DCL Match 11: SRT XI vs Vedic Naturals

Brief Scores

Vedic Naturals:                        8 / 165 in 20 overs

                                                            Devraj 62 (42)

                                                            Mahesh 35* (19)

                                                            Cristy 25 (22)

                                                            Shavez Khan 3/25 (4)

                                                            Sahaan John 2/29 (4)

                                                                                                                                   

SRT XI:                              3 / 171 in 17.1 overs

                                                            Shavez Khan 93 (50)

                                                            Rahul 28 (22)

                                                            Ankit 1/23 (3)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                        Shavez Khan (SRT XI)

Best Performer Vedic Naturals:          Devraj

JOSH TALKS Impact Performer:         Mahesh (Vedic Naturals)

Complete Scorecard:                  http://bit.ly/1EUDU86

All-rounder Shavez Khan Stars in Another Big Win for SRT XI

Early on in this tournament, four teams have clearly established their status as frontrunners for the trophy. On evidence of the games already played, it would be a big challenge for any of the other teams to halt the charge of the heavyweights – Opto, SRP XI, CCPL and SRT XI. The last of these, augmented by fresh sign-ups, flexed their considerable muscle against Vedic Naturals. In spite of a typically determined batting effort by Devraj and some heavy late hitting by Mahesh, SRT XI wrapped this one up without any fuss.

Devraj Lifts Vedic Naturals with an Aggressive Knock of 62

Devraj (l) receives the Best Performer award

Devraj joined Cristy at the stroke of the 3^rd over as Charan was removed by a slick piece of stumping by Shivam off medium pacer Mayank. Vedic Naturals were in a spot of trouble at that point at 14 / 2, but Cristy, undeterred, did what he does best – hit straight through the line of the ball. He deposited off spinner Shavez into the fields in the 4^th over, and from the other end, Devu found his range early, flicking Mayank to the fence in the 5^th and playing Shavez with the turn for a mid-wicket boundary and six over deep square leg in the 6^th over.

The promising stand between the side’s two best batsmen was terminated on the last ball of the 7^th, as off-spinner Sahaan sent Cristy back clean bowled, his off-drive beaten by flight and turn. Devu, however, continued unperturbed against the spin-dominated bowling attack, deploying the sweep shot effectively and picking up boundaries with ease. Left arm spinners Sachin and Anuj were both swung to the square leg fence. Binoo joined the party with a slog sweep for six in the 10^th, before becoming the 4^th to bite the dust, caught by Sachin at long-off off the bowling of Sahaan.

Nitesh returns from his aggressive unbeaten 35

Nitesh didn’t last long either, snapped up by Anuj to leave Vedic Naturals uncomfortably placed at 82 / 5. Devu was ready to launch into top gear, however. He slapped Sahaan for a midwicket six in the 14^th before swinging big in the 15^th off Anuj, twice clearing the leg side fence. Mahesh also collected a six of his own with a massive sweep shot that completed 20 runs in the over.

Devu’s knock of 62 was finally terminated by Shavez in the next over, as the charging batsman was beaten in the air and stumped by Shivam. The reliable glove-man completed his 3^rd stumping of the day in the same over as Ankit too left his crease and was tricked by Shavez. Mahesh (35) and Rashid (21) ensured that the batting side finished on a high. The latter, seamer by trade, picked up 4-6-4 off Sahaan in the 17^th while Mahesh helped himself to sixes off Amit and Mayank.

Opener Shavez Produces Brutal Knock of 93

In most circumstances 165 is a very competitive total, but it was made to look pedestrian as Shavez followed up his 3-wicket haul with one of the most explosive knocks of the tournament. Opener Shivam began the charge, picking up 14 off the first over bowled by skipper Arun, including an eye-catching straight drive for six. He was sent back by an excellent diving catch by Charan at square leg in the second over. That, however, was pretty much the only moment of joy for the fielding side.

Shavez (in blue) was the Man of the Match

For the next 8 overs, Rahul joined Shavez for a match-sealing 81-run stand, most of these coming of Shavez’ ruthless blade. In a four over spell between the 8^th and 11^th, Shavez slammed a brutal 55 runs in 17 balls, including 6 sixes. Rahul’s dismissal for 28 off the bowling of Devraj in the 10^th over was made to look insignificant in the midst of that onslaught.

