LFL Match 13: TCS vs United Eleven

Brief Scores

TCS:                                                     7/181 in 20 overs

                                                            Vikram 43 (21)

                                                            Jagdeep 40* (17)

                                                            Ritesh 32 (35)

                                                            Kishore 2/36 (4)

                                               

United Eleven:                                     141 all out in 18.2 overs

                                                            Rahul 48 (24)                                        

                                                            Jagdeep 3/17 (2.2)

                                                            Maneesh 2/4 (1) 

                                                            Rohit Bajaj 2/18 (2)

Man of the Match:                                 Jagdeep (TCS)

Best Performer United Eleven:             Rahul

Complete Scorecard:                            http://bit.ly/1zk0P6x    

TCS Flex Batting Muscle, Tick Off Win 2

TCS had put in a strong performance with the bat in their first game and scraped through by 2 runs. They came in needing another strong performance against a team that was a totally unknown quantity. United Eleven were playing their first game at our ground.

Deceptive Medium Pace Spells Trouble for TCS

Jagdeep plays it fine for four

United Eleven is a team that relies completely on medium pace bowling, and the TCS top order rapidly made the mistake of underestimating them. Maneesh and Himanshu Sharma were both out off loose shots in successive overs (3^rd and 4^th), and Ashish followed suit by top edging one to the wicket-keeper in the 6^th over. 38/3 at the end of Powerplay spelt trouble. Sumit, coming on to bowl in the 9^th over, augmented his team’s advantage with an excellent bit of fielding off his second ball. Himanshu C mis-timed a hit and saw it loop up towards cover. The bowler sped to the ball and caught it with outstretched hands. After 10, TCS were a dismal 59/4, and their innings seemed to be heading south.

Vikram launches a six

Sumit, however, delivered a cameo that jump-started the TCS innings. He struck three big slogs over mid-wicket, all off his namesake, racing away to 18 in 4 balls. He then punctured the field for a couple of boundaries before Kishore had him caught at long on off a slog in the 13^th over. He was out for 28, but Ritesh (32) was still there, building a smart innings. Just when he started to look dangerous, however, he missed a Sumit full-toss and saw his stumps rattle. 97/6 in the 15^th appeared dismal, but this was a T20 game in which the advantage can turn in a flash.

Jagdeep and Vikram Deliver Late-over Demolition

Vikram and Jagdeep decided unsurprisingly that attack was the best policy now, and they cut loose no holds barred. Vikram prefers the arc between the bowler and mid-wicket, while Jagdeep played some eye-catching punches and cuts. The 16^th and 17^th both yielded 14 runs each, with either batsman helping himself to a six. Vikram plundered two more in the 18^th over (straight and mid wicket), launching a spell of 4 sixes in 5 balls. The last over of the innings, bowled by Tushar, was the most destructive, yielding 21 runs.

Rahul scored a fighting 49

Vikram was out of the penultimate ball for 43 (21 balls). Jagdeep punished the last ball for four, finishing with 40 off 17. Their partnership had yielded 80 in 33 balls, and between them they had cleared the ropes 7 times. TCS ended with the exact same score as their first match – 181.

TCS Bowlers Seal the Deal

TCS sealed their advantage in the 2^nd over, with Rohit snaring Varun and Anil off consecutive deliveries, both caught in the circle. Kiran looked dangerous, slapping two sixes and two boundaries, before he was caught at mid-off by Himanshu off the bowling of leg-spinner Maneesh. Puneet followed two balls later, and after 6 overs, United Eleven were 40/4. The batting side never looked like recovering, as none of the batsmen showed the application or form needed for the chase. At 98/9 in the 14^th, the innings was set for an early close.

Rahul Plays a Lone Hand

Jagdeep, the Man of the Match

However, Rahul, who had walked in at 63/7, was not about to put up his hands just yet. With some clean hitting, he showed his earlier batsmen just how this attack could be taken apart. His valiant 48 (24 balls), however, turned out to be a case of too little, too late, as he had no support from the other end. He did take his team to a respectable 141, though, boosting the net run rate in the process. He also walked away with the Best Performer award for his team (he also had bowling figures of 3-0-9-0).

