LFL Quarter-final 2: SRT XI vs Flamin Starz

Brief Scores

SRT XI:                                                  102 all out

                                                            Rahul 33 (29)

                                                            PK 5/11 (3.1)

                                                            Rajnish 2/17 (3)

                                                                                                                                               

Flamin Starz:                                        3/107 in 10.5 overs

                                                            Kaushik 42 (24)

                                                            Vivek 30 (20)

                                                                                                                       

Man of the Match:                                PK (Vedic Naturals)

Best Performer:                                   Rahul (SRT XI)

Complete Scorecard:                            http://bit.ly/1EpybIc

Leggie PK Dismantles SRT Batting, Sets Up Easy Win

After the Vedic Naturals v Star XI game, we expected this to be a more competitive encounter. Flamin Starz are tournament heavyweights, and at their best, SRT XI are a spirited, fighting unit. On this day, however, SRT were far from their best, and Flamin Starz shut this game out without ever needing to get into top gear.

Far from top gear, in fact, Flamin Starz began their bowling innings with all the intensity of a post-lunch stroll on a sunny holiday afternoon. After pocketing Sachin's wicket off the innings' second ball, Gurdeep and Dinesh went through the motions of their opening spell at pedestrian pace. To compound the lack of intensity, they sent down 13 wides and the fielders allowed easy balls through, including one through the legs. It almost felt as if the side was daring the SRT batsmen to come at them and wake them up. Rahul was the only one among the willow wielders who looked to take up that challenge, beginning his innings with a smattering of boundaries.

Rahul Gets a Solid Start

The Wizard of Spin!

He got off the mark with a flick for four in the 1^st over, before unraveling a cover-drive in the next over followed by a couple of perfectly placed cuts behind point. Anuj was encouraged at the other end, and launched Dinesh for six straight back down the ground in the 4^th over. When he was caught at long on off the bowling of Anjeev in the 6^th over, the team score was a fairly healthy 48. Rahul and Amit began their partnership on a promising note, and 61 / 2 in 8 overs could easily have ballooned to a healthy total. However, application was the need of the hour, especially since Flamin Starz had 8 overs of spin in the bag.

PK and Rajnish Destroy SRT Batting

Left-arm spinner Rajnish and leg-spinner PK, both veterans of the game, control and vary their pace expertly, and constantly prowl around the off-middle line, waiting for mistakes. As it turned out, the SRT batsmen made plenty for them to feed on. Rajnish picked up wickets off consecutive deliveries in the 9^th over, his first. Rahul was the first to go, his promising innings of 33 brought to an abrupt end off a mis-judged pull shot. The ball stayed low and rattled into his stumps. Ravi was caught plumb first ball, as he stayed back to a quicker delivery.

The floodgates were open and PK cashed in. He did what he usually does – choke the batsmen with his tight line, and deceive them with his lack of turn. 19 balls were all he needed to account for Amit, Shivam, Gaurav, Addy and Kartik (31 – 1 – 11 – 5). Three of these batsmen were clean-bowled, Kartik was out LBW and Gaurav was caught at point. The SRT innings folded up for a paltry 102 in the 17^th over.

Flamin Starz Complete Easy Chase

PK and Rahul, the Best Performers

The chase began with half the side feasting on lunch at the other end of the field, even as Kaushik (42) and Vivek (30) satiated their appetite on the offerings dished out by their disheartened opposition. With no target to defend, the bowlers could not exert any pressure at all, and over the course of their rapid 63-run partnership, the two batters set the fielders on a leather chase all around the park. Between them they got 12 boundaries and 2 sixes, and Flamin Starz completed the target in under 11 overs.

PK, after tearing through the SRT batsmen, was the obvious choice for the man of the match award. He is now the leading wicket taker of the tournament. Rahul, the only opposition batter to put up a defense, walked away with the Star Performer award from the losing side. Flamin Starz go up against Vedic Naturals in the semi-finals, and we are expecting an explosive encounter!  