The only regret for the SRT XI opener might have been that he missed out on the first hundred of the tournament by an agonizing 7 runs when he was dismissed caught and bowled off Arun’s bowling. SRT, nonetheless, cantered to a 7 wicket win and Shavez pocketed the Man of the Match award. Devraj was the best performer for Vedic Naturals for his knock of 62.

DCL Match 10: Valley Boys vs Stoners

Brief Scores

Stoners:                             5 / 192 in 20 overs

                                                            Shreyans 80* (59)

                                                            Bhaskar 26 (13)  

                                                            Karan 2/19 (2)

                                                                                                                                   

Valley Boys:                           7 / 166 in 20 overs

                                                            Hashim 57 (39)

                                                            Yawar 35 (24)

                                                            Siddharth 3/21 (4)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                        Shreyans (Stoners)

Best Performer Valley Boys:            Hashim

JOSH TALKS Impact Performer:        Siddharth (Stoners)

Complete Scorecard:                http://bit.ly/1CvcDs5

Opener Shreyans Strokes a Fluid Fifty as Stoners Complete Hard-fought Win

Graceful and effortless stroke-play, gliding the ball into gaps fluently, and the ability to build acceleration and momentum with unhurried smoothness is a rare talent in batsmanship, and in spite of the reputation for savage hitting that T20 cricket carries with it, we were lucky enough to see three such batsmen prosper in quick succession at the DCL. Akshay Raghav of Hindustan Tiles, Anuj Poddar of CCPL, and in this game, Shreyans from Stoners – each of them openers – expressed their talent without inhibition, all in a single weekend.

Akshar Dominates Early Passage

Unlike the other two, Shreyans took his time to get going. His first boundary came in the 9^th over of the innings, and till that time he had faced all of 18 balls. For the early part of the innings, he spent most of the time as passive spectator at the non-striker’s end. The early exchanges were dominated by his opening partner, Akshar.

Shreyans (l) receives the Man of Match award

Stoners got a lucky start, with the first ball of the morning by seamer Hashim misdirected for 5 wides. Akshar capped the over with an exquisite late cut boundary. He tonked another two off the next two overs, before slapping three successive boundaries in the 4^th. The first of these was a dropped catch at the deep third-man fence, but the next two – a glance and a pull – were as convincing as they come. Salim eventually got his own back, cutting short Akshar’s adventurous knock of 31 in the same over, caught by Wasim at square leg.

The big wicket of Ayush followed soon after in the 6^th, as the batsman stepped out to a back of length delivery and was clean bowled. As is usual, Ayush’s early disimissal dampened spirits in the Stoners dugout, but Shreyans lifted the mood significantly on the stroke of the 10^th over, twice presenting the full flow of his blade to slice the gap between deep cover and extra cover to perfection.

Shreyans Takes Control

At the halfway mark the score read a promising 84, and from then on any early reverses the Stoners suffered were banished from sight and mind by Shreyans’ crafty willow-work. Between the 11^th and 15^th overs, he picked off-spinner Nasir for 3 boundaries, two of them wristy flicks off his pads. From the other end, Varun picked up a leg side boundary and the innings first six off Rafiq in the 12^th. When Varun was dismissed, stumped off the bowling of off-spinner Karan in the 14^th, he had contributed a handy 26 in a partnership worth 67 that had swung the game Stoners’ way. Karan, however, brought momentum back in the balance two balls later with the wicket of Kartik, caught at deep extra cover.

Medium pacer Siddharth (l) was the Josh Talks Impact Performer

At 115 / 4, it could still be anyone’s morning, but Shreyans seized it convincingly in the last quarter of the innings. He targeted Karan in the 16^th, dispatching a sweep for four before deploying two straight drives for a four and a six. 20 were collected off the over, including 4 byes. Opening seamer Salim was the next to cop punishment in the 18^th, falling victim to another two straight drives.

Wicketkeeper batsman Bhaskar, so far content with giving Shreyans the strike, joined the party himself in the 19^th, lifting a six over extra cover off Hashim, before Shreyans once again threaded the off-side for two consecutive boundaries to move on to 80. Bhaskar went all out in the last over with a leg side six and flick for four to end with 26 not out in 13 balls. The 34-ball partnership with Shreyans had yielded 74, and Stoners ended at an imposing 192 / 5.