Jagdeep was deservedly the Man of the Match. His late order blast was backed up by figures of 2.2-0-17-3, including the wicket of Rahul. Himanshu C earned himself a record too with 4 catches in the innings – the most in an innings this season by an out-fielder.

 

LFL Match 12: Rajasthan Realtors vs Empire CC

Brief Scores

Rajasthan Realtors:                             124 all out in 16.3 overs

                                                            Ashu 34 (20)

                                                            Manoj 33 (19)

                                                            Avinash 3/24 (4)

                                                            Ashish 3/10 (2)

                                               

Empire CC:                                          2/128 in 14.2 overs

                                                            Amanpreet 51* (41)

                                                            Sachin 42 (34)

                                                            Jitesh 20* (8)  

                                                 

Man of the Match:                                 Amanpreet (Empire CC)

Best Performer Raj Realtors:                Ashu

Complete Scorecard:                            http://bit.ly/1y55NEL    

Empire CC Score the Biggest Upset of the Season

Avinash bowled a superb spell

One thing about cricket is that it is not predictable. Anyone who has played the game knows that no matter how good you are, the moment you start taking things lightly, you start losing. That is what happened on Saturday, as we witnessed one of the biggest upsets of our season. Coming into this one, Empire had lost both their matches by big margins, and now they were up against the side that had won our previous tournament. Rajasthan Realtors on their part, believed that the match was already won before it even began. What they did not bank on was a team that remained determined to improve, and eager to fight.

Avinash Knocks Off RR Top Order

Sachin played an aggressive knock of 42

Empire CC won the toss and elected to field, hoping to use the early morning moisture to their favor. And finally they had something to cheer about, as medium-pacer Avinash, their best bowler by some margin, ran through the top order. The only cheer for Rajasthan Realtors came off the second ball of their innings, as captain Prateek hit a straight six. Prateek himself was the first to be dismissed in the 3^rd over, as Deepak took an excellent running catch at extra cover off a mis-hit. Devinder went next ball, caught at slip by Rajinder, and Om Pal lifted a shot to long on in the 5^th over, where Vijender took a safe catch. Avinash, bowling a dead accurate line and varying his length cleverly, had 24-3 from his 4 overs.

Inspired Catching

Amanpreet smashed the only fifty of the match

It was the manner in which Empire CC won the match that earned everyone’s respect on the field. A team that could not hold on to its catches in the first two games had transformed itself into an inspired fielding unit. They seemed to have put in serious work on their one weakness, and as reward they bundled out a strong batting side for 124. Nine of the ten RR batsmen were out caught, as one after another they played desperate, suicidal shots to a near faultless opposition. Off-spinner Ashish took three wickets, all caught by Sachin off slogs to deep mid-wicket. Vijender and Deepak both took two catches each, with the highlight being captain Deepak’s excellent running catch at long off to dismiss Raman. He is easily the best athlete in the team and their star in the field.

Comfortable Chase

Amanpreet (center) with Ashu (right) - the two best performers

There was never any pressure during the chase, and Sachin and Amanpreet put on a solid 71-run partnership for the second wicket in 59 balls. Sachin was the aggressor early on, taking on the spinners regularly. Then with momentum firmly in their favor, Amanpreet joined him for some big hitting. Sachin was finally dismissed by Ajay for 42 (34 balls), with Chirag sprinting in from long on to take an excellent catch. However, in the very next over, Amanpreet and Jitesh sealed the game, taking 19 off Raman, including two big sixes. Jitesh struck 20 off 8 balls, and Amanpreet ended with 51 not out, as Empire CC won by 8 wickets with 5.4 overs to spare.

With this game both teams were now knocked out of the tournament, but it had certainly ended on a happy note for Empire. Amanpreet was the man of the match for his excellent knock. For Rajasthan Realtors, Ashu was the best performer for his 34.

