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
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 3rd 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 5th
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.
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