LFL Quarter-final 1: Vedic Naturals vs Star XI

Brief Scores

Vedic Naturals:                                     7 / 219 in 20 overs

                                                            Nitin 79 (41)

                                                            Devraj 52 (36)

                                                            Cristy 26 (9)

                                                            Mohit 3/50 (4)

                                                                                                                                               

Star XI:                                                 64 all out in 11.5 overs

                                                            Gopal 5/10 (3.5)

                                                            Kapil 3/11 (4)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                                 Nitin (Vedic Naturals)

Best Performer:                                    Gopal (Vedic Naturals)

Complete Scorecard:                            http://bit.ly/1EpybIc

Vedic Naturals Destroy Clueless Opposition, Juggernaut Rolls On

Vedic Naturals is a side with two faces. They sleepwalk or they unleash a destructive force of irresistible scale. Against Star XI they were at their formidable best. It was the perfect setup for an engrossing heavyweight battle, except for the fact that the opponent never showed up. At least not in spirit anyway. With 460 runs in two games, including a record 282, Star XI were the team everyone feared. Till they took the field in this game. Somewhere over the last couple of weeks, the soda had lost its pop. It was impossible to recognize these eleven guys who went through the motions in a daze, and finally rolled over without a fight.

Cristy Races Off the Blocks

Nitin, after his destructive knock of 79

Star’s first and only success came in the first over of the match, as NP Singh was trapped in front by Mohit, playing across the line to a straight delivery. Nitin walked out, saw one ball, and then launched a crushing attack for the next hour that left the opposition bowlers stunned. Off his second ball, he got off the mark with a swing over extra cover that raced to the boundary, before disdainfully hooking a short delivery past fine leg.

The ball was passed to Prashant, Star’s fastest bowler, who seemingly prefers bowling a fuller length. For opener Cristy, who loves to bring his bat down in a straight arc and hit through the line of the ball, it was the flavor of choice, and he was prepared to feast. The bowler’s struggle with his line did not help. 5 wides way outside the off stump were followed by a dismissive straight drive for four. Prashant overcompensated and went on Cristy’s pads the next ball, and the batsman obliged with a flick for six. Back outside off next ball – six over extra cover, a couple of wides, then an edged boundary past the keeper off a desperate short ball. 28 came off the over. By the time Vedic had got this far in their last game, they had already lost half their side. Cristy and his men were on song.

Nitin Delivers Destruction – 6 Overs, 92 / 2

With 265 runs in 4 innings, Devraj is leading the run charts

Cristy lifted another effortless six over long off in the next over, before missing the ball altogether and becoming Mohit’s second victim. There was to be no respite, however. Devraj, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, came out and gave Nitin just the security he needed to express himself without fear, doubt or restrain. Left arm spinner Ravinder was welcomed with a leg-side swing for four, before being launched over square leg, then slog-swept over mid-wicket for sixes. Mohit’s medium-pace was rapidly unraveled in the next, with three square boundaries on the off-side and a six over mid-wicket off consecutive deliveries. At the end of 6, the score read 92. Star XI were being given a taste of what they had dished out earlier in the tournament. And they had no answer.

By the time Nitin was finally dismissed off the first ball of Prashant’s return spell in the 15^th over, caught at deep square-leg, he had amassed 79 off 41 balls, powered by 5 sixes and 9 hits to the fence. The score read an imposing 170. Devraj compiled yet another fifty to take his tournament runs tally to 265, and Gagan opened out for 2 sixes on way to a quick 22. Vedic Naturals closed with 219, dealing out their opposition the daunting prospect of a record run chase.

Gopal 5-wicket Haul Tears Apart Star XI Batting

Gopal and Nitin (l to r), the two best performers

Opener Anuj, who already had a century to his name, ended his tournament awkwardly off-balance with his feet in a tangle. Caught somewhere between ducking, flaying and fending a Kuldeep bouncer in the second over, he managed to edge the ball tamely to wicket-keeper Cristy. Yogesh and Himanshu briefly put together a promising partnership before the latter charged out of his crease at the non-striker’s end for a non-existent single off the last ball of the 4^th over. He was sent back by Yogesh, but never made it back. From 43 for 2, Star XI collapsed in a sensational heap to 64 all out.