Friendly Match: Dilli Wallahs vs Desi Boys

Brief Scores

Dilli Wallahs:                              9/166 in 20 overs

                                                  Amit 30 (34)

                                                  Jagneer 29* (19)

                                                  Sumit 27 (21)

                                                  Manoj 2/20 (2)

                                                  Siddharth 2/32 (4)

                                               

Desi Boys:                                  7/170 in 20 overs

                                                  Rohit 46* (25)  

                                                  Pradeep 31 (18)

                                                  Bhavdeep 30 (36)

                                                  Bittoo 2/31 (4)

                                                 

Man of the Match:                       Rohit (Desi Boys)

Best Performer Dilli Wallahs:      Bittoo

Complete Scorecard:                  http://bit.ly/121OwBS

Desi Boys Clinch Last Ball Thriller

The two teams before the start

Sunday began with a white sightscreen and a white set of stumps. After a good 3 weeks we had a red ball match, and it was quite a change for the eyes! It also turned out to be the closest and most exciting match of our weekend.

Not many people would get excited over a friendly match between two Sunday teams. But this game proved, once again, that you don’t need the likes of Dhoni, Kohli and Warner to create thrill in a cricket match. Two enthusiastic sides, both equally eager to end winners, are all that’s needed.

Chase at the Death – The ‘Rohit’ Factor

The thrilling climax began when opener Bhavdeep was clean bowled by Bittoo in the 14^th over, trying to slog him out of the park. Team Desi Boys still needed 70 off 39 balls, and Sumit and Rohit were both new to the crease. 6 wickets still stood, but momentum was clearly with the Dilli Wallahs. Rohit, a diminutive batsman with deceptive power off both front and back foot, clearly carried his team’s hopes. He and Sumit put on a brisk 20-run partnership with singles and doubles round the park, till Jagneer delivered a crucial blow, clean bowling Sumit.

Players look on as the excitement heats up!

With 50 needed off 25, a big over was the need for the batters. That is exactly what the 17^th turned out to be. Left-arm spinner Amit bowled 5 full tosses and Rohit obliged, slamming a six and a four to get 16. Rohit batted with energy and purpose, cutting out dot balls and running his own team out of breath with more doubles (and a 3) than we are accustomed to seeing in an entire match!

Last Over Drama

With 13 needed off the last over and Rohit on strike, the game was set for a dramatic finale. Jagneer’s first ball was spanked to long off, and Rohit coaxed Manoj to come back for a second. Bittoo’s throw, however, was dead accurate at the non-striker’s end. Manoj was run out for a well played 13. The next ball was an almost exact replay, except that the batsman run out by Bittoo on the second run was Gaurav, dismissed without facing. The fielding side had their collars up now. Rohit, undeterred, picked up another 2 doubles off the next two. Now with 7 needed off 2, a boundary was mandatory for team Desi Boys.

Rohit receiving the Man of the Match award

Jagneer, feeling the nerves, mis-directed the next one, and it turned out to be a full toss above the waist. The umpire signaled ‘no ball’, and Rohit pulled it for four. The Desi Boys team cheered wildly from the dugout. 2 from 2, and Rohit swatted the next one to long on for a single. With a single needed off the last ball of the match, Sunny was on strike for his first ball. Everyone came into the circle to prevent the one, and about 2 dozen spectators crowded the boundary line.

Dilli Wallahs Innings: Wide Balls and 30-run Cameos

The dramatic game had a rather sedate start. Desi Boys, bowling first, struck the first blow in the second over, as Siddharth clean bowled Mark off his first ball. 12 balls later, Bittoo edged medium pacer Sunny to the keeper, and the fielding side had the upper hand. Puneet, who is also playing our LFL tournament for team TCS, came out to the middle and punched an exquisite boundary off his fourth ball straight back past the bowler. He didn’t last long though, as he was caught and bowled off Rohit for 12 in the 8^th over.

The runs kept ticking however, and the 32 wides that the Desi Boys sent down certainly didn’t help their cause. Amit Khosla (30), Sumit (27), and Jagneer (29 not out in 19 balls) all played useful hands, and aided by the extras, they took the score up to 166. The only two sixes of the innings were hit by Jagneer off the bowling of Dheeraj. Medium pacer Chaman was the only bowler who managed to keep the runs in check, conceding only 23 from his 4 overs.

