwad’s promising innings, where he scored 29 runs off just 15 balls. His departure added pressure to the Puneri Bappa team, already struggling in the match.
Puneri Bappa had earlier lost Neel Gandhi early in their innings, and the other batters found it challenging to accelerate the scoring rate. Batting at number four, Gaikwad had shown great determination, attempting to regain momentum for his team. Unfortunately, his efforts were short-lived as the team continued to lose wickets rapidly.
Ruturaj gets run out in an unfortunate way 😱#MaharashtraPremierLeague#JioCinemaSports#MPLonJioCinema #MPLonSports18 pic.twitter.com/IvEDVKMs6j
— Sports18 (@Sports18) June 7, 2024
Rahul Desai and Sachin Bhosale made efforts to stabilize the innings but could not fully capitalize. On the bowling front, Satyajeet Bachhav was outstanding, claiming four wickets, while Vijay Pawle took two, limiting Puneri Bappa to 148 runs in their innings.
During Ratnagiri Jets’ chase, Dhiraj Phatangare anchored one end but saw his team lose two quick wickets. The situation was then steadied by skipper Azim Kazi and Nikhil Naik, who played crucial roles in the middle order. Kazi contributed 31 runs off 28 balls, and Naik remained unbeaten with 27 runs off 22 deliveries.
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Their efforts were complemented by Yogesh Chavan, who scored 17 runs off seven balls, and Bachhav, who added 17 runs off six balls. These vital cameos ensured that the Ratnagiri Jets clinched the victory with just two balls to spare.
This win allowed the Ratnagiri Jets to maintain their position at the top of the points table, underscoring their dominance in the league. In contrast, the Puneri Bappa team found themselves languishing in fifth place, reflecting their ongoing struggles in the tournament.