Left-arm spinner Gopal, who came on in the 6^th over, was the chief destroyer with his slow, teasing tweakers. Confusing the batsmen with variations in pace and flight, he set up a procession and finished with figures of 3.5 – 10 – 5. Kapil, without doubt a yard quicker than before, stalled the other end with impressive figures of 4 – 0 – 11 – 3. Vedic Naturals left the field decidedly satisfied with their performance. They could not have hoped for a more convincing win or better form to carry into the semi-finals. On a day when they have turned up with sharp form and focused aggression, they are yet to lose a match. Nitin was our choice for the Man of the Match for his belligerent innings. Gopal was given the Star Performer award for his impressive 5-wicket haul.

LFL Match 24: Amity XI vs TCS

TCS:                                                     9 / 166 in 20 overs

                                                            Sumit 34 (16)

                                                            Manish 34 (22)

                                                            Rajat 2/6 (4)

                                                            Jyotiraditya 2/18 (4)

                                                            Dhruv 3/46 (4)

                                                                                                                                               

Amity XI:                                              8 / 166 in 20 overs

                                                            Jyotiraditya 42 (26)

                                                            Raunak 32 (23)

                                                            Praveen 3/29 (4)

                                                            Ritesh 2/20 (4)

(Amity XI won on bowl-out)        

Man of the Match:                                 Jyotiraditya (Amity XI)

Best Performer TCS:                            Sumit Sehrawat

Complete Scorecard:                            http://bit.ly/1DLFWaV

Amity Play Another Dramatic Tie, Clinch Thriller in the Dark

Over the course of 23 league matches, we had been exposed to T20 cricket’s complete spectrum of drama and excitement, with a single exception – a tense rain-affected encounter. The last league game ticked that box, and driven by the zeal of players from both sides – who continued playing without complaint even as matches around the city were being called off for rain – it ended in dramatic fashion.

To qualify for the knockout stage ahead of their opponents, Amity needed to complete their chase of 167 in 12.1 overs. With a capable bowling unit facing them, it might have been easier to scale a 20-foot wall. Beside some desperate hitting early on, it was expected that the match would go the distance without much intensity from either side. The two hours of drama that unfolded, however, made a mockery of all predictions.

Abhinav and Jyotir Begin Positively

The blanket of dark clouds had already grown heavy and looked threatening by the time openers Abhinav and Jyotiraditya walked out to the middle. They ignored the distractions, however, and began with purpose. Abhinav, continuing his good form from the previous game, cracked three cover drive boundaries in the first two overs, and Jyotiraditya slashed over point in the next before taking 11 off Avinash’s second over, including a six over extra-cover. It was aggressive and it looked good, but it was not enough. Far from it.

Man of the Match, Jyotiraditya

Abhinav was run out in the 5^th attempting a desperate single, and immediately after that, the clouds finally opened up and the drizzle became a heavy downpour. At first it seemed impossible that play would go on, but the short burst cleared up rapidly, and when the covers came off after 45 minutes, the wicket still looked good and the lush ground had soaked up most of the water.

Amity Lose Qualification Hope, Chase Win

Jyotiraditya and Paras resumed the innings with 120 needed from 43 balls to qualify, but they kept falling further behind every ball. Paras finally found his touch in the 9^th over, slapping left-arm spinner Praveen for a reverse hit 6, followed by consecutive boundaries. It was too late, however, and he was out caught at deep cover off the last ball of the over. With 83 needed from 19 balls, Amity had to now give up their qualification hopes. The match, though, was still there to be won, and the fading light now seemed to be a far bigger challenge than anything the bowlers might conjure.

Praveen struck a double blow in the 11^th over, snapping up both Mohit and Rajat, and Ritesh followed up in the next over with the big wicket of Jyotir (42 from 26 balls). When Siddhant was out off the last ball of the 13^th over, caught by Praveen off the bowling of Anoop, Amity needed 59 from 7 overs with only four wickets standing. Light was fading rapidly, but Kunal and Raunak had not yet given up. They allowed a couple of overs to get their eye in, before both batsmen found the off-side boundary in the 16^th over.