Stifled Chase

The two best performers - Bittoo (left) and Rohit

Encouraged by their score, the Dilli Wallahs came out strong and opener Chaman was dismissed in the 3^rd over by Bheeshm. His powerful cut was judged to perfection and caught safely by Amit at point. Siddharth and Bhavdeep were bogged down by the good deliveries in an erratic spell of bowling in which the Dilli Wallahs alternated between a sharp line-length and wide balls. Siddharth was bowled by Puneet in the 7^th over, and after 10, the Desi Boys were only 58.

Puneet decided that the chase was getting out of hand, and he cut loose in the 11^th over, carting Bheeshm for 6 straight over his head. He got another two sixes in the next over by Bittoo, over mid-wicket and long on before being clean bowled in the same over for 31. Bhavdeep played a useful 30, and the 3^rd wicket partnership set the grounds for Rohit to play his defining innings.

Finale

It all came down to the last ball. Sunny swung and found the gap between point and short third-man for four. The entire Desi Boys team spontaneously ran to the center, and the celebrations were reminiscent of a world cup triumph.

Rohit was the obvious man of the match for his 46 not out and 2 wickets. The best performer for team Dilli Wallahs was Bittoo for his spell of 4-0-31-2, and his two crucial run outs in the last over. During the presentation, Matt announced that this was actually the last in a 3-match series, and they had come locked one-all. What a fitting end!

LFL Match 11: HDFC Bank vs SRT XI

Brief Scores

SRT XI:                 8/190 in 20 overs

                        Sachin 41 (24)

                        Addy 37 (16)

                        Anuj 33 (28)

                        Sant Ram 3/29 (4)

                        Jannat 2/31 (4)

                       

HDFC Bank:              165 all out in 19.5 overs

                        Sant Ram 50 (33)

                        Dharminder 26 (18)

                        Rahul 3/16 (3)

                        Sachin 2/31 (4)

                         

Man of the Match:             Addy (SRT XI) and Sant Ram (HDFC Bank)

Complete Scorecard:           http://bit.ly/1tdyz0U   

SRT XI Clinch a Thriller

HDFC Bank and SRT XI had faced off earlier this month in a practice match. HDFC had won a one-sided encounter, and followed it up with an emphatic win against Shekh Sarai XI to start their LFL campaign. Their confidence was noticeably high, and their players expected to bag this one without much fuss. They were in for a surprise.

Sachin and Anuj Power SRT To Solid Start

Sachin pulls one for six

SRT XI won the toss and elected to bat first. The openers Shivam and Anuj, as well as most of the side were unchanged from the practice match, but in two overs it was clear that this was not the same team. First Anuj and then Shivam cracked boundaries off loose balls, and their team-mates applauded their intent vigorously from the dugout. With the score 23 in the 3^rd over, however, Shivam squandered the good start with a loose pull shot off Manav’s medium pace. He was caught comfortably at square leg, but SRT XI was not about to throw this away.

Sachin joined Anuj in the middle, and they constructed a partnership with a lot of application. Both batsmen waited for loose balls and cashed in on every opportunity. The Powerplay overs yielded regular boundaries. Sloppy fielding helped their cause, and after 6 overs SRT XI were a solid 59/1. Anuj and Sachin both have punchy techniques, and Sachin especially is not afraid to lift the ball and take on fielders. He lofted off-spinner Raja for a big six – the first of the innings – in the 8^th over, and HDFC now looked worried.

Gurjeet finally got the breakthrough his team needed in the 9^th, as Anuj (33) was caught at long-off going for his first six. Undeterred, Sachin unleashed a six and 2 boundaries off the very next over, till Jannat eventually cut his innings short in the 11^th. A mis-timed hit landed safely in the hands of the fielder in the deep. Sachin’s belligerent 41, however, had set a launch-pad for the others.

Four Balls, Four Catches Dropped!

Sant Ram has Mohan stumped

The 12^th over was the most bizarre one of the match, and perhaps even the tournament. Left arm spinner Sant Ram deceived the two new batsmen Rahul and Mohan no less than 4 times in his first over. Each time they scooped the ball for a simple catch, and each time the chance was spilled. The comedy of errors began as Rahul lofted the first ball to long-off. The fielder tried to catch it palm up, but the ball ricocheted off his hands for six. Rahul top-edged the next ball for a simple return catch, but both bowler and wicket-keeper called for it and the ball fell between them. Then Mohan lifted one to cover, but the fielder lost the ball in the sun and backed away. Another one was spilled at square leg off the last ball.