Hashim and Yawar Keep Valley Boys in the Hunt

A hard get for Valley Boys began on a positive note as the explosive Hashim took the attack back to Stoners with a six over long off in the first over. Kartik, bowling the 2^nd over, got one back for the fielding side just two balls into his spell, snapping up Wasim Sofi for 3. Hashim, nonetheless, continued in top gear, flicking a six very next ball and picking up two boundaries in the next over – a straight drive and a pull. Tariq also helped himself to a boundary in the 4^th, before he was yorked by Kartik.

While the scoreboard tilted in favor of team Stoners briefly after the second wicket, the dynamic duo of Hashim and Yawar put life back into the game with a rapid partnership that had Stoners sweating. Yawar opened his boundary account early on with a crisp straight drive in the 5^th over, before tucking into Kartik for a pull for four and a six over long off. Kartik committed a cricketing sin in the 10^th, putting down a simple catch offered by Hashim at long off. The score by now stood at 90 / 2 and the game hung in the balance.

The desperately needed breakthrough finally arrived in the 12^th over, as leg spinner Sid completed an excellent running catch off his own bowling, even as he collided with Mustafa who had run in from cover. Yawar was dismissed for a solid knock of 35. 10 balls later, the well set Hashim was caught at third man off an excellent over of tight bowling by medium pacer Siddharth. These were big blows for Valley Boys with 79 still needed off 40 balls.

Wickets Tumble but Valley Boys Fight On

Wasin and Karan fought on for the batting side, though, putting together a brisk partnership. The 15^th bowled by Mustafa turned out to be expensive, with Karan playing a switch hit to the fence, before Wasim smacked a straight six. The two carried the momentum into the next over with a boundary each of Siddharth. Wasim was stumped off leg spinner Neil in the 17^th, as he lifted his back leg on an attempted drive and Bhaskar dislodged the bails with lightning speed. Salim wasted no time, however, lofting a six off his second ball.

With 41 needed off the last 3 overs, Stoners were not yet out of the woods. Seamer Varun Mishra finally seized the day for them, conceding only 4 runs from a tight 19^th over. Valley Boys finally closed at 166. Hashim was their Best Performer for his excellent knock of 57, while Shreyans was the obvious choice for Man of the Match. Siddharth walked away with the JOSH Talks Impact Performer of the Day award for his excellent spell of 4 – 0 – 21 – 3.

DCL Match 9: CCPL vs Vedic Naturals

Brief Scores

Vedic Naturals:                        124 all out in 19.1 overs

                                                            Ankit 42 (27)

                                                            Arun 29* (23)

                                                            Pankaj 3/19 (4)

                                                            Manish 3/19 (3.1)

                                                                                                                                   

CCPL:                               0 / 125 in 14.1 overs

                                                            Anuj Poddar 70* (44)

                                                            Jogi 41* (43)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                         Anuj Poddar (CCPL)

Best Performer Vedic Naturals:          Ankit

JOSH TALKS Impact Performer:         Pankaj (CCPL)

Complete Scorecard:                 http://bit.ly/1xgv8bH

Bowlers and Opener Anuj Complete Emphatic Win for CCPL

It was not the best day for Vedic Naturals against a very strong CCPL side. The top 3 – Binoo, Cristy and star batsman Devraj – all got starts but they were all removed by right arm quick Pankaj in an energetic opening spell of pace and control. It began well for the batting side as Binoo lifted Pankaj for a six over long on first ball of the morning. Likewise, Cristy too started his day with a straight six, this one off Karan in the next over.

Pankaj (l) picked up 3 wickets early on

Pankaj struck the first blow for CCPL in the 3^rd with a short of length delivery that slid under Cristy’s attempted pull shot and rattled his stumps. Devraj punished Karan for two successive boundaries in the next over – a cut and a cover drive – before being trapped LBW by Pankaj in the 5^th. Binoo was deceived and bowled by a slower delivery in the same over to leave Vedic Naturals at 36 / 3.

Ankit and Arun Rescue Vedic Naturals with Record 9^th Wicket Partnership

Wickets tumbled quickly after that, and the moment of the morning came in the 12^th over as Roshan, the youngest player in the tournament at age 12, picked up the wicket of Nitish caught at long on. Roshan, Binoo’s son, was a last-minute addition to the CCPL side that was one player short. It turned out to be a memorable morning for the young man as he scored one over his dad’s side.