Sixes in the Dark

37 were needed from 3 when Rohit came on to bowl. By now it was impossible to sight the ball from the sidelines. Incredibly, however, Raunak crashed a six over extra cover and a four past mid-wicket, taking 18 off the over. He then swatted Maneesh for a leg-side six in the next, before being clean bowled two balls later. His excellent knock of 32 from 23 balls had turned the game. Aditya walked out, and when 7 were needed off the last over, the sun had already set and we were on the brink of nightfall. Somehow Kunal was still sighting the ball and he began off-spinner Ritesh’s over with a boundary. With one run needed off the last ball, everyone had forgotten the chill and the dark, and loud chatting and excitement took over the ground. Kunal jumped out of his crease, missed the ball and ended up stumped. 

Bowl-Out

Amity had tied consecutive matches, and the spirit and fight they had shown by far trumped the disappointment of being knocked out of the tournament. Since it was too dark for a super over, the officials decided to complete the game with a bowl-out. Nearly 30 people, including both teams, officials and ground-staff, crowded the wicket, and as bowlers from both teams took turns to knock down the stumps, the atmosphere was akin to a football penalty shoot-out.

Maneesh and Himanshu Give TCS Explosive Start

Earlier in the day, the match literally began with a bang, as TCS openers Maneesh and Himanshu clobbered medium-pacers Paras and Aditya for 49 in the first 3 overs. Himanshu slammed Aditya for 3 sixes, once over point and twice over long on, before Maneesh carted Paras over point and long off. The wild hitting prompted captain Abhinav to bring spin on early, and he brought on his best bowlers, off-spinner Jyotiraditya and left-arm spinner Rajat, from either end.

Spin Duo Jyotir and Rajat Strike Back

The two tweakers made an immediate impact on the game. Jyotir cramped the batsmen for room from one end, while Rajat kept the batsmen guessing, varying his pace and consistently landing the ball just short of driving length. Jyotir forced Himanshu into a reckless shot in the 7^th over, with Raunak completing an excellent catch at long on, before Rajat picked up Maneesh in similar fashion in the next over, caught at deep mid-wicket. Ritesh and Asheesh also followed soon after, lured into false shots by the off-spinner and left-armer respectively.

Sumit was the Star Performer for TCS

During the eight overs that the two bowlers bowled in tandem, TCS compiled a dismal 24 / 4. Rajat completed impressive figures of 4 – 1 – 6 – 2. As expected, the pressure lifted as soon as the two were out of the attack. Vikram dispatched Raunak for a six over mid-wicket in the 12^th over, and after he was dismissed by Dhruv in the 14^th over, Sumit came out and, supported by Jagdeep, launched a rapid counter-strike.    

Sumit Plays Late-Over Cameo

Mohit was the first to take stick in the 15^th. After Sumit began the over with a boundary, Jagdeep tripled the tally, with a glance off his legs, then a cut past point. The 16^th was even bigger as Sumit went maximum, first over mid-wicket then square-leg. He punished Mohit for another big six over long-on in the next over, before the bowler struck back off his last ball, having him caught at the fence. Sumit had scored on 34, and during his short stay, TCS got 51 in 23 balls. Jagdeep was also out two balls later, but the late order added some useful runs, taking the total up to 166.

The drama continued on into the bowl-out, as there too both teams ended deadlocked, knocking the stumps down twice each. Finally, Amity got a much deserved win in the sudden-death, and the game ended with smiles all around and a fistful of memories that the exhausted players would keep with them for a long time to come. The presentation ceremony was completed in total darkness, as Jyotir was awarded the man of the match for his all-round effort and Sumit Sehrawat was declared the best performer for TCS for his late-over cameo of 34 runs.

TCS went through to the quarter-finals, and they left hoping for a more convincing performance, and less dramatic outcome in the next game. 

LiveSport Festival League Points Table

Team                          p           w           L           Pts

Group A

Globrix Consultants (Q)       3           3           0           6

Vedic Naturals (Q)            3           2           1           4

Hindustan Tiles               3           1           2           2

Delhi Donuts                  3           0           3           0

Group B

Star XI (Q)                   3           3           0           6

AV Group (Q)                  3           2           1           4

Empire CC                     3           1           2           2

Rajasthan Realtors            3           0           3           0

Group C

HDFC Bank (Q)                 3           2           1           4

SRT XI (Q)                    3           2           1           4

Shekh Sarai XI                3           1           2           2

Stoners                       3           1           2           2

Group D

Flamin Starz (Q)              3           2           1           4

TCS (Q)                       3           2           1           4
Amity XI                      3           2           1           4