Late-over Rescue by Addy Lifts SRT to 190

Addy smashed a rapid 37

Rahul was finally dismissed by Jannat in the next over as Mukul managed to hold on to a catch, and Sant Ram had the last laugh over Mohan, as he missed a swipe and ended up stumped. 124/5 looked uncomfortable for the batting side, and they desperately needed a counter-punch of their own. That is precisely what Addy gave them, with some fabulous late-over hitting under pressure. He punished Jannat, Gurjeet and then Sant Ram with clean hits straight down the ground. In the 18^th over – Sant Ram’s last – he hit a four and a six before being caught off the last ball. His 37 came off 16 balls, and powered by that effort, SRT XI reached an impressive 190.

Teams Exchange Blows, Match in the Balance

HDFC certainly believed in the chase. They had 198 in their first game, and in Dharminder, they had one of the biggest hitters of the tournament. Raja started promisingly with a four and a six, but he was bowled playing across the line by medium pacer Devendra in the 3^rd over. That brought the dangerous Dharminder to the middle. He sounded a warning immediately, smacking a straight six in the same over. He took 15 off Devendra’s next, and after 6 overs HDFC were 54/1 and on track.

Sant Ram pulls one for four

The big punch came in the 8^th over. Dharminder (26) planted his foot out to off-spinner Gaurav and lofted one over long off. It was mis-timed, however, and Sachin completed a safe catch at the boundary. Sachin, bowling from the other end, followed up this effort with a fabulous one-handed return catch to dismiss Prashant. The opener had looked solid and composed for his 25 but he was out at the wrong time. Sachin got another breakthrough in the 11^th over, with Vivek caught at long on. At 92/4, HDFC needed a big effort from Sant Ram and Gurjeet.

Sant Ram Thumps a Fifty, Rahul Spins a Win

They lifted their team’s hopes with a rapid partnership. The highlight was Sant Ram’s 3 reverse hits for boundaries past point. Gurjeet began the 16^th over began with a four and a six, and the tide was turning in HDFC’s favor. However, the third ball of the over gave SRT a crucial break. Gurjeet’s attempt to clear long off fell in Sachin’s waiting hands.

Addy and Sant Ram (right) were the joint MoM

With 30 needed in 2 overs, Sant Ram held all the cards for HDFC. However, he was out bowled off Rahul’s first ball that stopped on him and turned. That began a sensational spell of 4 wickets in 4 balls, as SRT sealed the match. Manan was out LBW next ball, then Jannat was run out going for a second run, and finally, Mukul was out caught. Rahul, mixing up off-spin and leg-breaks, had delivered the final punch. Prashant was cleaned up by Mohan in the last over, concluding one of the most dramatic games of our tournament.

Addy and Sant Ram were adjudged joint Man of the Match for their impressive contributions under pressure. With previous tournament finalists Stoners still to play a game, Group C is now wide open.

LFL Match 10: Flamin Starz vs Amity XI

Brief Scores

Flamin Starz:           3/224 in 20 overs

                        Himanshu 105* (61)

                        Vivek 45 (19)

                        Rajnish 26 (12)

                       

Amity XI:               9/134 in 20 overs

                        Dhruv 33* (19)

                        Parveen PK 4/17 (4)

                        Dinesh 3/19 (4)

                        Rajnish 1/1 (2)

                       

Man of the Match:                   Himanshu (Flamin Starz)

Best Performer for Amity XI:        Dhruv

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

Himanshu Ton Powers Flamin Starz to a Big Win

Flamin Starz had already lost a very close tournament opener against TCS, and this was a must-win game for them. Amity XI (played as SRT XI in the previous tournament) had had been let down by their batting last time round, and with this fresh start, they were looking to set the score straight.

Naveen and Himanshu Give a Solid Start

Launched for six

Amity XI won the toss and gave their bowlers first go on the lively morning wicket. Flamin Starz were missing their star opening batsman Anjeev, and they left it to Himanshu to fill that gap. He looked equal to the task too. In the early overs, both openers expressed their intent clearly. They were not going to blast through. Rather, they were playing for a solid start, with the aim of giving their later batsmen a strong platform from which to accelerate. The opening seamers Dhruv and Harshit helped their case by throwing down 6 wides and a no-ball, and off-spinner Jyotir bowled short and wide to concede 3 easy boundaries in the 5^th over. At the end of the Powerplay overs, the score was 45 for no loss, and the two openers had not yet even tried to hit a six.

