The
prospect of the first game of the LiveSport Festival League had us really
excited. For the first time, we were going to have white ball T20 action at our
ground. This tournament brings us other firsts as well - our first 16 team
tournament and the first time we had a super-sub rule in place. Basically, we
couldn't wait to get started!
LFL Match 1: Hindustan Tiles vs Globrix Consultants
The Globrix Innings: One-man
Show
As
soon as the two teams claimed their tournament jerseys, it was time for the
action to get underway.
Hindustan Tiles won the toss and elected to field
first. No surprise there - they wanted to use the juice in the early morning
wicket. It was a good decision too, as Globrix Consultants – playing for the
first time at our ground – lost two wickets in the Powerplay overs. Both
openers were dismissed in quick succession by Ajay and Sachin, both caught at
the boundary. In 4 overs, the score read 29 for 2. Soon after, one-down batsman
Anuj was clean bowled by Sudesh in his first over for 16. Sudesh was the best
bowler of our previous tournament, and with the new white ball too, his line,
length and control seemed immaculate. At 47 for 3 in the 7th over,
Globrix were looking uncomfortable.
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| Team Globrix Consultants |
Yatin,
their number 4 batsman, held the key to their innings, and he began to rebuild
with Raghav’s support. They put on a 60-run partnership, playing safe and
sensible cricket. With the score reading 107 for 3, Hindustan Tiles brought
back medium pacer Sachin, and he immediately got a breakthrough. Raghav was
caught by Manish for 16, trying to hoick one out of the park. No one else got
among the runs, and Yatin’s 56 from 38 balls was a lone hand. He stroked the
ball all around the park, batting with control, power and elegance. Sudesh
finally had him caught at the boundary, and he ended with figures of 3 for 18
from his 4 overs. Once again, his left-arm spin had choked the batsman and
forced them into mistakes.
The Chase: Stifled and
Choked
133
is not a hard target on our wicket, and Hindustan Tiles were hopeful. Team
Globrix, however, came out fighting, and the way their two medium pacers (Ankit
and Vishal) bowled rang a clear message – HT would have to fight for their
runs. After 6 overs, the openers were still there, but the score read only 30
and we could see the pressure building. Yatin, the star batsman, came on to
bowl in the 7th over and immediately got the breakthrough that
seemed imminent.
Gaurav was gone for 23, trying to hit him out of the park.
That opened the floodgates for leg-spinner Paras. Rahul tried to smash one
across the line, and was caught by Ankit. His 4 had come off 22 balls. Alex was
out the very next ball, and Paras found himself on a hat-trick. He got real
close, beating Manish’s outside edge on the first ball. Then off the last ball
of the over, Sameer was out caught for 6. Hindustan Tiles had lost 3 wickets in
an over, and were reeling at 4/43.
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| The best performers from Match 1, Sudesh and Nippun |
Nippun,
a tall off-spinner, was the next to come on to bowl, and he got dangerous
batsmen Ajay and Sachin to pretty much shut the game out at 6/58. Manish was
still there, however, and he gave HT some hope with 3 towering sixes off Paras.
Nippun had him caught at the boundary for 21 to deliver the final blow. Nippun
finished with 5/19 from his 4 overs and the Man of the Match award, as HT were
skittled out for 108. Sudesh was the best performer of the match from Team
Hindustan Tiles.
Globrix Consultants: 7/132 in 20 overs
Yatin 56 (38)
Sudesh 3/18 (4)
Sachin 2/18 (4)
Hindustan Tiles: 108 all out in 18.4 overs
Nippun 5/19 (4)
Paras 3/31 (4)
Man of the match: Nippun
Best Performer for Hindustan
Tiles: Sudesh
Kumar ‘Billa’
Complete scorecard: http://bit.ly/1x7Fz5b
LFL Match 2: Empire Cricket Club vs AV Group
Our
second match of the inauguration day was played between two new teams, Empire
Cricket Club and AV Group. This was an exciting prospect, as we had no idea
about the capabilities of the two teams, and we were about to see 24 new
players take field. Empire Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Empire CC Innings:
Deepak Special
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| Empire CC |
Sachin
and Rajender opened the innings for Empire Cricket Club, and they got off to a
flier, striking 29 off the first 2 overs. Rajender seems to have a penchant for
the cut shot, and he sliced Kunj and Wasim for 3 sixes over point. Wasim,
however, directed one dead on to the stumps on the last ball of the 2nd
over and had Rajender castled for 22. Empire lost their fizz after that, as
medium-pacer Dilshad pulled out 3 quick wickets. In the 7th over,
the batting side was reeling at 5/45. Captain Deepak was still there, however,
and he attacked the spinners with authority, tempering his aggression with
smart thinking. His batting is more about substance than style, and he has a
knack for picking up gaps. Naveen gave him great support, picking up a single
at every opportunity and giving him maximum strike.
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| Man of the Match Ajay |
With
the score at 113, Naveen finally retired hurt for 20 with a cramp. Like Yatin
in the previous game, that left Deepak to play a lone hand, and he ended with
an inspiring knock of 67 not out from 43 balls. That lifted Enpire CC to a
respectable 146 from their stipulated overs. Wasim and Dilshad were the best
bowlers, taking 4/29 and 3/17 respectively.
The Chase: Demolition Job
The
chase started with a promising breakthrough for Empire, as medium-pacer Avinash
had Manish LBW for 5 with the score on 18. That brought Ajay to the crease, and
along with captain Dilshad, he set a scorching pace, lifting the score to 64 in
the Powerplay overs.
Dilshad was finally gone in the 7th over, again
off the bowling of Avinash, but not before scoring a rapid 33, highlighted by 3
towering sixes. There was to be no respite, however, as Kunj came on to bat and
took a particular liking to the Empire spinners. He tonked 33 runs from 11
balls, smashing 3 sixes and 3 fours, before retiring hurt. AV Group chased the
runs comfortably in 14 overs, announcing themselves as one of the strongest
teams in the competition. Ajay carried his bat through for 55 not out from 37
balls, and walked away with the Man of the Match award. Deepak from Empire
Cricket Club was the Best Performer of the Match for his side, with his
stroke-filled 67 not out.
 |
| Deepak played an amazing knock |
Empire Cricket Club: 9/146 in 20 overs
Deepak 67 (43)
Wasim 4/29 (4)
Dilshad 3/17 (4)
AV Group: 3/149 in 14 overs
Ajay 55* (37)
Dilshad 33 (18)
Kunj 33* (11)
Avinash 2/26 (4)
Man of the Match: Ajay (AV Group)
Best Performer for Empire
CC: Deepak
Complete Scorecard: http://bit.ly/1AhUPjH
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