Father and son playing for opposite teams!

The wicket brought captain Arun to the middle, and the skipper, along with Ankit, displayed abundant verve and pluck, putting together a season record 9^th wicket partnership that lifted their side from the brink of disaster at 54 / 8. Ankit helped himself to two sixes in the 14^th over – straight and over cover – before launching Hamish over long off in the 15^th. Arun opened his boundary account in the next over with a six and a lucky inside edge for four off spinner Shaurya.

Ankit was finally dismissed by seamer Karan, caught at long on in the 19^th over. His 27-ball knock had yielded 42, including 4 sixes. His record 41-ball partnership with Arun was worth 68. When Charan was dismissed in the last over – leg spinner Manish’s 3^rd victim – Vedic Naturals has a respectable 124 on board and Arun, walking away with 29 not out, had reason to be proud of his effort.

Anuj and Jogi Complete Convincing 10-wicket Win

The score was a certain recovery but nowhere near enough to cause CCPL a concern. Opener Anuj, whose timing and effortless stroke-play is a treat to the eyes, took full advantage of the pressure-free environment, unfurling a complete range of strokes on course to an unbeaten 70 in 44 balls. He was ably supported by the imposing presence of Jogi, who scored a comfortably paced 41 not out.

Anuj and Jogi (l to r) sealed the game for CCPL

After Jogi punished 3 boundaries off Arun in the 3^rd over – two flicks and a sweep – the highlight of the innings came in the 5^th, as Anuj dispatched left-arm seamer Mahesh for four boundaries in 5 balls. The first was a classic cut – Anuj’s third off-side boundary of the innings – and as the seamer adjusted his line, he was picked out into the leg-side three times, Anuj using his wrists and bat flow to glide the ball between square leg and mid-wicket. The over highlighted the difficulties of bowling to a batsman with Anuj’s range of stroke-play.

CCPL cantered to a 10-wicket win in the 15^th over, and Anuj walked away with the Man of Match award for his 70 not out, speckled with 12 boundaries and a six. Ankit was the best performer for Vedic Naturals, and CCPL seamer Pankaj was awarded the Josh Talks Impact Performer Award for his spell of 4 – 0 – 19 – 3. 

DCL Match 8: Opto vs Flamin Starz

Brief Scores

Flamin Starz:                         8 / 120 in 20 overs

                                                            Vivek 52 (37)

                                                            Deepan 23 (24)

                                                            Gagan Sodhi 3/6 (4)

                                                            Ravi Dixit 3/15 (4)

                                                                                                                                   

Opto:                               2 / 124 in 13.4 overs

                                                            Sohail Rauf 68* (44)

                                                            Varun Anand 23* (20)

                                                            Anjeev 1/20 (4)                                                 

                                                           

Man of the Match:                        Gagan Sodhi (Opto)

Best Performer Flamin Starz:            Vivek

JOSH TALKS Impact Performer:         Sohail Rauf

Complete Scorecard:                     http://bit.ly/1DxO0Yn

Opto Seamers Gagan and Ravi Star in Thumping Win

After finishing finalists in the LiveSport Festival League, Flamin Starz were all set to get off the mark in the Delhi Champions League with a blockbuster encounter against a strong Opto side. In reality, though, the game did not turn out to be as competitive as anticipated, and credit for that goes to Opto’s terrible twosome, quicks Ravi Dixit and Gagan Sodi, left-arm and right-arm respectively. Bowling with spicy pace and impeccable control, they left a strong Flamin Starz top order floundering at 19 / 4 after 7 overs of dead precision.

Left-Right Seam Duo Bag 3 Wickets Apiece, Vivek Fights Back

After Ravi dismissed Anjeev off a feather-edge to the wicket keeper in the 4^th, Gagan took out Naveen and Vivek Bedi off consecutive deliveries in the next over, before removing Kaushik in the 7^th over. One-down batsman Vivek, who trains in Yuvraj Singh’s academy, was the only batter who took the fight to the opposition, cashing in on the spinners and scoring an impressive fifty against the run of play.