Vivek scored a rapid 45

The first six of the match came in the 8^th over, as Himanshu hit one straight back over Jyotir’s head. Two balls later, Naveen doubled the tally. Finally, left-arm spinner Rajat gave his side something to cheer in the 10^th over, as Naveen mistimed a slog sweep and was caught by Jyotir at midwicket. However, there was no switch in momentum coming, and Himanshu underlined his team’s advantage with a six and a four in the same over. With 80 after 10 and Himanshu well set, Flamin Starz looked ready to launch. 

Rapid-fire Partnership

Amity XI’s bowlers looked off color on the day, and they constantly bowled either too full or too short, and gave the batsmen enough width to free their arms. Himanshu and Vivek cashed in famously, putting on 88 runs in 38 balls including 22 off Paras’ only over. By the time Vivek edged one to the wicket-keeper off Rajat, he had scored 45 from 19 balls, and the innings had taken off into free hitting zone.

No Holds Barred Hitting

Himanshu, after his memorable hundred

Himanshu now zoned into the straight arc, slamming frequent hits between midwicket and cover. One of his 7 sixes fell well over 100 meters back, halfway down the next farm. He reached his hundred – the second of our tournament – with a boundary, to loud cheers from his team. Amity XI never saw the back of him as he ended with 105 not out in 61 balls. It was a masterfully paced innings, and he had launched himself into top gear at just the right time. Rajnish joined him for a 12-ball 26 in the end and PK hit the only two balls he faced for boundaries, as Flamin Starz ended with an impressive 224/3.

Early Knock-out

Rajnish bowled a remarkable spell of 2-1-1-1

Amity XI looked deflated as they came out to bat, and they never threatened the total. They lost their top 3 batsmen in the Powerplay overs, and as Abhinav was dismissed off the last ball of the 6^th over, the score read a dismal 24/3. Rajnish had bowled a masterful spell of left-arm spin (2-1-1-1), and seamers Gurdeep (4-0-20-3), Dinesh (4-0-19-3) and PK (4-0-17-4) backed up the effort, bowling without any pressure and displaying impressive control and accuracy.

Himanshu and Dhruv, the two best performers

When the 8^th wicket fell for 96 in the 16^th over, it looked like the match was set for an early end. However, Dhruv, walking out at 8-down, gave his team something to cheer when he hit Ricky for two sixes in the 17^th over, and then PK for a further 2 sixes off the last two balls of the innings. His 19-ball 33 earned him the Best Performer award for Amity XI.

The Man of the Match, without any doubt, was Himanshu for his excellent hundred. Before this weekend we had no hundreds the entire season, and now we had two in two days. Finally, the contest for the fastest hundred is heating up…

LFL Match 9: AV Group vs Rajasthan Realtors

Brief Scores

Rajasthan Realtors:     115 all out in 19.3 overs

                        Sahaan 3/20 (4)

                        Kamaldeep 2/13 (4)

                        Dilshad 2/20 (4)                   

                       

AV Group:               5/119 in 14 overs

                        Ajay 27 (33)

                        Kamaldeep 25 (12)

                        Abhishek 0/10 (3)

                        Prateek 2/23 (2)

                       

Man of the Match:                   Kamaldeep (AV Group)

Best Performer for Raj Realtors:    Abhishek

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

AV Group Bowlers Dominate

Everyone anticipated an intense battle. Team Rajasthan Realtors consists of the same pool of players that won the previous tournament as CSCA. AV Group, on their part, played solid cricket in their first 2 games, but a defeat in their previous outing meant that this was a must-win game for them.

