Thursday, 29 January 2015

LFL Final Match: AV Group vs Flamin Starz

Brief Scores

Flamin Starz:                                        8 / 167 in 20 overs
                                                            PK 63 (33)
                                                            Anjeev 27 (16)
                                                            Sahaan 3/27 (4)
                                                            Dilshad 3/34 (4)
                                                            Sanjeev 2/18 (4)
                                                                                                                                   
AV Group:                                            2 / 171 in 17 overs
                                                            Kunj 74* (32)
                                                            Ashish 40* (33)
                                                            PK 1/30 (4)
                                                                                               
Man of the Match:                                 Kunj Sharma (AV Group)
Best Performer:                                    PK (Flamin Starz)

Complete Scorecard:                           http://bit.ly/1vauzG4  


PK Bats Flamin Out of a Hole Before Kunj Delivers Shut Out

If there was one side that was most likely to challenge AV Group’s clinical form in this tournament, it was the batting powerhouse of Flamin Starz. With Anjeev at the top, followed by Vivek and Kaushik in the middle order, and finally the brutal hitting force of Himanshu and Jaideep, Team Flamin had the might to wobble AV Group’s efficient and balanced bowling attack.

Flamin Starz Batting Might Implodes, Team Collapses to 66 / 6

Anjeev gave Flamin Starz a promising start, but the top order collapsed
That all the names listed above would fail to deliver impact and Flamin Starz would still land a threatening blow with their aggressive batting was the story of the day and testament to the depth in the side. In fact, it was the team’s best bowler, leg-spinner PK, who rocked the AV Group party with the bat. PK walked out to bat at 64 / 5 in the 11th over that quickly turned to 66 / 6 in the 12th, when Kaushik was caught at long on off a meek Sanjeev full-toss. Flamin Starz had lost 4 for 6 in 3 overs, and at this point the disheartened expressions in the dugout reflected the state of the scoreboard and clearly suggested that the anti-climactic final was heading to a swift closure.

PK and Himanshu Trigger Revival

PK started watchfully, before exploding
PK, however, was not about to throw in the towel, and Himanshu, walking out at no 8, decided that it was too late for caution. On their last thread, Flamin Starz finally got back some momentum. Himanshu launched the action in the 13th over, picking off-spinner Sahaan for a straight six, before sweeping Sanjeev for another maximum in the next over. Both batsmen helped themselves to sixes in the 15th over, again off Sahaan, before the bowler finally struck back with his third wicket, rattling Himanshu’s stumps with a ball that squeezed between bat and pad.

PK Blasts AV Group in Last Quarter

PK slammed 8 sixes and 4 fours on course to 63
101/ 7 was still trouble, but PK was in a feisty mood now, and he single-handedly rattled the AV Group unit in the last quarter of the innings with a shower of boundaries that rocketed the scoreboard and turned the match. With a simple technique that involves clearing his front leg and belting the ball with a free swing of the arms, the middle of his bat was wider on the day than anything the AV bowlers sent down at the death. Atik was launched for a straight six in the 16th, before Kunj’s pace was bulleted to the mid wicket and square leg fences for a couple of boundaries and a six in the 17th. Kunj fared no better in his last over, the 19th of the innings, in which he was punished for a straight six and a brace of boundaries. In all, PK slammed 7 four and 4 sixes in a 21-ball spell, lifting his team to a more than competitive 167 / 8 in 20 overs, himself finishing with 63 from 33 balls.

Dilshad and Mohsin Give AV Chase Promising Start

Sahaan John triggered a collapse, picking up 3/27
A rejuvenated Flamin Starz team took the field with energy and purpose. Captain Gurdeep, having heard of Dilshad’s destructive hitting of seamers in the semi final, opened the attack with left-arm spinner Rajnish. Dilshad and Mohsin, however, are sharp and experienced batsmen and faced with a limited target, they could afford to wait for loose balls. They got a few in the opening 4-over spell from Rajnish and Anjeev, and they helped themselves to boundaries both sides of the wicket. PK came on in the 5th over, and ended a tight over with a short ball that Dilshad pulled for six to take the score to 45.

Double Strike for Flamin Starz

Just as the game was slipping out of their fingers, Flamin Starz bounced back with a double strike, removing both openers in 3 balls. First Himanshu removed Mohsin in the 6th over, caught by Jaideep at extra cover for 20.Then PK got the big wicket of Dilshad off the first ball of the 7th with one that skidded straight on, beating an attempted sweep and trapping the batsman plumb. This turned out to be PK and Flamin Starz’ final success in a highly productive tournament littered with highlights.

Kunj and Ashish Dominate, Seal Title for AV Group

Kunj blasted AV Group to an emphatic win
AV Group’s burly all-rounder Kunj Sharma finally justified the big reputation he carried into the tournament, demonstrating some of the cleanest and most authoritative ball striking we saw all season. If the occasion of the final match at all exerted any pressure upon the players, Kunj seemed totally impervious to it along the course of his 32-ball 74. He cleared fielders and boundaries with ease both sides of the wicket, slamming 8 sixes. The first ball he faced was scorched past extra cover for four and the very next one was flicked for six as Himanshu strayed on to the pads.

Ashish made a key contribution in the 113-run partnership
Kunj picked up two leg side sixes off Jaideep in the 8th over, before topping PK over mid-wicket in the 9th. In spite of Kunj’s aggressive start, the match was still in the balance at the halfway point with AV Group 87 / 2. However, Team Flamin Starz never got the breakthrough they needed, and AV Group were in reality only two big overs away from an easy win. The 12th and the 14th, bowled by Dinesh and Himanshu respectively, were the ones they needed. Dinesh leaked 19 runs, as Ashish and Kunj both helped themselves to sixes, before Kunj tucked himself into Himanshu’s gentle pace, slamming 4-6-4-6 in a four-delivery spell that shut the game out for his team.
Acrobatic Kamaldeep saves a certain six!
Ashish supported him ably, giving him much of the strike during the unbeaten 114-run partnership, and himself finished with 40 not out.


Fittingly, Kunj finished the match and the tournament with a big six off Hoshiyar, and spontaneously his team dugout erupted in celebration. After starting with a 4-run defeat against Star XI, AV Group had justified their billing as favorites for the title. Kunj was the Man of the Match without any doubt, while PK was the equally obvious choice for best performer from his side. With 17 wickets in the tournament, capped by a stunning fifty in this match, PK also walked away with the Man of the Series trophy.

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