United XI                     3           0           3           0

Quarter-finals Line-up:

Saturday, 20th December 2014:

Q1:   Vedic Naturals beat Star XI by 155 runs
Q2:   Flamin Starz beat SRT XI by 7 wickets

Sunday, 21st December 2014:

Q3:   TCS beat HDFC Bank by 37 runs
Q4:   AV Group beat Globrix Consultants by 7 wickets

Semi-Finals:

Saturday, 27th December 2014:

SF1:  Vedic Naturals vs Flamin Starz
SF2:  TCS vs AV Group

THE FINAL MATCH is on Sunday, 28th December 2014

Matches

Match 1:    Globrix Consultants beat Hindustan Tiles by 24 runs

Match 2:    AV Group beat Empire CC by 7 wickets

Match 3:    Hindustan Tiles beat Delhi Donuts by 5 wickets

Match 4:    Star XI beat AV Group by 4 runs

Match 5:    TCS beat Flamin Starz by 2 runs

Match 6:    Vedic Naturals beat Hindustan Tiles by 40 runs

Match 7:    HDFC Bank beat Shekh Sarai XI by 55 runs

Match 8:    Star XI beat Empire CC by 131 runs

Match 9:    AV Group beat Rajasthan Realtors by 5 wickets

Match 10:   Flamin Starz beat Amity XI by 90 runs

Match 11:   SRT XI beat HDFC Bank by 25 runs

Match 12:   Empire CC beat Rajasthan Realtors by 8 wickets 

Match 13:   TCS beat United Eleven by 40 runs

Match 14:   Globrix Consultants beat Delhi Donuts by 9 wickets

Match 15:   Stoners beat SRT XI by 68 runs

Match 16:   Star XI beat Rajasthan Realtors by Walkover

Match 17:   Vedic Naturals beat Delhi Donuts by 110 runs

Match 18:   Amity XI beat United Eleven in Super over

Match 19:   Flamin Starz beat United Eleven by 118 runs 

Match 20:   HDFC Bank beat Stoners by 71 runs

Match 21:   SRT XI beat Shekh Sarai XI by 68 runs

Match 22:   Shekh Sarai XI beat Stoners by 28 runs

Match 23:   Globrix Consultants beat Vedic Naturals by 54 runs

Match 24:   Amity XI beat TCS in a Bowl-out

LFL Match 23: Globrix Consultants vs Vedic Naturals

Brief Scores

Globrix Consultants:                            9 / 171 in 20 overs

                                                            Nippun 52 (24)

                                                            Aradhya 36 (36)

                                                            Anuj 31 (23)

                                                            Charan 2/7 (1)

                                                            Shwet 2/17 (4)

                                                                                                                                               

Vedic Naturals:                                     117 all out in 18.1 overs

                                                            Binoo 23 (10)

                                                            Arun 23* (27)

                                                            Ali 3/20 (4)

                                                            Vishal 3/29 (4)

                                                            Ankit 2/26 (3)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                                 Nippun (Globrix Consultants)

Best Performer Vedic Naturals:            Shwet Ketu

Complete Scorecard:                            http://bit.ly/1Gsf4Ld

Clinical Globrix Consultants Make it 3 out of 3

Both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals, and the only influence of this contest was to determine the final pool standings. As it turned out, the match produced no major surprises. It augmented Globrix’s reputation of being a combative side, with depth in both batting and bowling. It also brought out the inconsistency that has plagued the Vedic Naturals batting unit throughout this season. They alternate between being a formidable hitting machine (especially when Cristy and Devraj fire) and disturbing batting collapses. Today was a day for the collapse.

Captain Anuj Dominates

Nippun cracked an aggressive fifty

The opening phase of the match belonged completely to Globrix captain Anuj. The classy opener unleashed two eye-popping cover drives of total authority in the second over, before dispatching Arun in similar fashion in the next. Kuldeep then fell victim to a perfect late cut for four. In the 5^th, the skipper welcomed Kapil with a classic pull for six. By now, the ease with which he was toying with the bowlers had riveted everyone’s attention. Batting at his fluent best, he looked set to feast on the Vedic Naturals seam attack all morning.