Solid Start for Rajasthan Realtors

Kunj bowls with good pace

Team AV Group prefers the chase, so it was no surprise when they won the toss and put Rajasthan Realtors in. RR flew off the blocks, however, with Ashu smashing the first 3 balls of the innings for boundaries. His knock was a short-lived cameo, though, as he mis-judged a straight length ball from seamer Dilshad in the 2^nd over and heard his stumps rattle. Left-handed batsman Sawan joined captain Prateek and a period of sensible batting followed. They cut risks and punished bad balls, keeping the heat on. In 7 overs, Rajasthan Realtors were a promising 60/1 and they looked set for a big launch.

Turning Point

Wicket-keeper Mohsin stands up to medium pacers 

However, Wicket-keeper Mohsin turned the tide the very next ball, affecting a brilliant stumping off medium pacer Kamaldeep to dismiss Prateek for 19. Two balls later, Sawan threw his wicket with a suicidal attempt to clear long off. His mis-timed shot only reached as far as Md Atik at long off, who pocketed the catch safely. The double blow became a triple one, as Devinder, one of the big performers from the previous tournament, also gifted his wicket with an attempted six off Aditya in the next over. At 63/4, Rajasthan Realtors now looked to be in trouble, and Kamaldeep and Aditya kept the pressure on with their accurate medium pace bowling.

AV Group Bowlers Subdue Opposition

The runs dried up as Sandeep and Mridul proceeded to consolidate. They were clearly playing for a late over acceleration, and when Sandeep finally decided to cut loose, his first attempt was mis-timed and dropped to Md Atik, who completed another catch at deep midwicket. In 14 overs, Rajasthan Realtors were now 95/5 and they desperately needed someone to take charge. However, Sahaan John’s crafty off-spin paired with nagging medium pace bowling from the other end proved to be a bigger challenge than the batsmen could digest on the day, and RR folded up in the last over for 115.

An Easy Chase

Kamaldeep launched 3 sixes in an over

A total as small as that is nearly impossible to defend on a relatively small ground where the ball’s coming on to the bat. Ajay and Vishal, batting pressure-free, put together a solid and comfortable start before Vishal was dismissed by a bizarre run out in the 8^th over. He punched a shot through covers and walked towards the non-striker end casually, watching the ball speed away for a boundary. Ajay at the non-striker end seemed to be napping, and he didn’t watch the ball stop in the grass. By the time the two batsmen noticed that the fielder in the deep had sent the ball back to the wicketkeeper, they were stranded on the other end. Vishal was livid as he walked off.

The joy for Rajasthan Realtors was short-lived, as Kamaldeep came in and immediately blasted 23 off left-arm spinner Ajay Chauhan’s next over, including 3 big sixes. Chauhan was the Man of the Series in the previous tournament, but today was not his day. Kamaldeep and Ajay were eventually dismissed in successive overs by Chirag and Prateek respectively, but by then the game was sealed. Kunj and Mohsin unfurled 4 big sixes and AV Group cantered home in the 14^th over, winning comfortably by 5 wickets.

Strong Team Performance

Abhishek (left) hands Kamaldeep the MoM award

AV Group is not a team is over-dependent on one or two individuals, and once again they had put together a solid team performance. Kamaldeep was adjudged the Man of the Match for his razor sharp spell of medium-pace (4-0-13-2), followed up by a 12-ball 25. For Rajasthan Realtors, the best performer was fast bowler Abhishek. Abhishek is the only bowler in the tournament who is genuinely quick, and although he did not pick up any wickets, his rapid spell of 3-1-10-0 gave the two openers some nervous moments.

With a healthy net run-rate, AV Group is almost through to the quarter-finals. Rajasthan Realtors need big wins in their next two games to give themselves a chance. They have all to play for…  

LFL Match 8: Star XI vs Empire CC

Brief Scores

Star XI:                6/282 in 20 overs

                        Anuj Meena 125* (54)

                        Rohan 74 (25)

                        Rahul 54 (23)                      

                       

Empire CC:              9/151 in 20 overs

                        Jitesh 47 (27)

                        Sachin 44 (38)

                        Prashant 3/28 (4)

                        Sonu 2/27 (4)

                       

Man of the Match:                   Anuj Meena (Star XI)

Best Performer for Empire CC:       Jitesh

Complete Scorecard:                 http://bit.ly/1zvEcg7  

Power Hitting Unleashed

Batting records tumbled for the season over 90 minutes of batting demolition. Anuj Meena reached his hundred – the first of the tournament and our season – with successive sixes. It was a fitting conclusion to a run feast.

