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...