Run Outs and Mid-over Stumble

There was only one thing that could stop Anuj on the day, and to Cristy and his team’s absolute delight, that one thing happened in the 6^th over: a run out. Aradhya knocked the ball into the off-side, and Anuj, slow off the blocks, fell short of the non-striker’s end on the second run. He came out dejected  and shocked, and spent the rest of the overs regretfully conjecturing how many he might have scored.

The going wasn’t so easy for the rest. Aradhya, struggling for timing, battled through the early overs and finally found his range in the 9^th, swiping Rashid over mid-wicket for a six and then a boundary. He scored a run-a-ball 36 till he was bowled by Arun in the 14^th. In the meanwhile, Shwet had already snapped up both Kunal and Sachin, and Dharmi had been run out needlessly. As if two run outs weren’t enough, Globrix gifted their opposition a third one the very next ball after Aradhya’s dismissal. Ali pushed a ball to mid-wicket and set off hastily. The non-striker didn’t respond and both batsmen ended up together at the other end. At 97 / 6 in the 14^th over, Globrix had lost momentum altogether, and didn’t look like they would get many more.

Nippun Crashes a Rapid Fifty

Ali, Ankit and Vishal (l to r) took 8 wickets in all

Nippun, however, walking in at number 8, counter-attacked with brutal force. He alternated between getting on the front foot and swinging big towards mid-wicket, and punishing short and wide deliveries between point and third-man. He began his charge in the 16^th over, ruining Arun’s excellent spell with two boundaries on the off-side and a big mid-wicket six, before tucking into first Kapil then Kuldeep. He got a rapid fire 52 from 24 balls, highlighted by 3 sixes and 6 further hits to the fence. During his 35-ball stay at the crease, Globrix got 71 runs, and they ended with an impressive 171.

Seamers Ankit and Vishal Seal the Game in Opening Burst

Vedic Naturals were never allowed to sink their teeth into the chase, as seamers Ankit and Vishal (right and left arm respectively) asserted their worth as the best new ball pair of the tournament. Ankit clean bowled Kuldeep and NP Singh off the first and fourth ball of the innings, and Vishal struck an even bigger blow in the 2^nd over, dismissing the dangerous Devraj, caught at extra cover. Binoo used the pace of the two bowlers, crashing sixes over extra cover, point and mid-wicket, before mis-judging a length ball from Vishal in the 4^th over and watching his stumps rattle. The left-armer sealed the game in his next over, the 6^th,

Nippun and Shwet - the two best performers

getting Cristy to knick one through to wicket-keeper Aradhya. Half the side was back in the dugout for 42, and it soon got worse.

Left-arm spinner Ali took out Gagan, Shwet and Kapil to leave the batting side tottering at 71 / 8. Arun, walking in at number 10, played a late cameo, knocking the ball around the park and compiling 23 not out. However, all he managed to do was delay the end. Vedic were finally bowled out for 117 in the 19^th over, and Nippun, deservedly, was awarded the Man of the Match for his fantastic fifty walking in at number 8. This was his second man of the match award in three appearances. Shwet was declared the best performer for Vedic Naturals for his excellent spell of seam bowling that ended with figures of 4 – 0 – 17 – 2.

Vedic Naturals are back in action tomorrow morning, as they take on Star XI in their quarter-final match. Globrix go up against AV Group on Sunday in the last quarter-final.

LFL Match 22: Stoners vs Shekh Sarai XI

Brief Scores

Shekh Sarai XI:                                     8 / 142 in 20 overs

                                                            Vijayant 47 (41)

                                                            Jaladh Dua 21* (19)

                                                            Amardeep 4/22 (4)

                                                            Rakesh 2/16 (4)

                                                                                                                                               

Stoners:                                               114 all out in 15.3 overs

                                                            Sanit 29 (31)

                                                            Gaurav 4/21 (4)

                                                            Ajay 2/15 (4)

                                                            Karamveer 2/19 (2.3)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                                 Vijayant Dhaka (Shekh Sarai XI)

Best Performer Stoners:                       Amardeep Singh

Complete Scorecard:                            http://bit.ly/1uYgHsF

Shekh Sarai XI Sign Off With a Knockout

A 4-team pool often sets up dramatic circumstances in the final stages of league play. At times, a team may lose and still qualify, and in other cases, a mere win may not be enough. This was one such match. Stoners had to win, and win convincingly, to go through to the quarters. After deciding to field first, their target was 16 overs for the chase. Any more, and they were out. SRT XI’s fate hung in the balance, and their captain and vice-captain, Gautam and Addy, came all the way from another part of town to look on anxiously.