Anuj winding up to hit one out of the park

His 54-ball whirlwind yielded 125 runs, including 10 boundaries and a record 10 sixes. From the other end, Rahul and Rohan delivered their own knock-out blows, reaching their half centuries in 22 and 17 balls respectively.

Anuj Slams Season’s First Hundred

The rapid fire innings began rather tamely for Star XI, with opener Mohit bowled by Avinash in the 3^rd over, the very next ball after Empire CC dropped a sitter at mid on. That was the first and only cheer for the fielding side, while the dropped catch served as a threat that their weakness in catching might well be exposed. That is just what happened along the course of the run riot that began in the 4^th over with Anuj’s hook for six off Empire captain Deepak’s medium pace.

The second dropped catch came in the 6^th over, after Anuj launched 3 consecutive boundaries off the bowling of off-spinner Naveen. The last ball of the over was flighted temptingly, but also held back a bit in the air. Anuj was deceived playing a sweep, and the skier was juggled and then dropped at square leg. Anuj got his second life in the 12^th over, with another agonizing dropped catch for Empire.

Demolition men: Rohan (left), Anuj (center), and Rahul

He made most of it, batting with a combination of power and smart placement. Anuj’s run scoring is all about picking full deliveries that are in his hitting zone, striking through the ball and clearing the boundary. And the big hitting is tempered by good judgment. Rahul, on the other hand, plays with a more classic technique, relying on quick footwork to get into good positions and timing and bat-speed to clear fielders.

Rohan’s 17-ball Fifty Lifts Star XI to 282

With Rahul and Sanjay both dismissed in the 12^th over by Naveen, Rohan (Man of the Match in the previous game) walked in eagerly. The score was 125, and he had the perfect launch-pad to unleash his aggressive stroke-play. That he did, smashing 74 off 25 balls (9 sixes) in a 133-run partnership with Anuj off 47 balls. His 17-ball fifty is the fastest of the tournament so far. The team as a whole smashed 26 sixes, another tournament and season record. All in all, the Star XI batsmen were ruthless in their attack on the slow, flighted bowling that the Empire spinners employ. In the absence of reliable fielders, it is evident that the bowlers will need to adapt and vary their pace and flight to avoid a similar fate in the next game.

Promising Start to Near Impossible Chase

Sachin played a spirited innings

A 283-run chase is a daunting prospect, and Empire CC were never really in it, although they did compile a few batting highlights of their own. Opener Sachin took four boundaries off medium-pacer Mohit’s second over, including a classic straight drive, scoops over cover, and a cut past point. Star XI got a breakthrough in the 4^th over, however, with Gyanendra out trying to hit pacer Nitesh out of the park. Kanishk took a fine catch, moving backwards from extra cover and comfortably waiting for the ball to drop into his hands.

The first six of the innings and the second wicket both came off the 7^th over. Deepak lifted left-arm spinner Prashant for a big hit, before mistiming the penultimate ball of the over, and sending a high catch straight into Nitesh’s hands at cover.

Fielding Masterclass

Jitesh receiving the Star Performer award for his belligerent 47

Nitesh is the star of one of the best fielding units of this tournament, and he proved his worth with a remarkable effort in the 11^th over. Sachin got hold of a full delivery from Prashant and lifted it back straight over the bowler’s head. The ball seemed to be heading over Nitesh at long off for a six. However, just as the ball crossed him, he outstretched one hand and took a stunning catch right on the boundary rope. Then, as he fell over, he threw the ball back into play. The catch was not completed, but he had saved a certain six. Two balls later, Sachin was caught at deep mid-wicket by Rohan for 44. Kanishk reinforced Star XI’s fielding class by taking a remarkable return catch off his own bowling in the 17^th over.

Anuj receiving the Man of the Match award

Jitesh played a lone hand for Empire in the later overs, stroking a rapid 47 from 27 balls, before Sonu dismissed him in the 18^th. He walked away with the Star Performer award for Empire CC. The Man of the Match decision was a no-contest. The question now is whether Anuj Meena’s run scoring record will stand for the rest of the season. Let’s wait and watch...