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.
Ashish supported him ably, giving him much of the strike
during the unbeaten 114-run partnership, and himself finished with 40 not out.
Acrobatic Kamaldeep saves a certain six! |
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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