The Stoners bowlers gave their team just the platform they needed; leg-spinner Amardeep, playing for the first time in this tournament, led the charge and turned the game on his wrist. The batsmen, however, failed to deliver. Shekh Sarai has been a strong bowling unit right through, and on this day there was an edge to their verve and determination.

Watchful Start by Shekh Sarai Openers

Rakesh (l) with Amardeep - the two best bowlers for Stoners

Two games had yielded two batting collapses for Shekh Sarai XI, and the watchful way in which their two openers started made it clear that they were playing to avoid another repeat. The left-right seam pair of Rakesh and Shreyans consistently hit the right spots from opposite angles, and Digvijay and Vijayant played a string of dot balls. At the end of the Powerplay, the scorecard read 23 / 0. With that kind of start, the attack had to come soon, and it finally did in the 8^th over, the first of spin. First Vijayant, then Digvijay, carted left-arm spinner Rachit over long on. The 19-run over was followed by another big one, as Vijayant took seamer Sid over point and then fine of square leg for consecutive boundaries, before capping the over with a big six over mid-wicket.

Leg-spinner Amardeep Takes Centre-stage

Vijayant (r) gets the MoM award from leg-spinner Gaurav

Two overs had changed the complexion of the game, and when Amardeep started his spell with 5 wides, it seemed like Stoners were going to be blitzed out of the contest. The crafty leg-spinner, however, took control rapidly with wickets off consecutive deliveries. He clean-bowled Digvijay round his legs off his second ball, and deceived Amit with a quicker delivery, completing a simple return catch. He struck another dual blow in the 13^th over, starting with the prized wicket of Vijayant. The opener was bowled for an excellently compiled 47, attempting a heave over mid-wicket, then the best of the remaining batsmen, Ajay also had his stumps rattled, trying to push one through the off-side. Not one to turn the ball much, Amar relies on control along with variations in pace and angle to outfox his opposition.

At 92 / 4 in 14 overs, Shekh Sarai desperately needed someone to take charge in the middle and shoot their run rate upwards. Anil (17) looked threatening briefly, slapping Hitanshu for two straight sixes in the 15^th over, but Rakesh cut his innings short in the 17^th then followed up with the wicket of Samarth the next ball. But for Jaladh (21 not out), who played cautiously towards the end, Shekh Sarai might have been bundled out rapidly. 143 was still not an imposing target by any means, but it was most certainly a fighting total, especially since Stoners had to chase it in 16 overs.

Stoners Batsmen Fail to Fire

Amardeep, the Star Performer 

Stoners needed someone to take charge in the middle and guide their chase. However, from the point Rohit was bowled off the first ball of the innings, no one put their hands up. Varun and Shreyans were both snapped up in quick time, as seamers Ajay and Anil, among the most reliable seam bowling pairs in the tournament, started the innings with excellent control and rhythm. Ayush threatened briefly, slapping Anil for a straight six and boundary, but he became leg-spinner Gaurav’s first victim in the 7^th over, clean bowled trying to hit big. That rung the death knell for team Stoners. Were it not for Sanit’s steady 29, they might not have reached the 114 they finally managed.

Gaurav was the pick of the bowlers for Shekh Sarai, picking up 4 for 21 from his four overs. On days when he is able to hit that just short of driving length with his fast leg breaks, his wicket to wicket line is almost impossible to get away. His performance was backed up by an excellent spell of seam bowling by Ajay (2-15 from 4 overs). The man of the match award, however, went to Shekh Sarai opener Vijayant for his match top score of 47. For Stoners, the best performer was leg-spinner Amardeep for his spell of 4-22. Addy’s boisterous laugh was the last we heard, as we wrapped up the day. Of course, SRT XI were through to the quarter-finals.