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
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 5th,
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 6th
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 9th,
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 14th. 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 14th
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 16th 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 2nd 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 4th over and watching his stumps rattle. The
left-armer sealed the game in his next over, the 6th,
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.
 |
| Nippun and Shwet - the two best performers |
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 19th 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.
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