A punchy batsmen with attractive strokes and quick feet, who typically plays with a straight bat, he launched his onslaught with a boundary off leg-spinner Shankar in the 9^th over, before picking left-arm spinner Ajit for consecutive fours in the next, the first an exquisite cover drive, then a cut. Growing in confidence with every over, he slammed successive sixes off off-spinner Kane Joshi in the 13^th. He reached his fifty with a six off Ravi Dixit in the 19^th, before being clean bowled next ball.

Deepan and Rishab (23 and 20 not out) provided some support from the other end, saving Flamin Starz the blushes and lifting the side to a reasonably respectable 120 / 8. Deepan picked up a couple of sixes, before Rishab took 16 off the last over bowled by Kanwar, including a six and a four.

Sohail Rauf Stars in Opto Chase

The total was never going to be enough, however, and Opto completed the chase in under 14 overs, batting without pressure. Ishneet got them going with 3 boundaries in the 2^nd over off seamer Gurdeep, before both openers were sent back within the Powerplay overs. Kanwar was clean bowled by Anjeev in the 3^rd, and Vivek Bedi completed an excellent catch running back from mid on to send Ishneet back in the dugout in the 6^th over.

Those turned out to be the only two moments of cheer for Flamin Starz in the innings, as Sohail Rauf, an experienced batsman who combines brisk footwork with timing and all-round stroke play, shut them out with a classy and aggressive 68 from 44 balls. His knock consisted of 11 fours and 2 sixes, including three successive boundaries off Rishab in the 11^th over. Varun Anand ended with a safe 23 not out, and Opto announced themselves as favorites for the title with this convincing win.  

Gagan Sodhi walked away with the Man of the Match award for his top class opening spell of 4 – 1 – 6 – 3. For Flamin Starz, lone rider Vivek was Man of the Match for his fifty against the run of play. Opto is now almost through to the quarter-finals, while Flamin Starz have all to play for in their next game. 

DCL Match 7: Software One vs Hindustan Tiles

Brief Scores

Hindustan Tiles:                      4 / 198 in 20 overs

                                                            Akshay Raghav 98 (58)

                                                            Manish 50 (25)

                                                            Umang 1/23 (3)

                                                                                                                                   

Software One:                        9 / 187 in 20 overs

                                                            Manoj Jacob 54 (34)

                                                            Rakesh 38 (26)

                                                            Toshik 3/34 (4)                                                 

                                                            Parveen 3/40 (4)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                       Akshay Raghav (Hindustan Tiles)

Best Performer Software One:          Manoj Jacob

JOSH TALKS Impact Performer:       Manoj Jacob

Complete Scorecard:                    http://bit.ly/1DdR12p

Akshay Raghav Powers Hindustan Tiles to Narrow Win in High-scoring Match

Software One had played Hindustan Tiles in a couple of practice matches before, and when they won the toss they would have been wary of opener Akshay Raghav. He had got a fifty against them, but in timing, fluency, and aggression, that innings was no match for the one he played this day. From the time he took strike first ball of the morning till he was run out of the penultimate ball of the innings, he dominated the park. With the support of first Manish, then Nikhil, he set up an imposing total for his side that proved to be beyond the reach of a spirited Software One run chase.

Akshay Dominates with 98 from 58 Balls

Akshay (l) receives the MoM award from Jack, owner of DelhiByCycle

Strong both sides of the wicket, Akshay’s flowing stroke-play relies equally on timing and finding gaps in the field. From the time he flicked left-arm seamer Ashish for a boundary in the 2^nd over, he made batting look ridiculously easy. Repeatedly, the ball met the meat of his willow and was dispatched in vacant areas with power and razor sharp precision. He threaded the narrow spaces between long off and extra cover, and long on and deep midwicket a number of times, while also going aerial for 5 sixes – a new addition to his game.

The first of the sixes was a flick launched over midwicket off medium pacer Pradeep in the 3^rd over. Left arm seamer Umang was carted over mid off in the 6^th and seamer Sangu and off-spinner Rakesh were lofted back straight in the 16^th and 17^th overs respectively. Heartbreakingly for the run-hungry opener, he was stranded at the non-striker’s end at 98 with 2 balls to go, and when Toshik missed a slog, he scrambled desperately but was caught short of his crease. Apart from the 5 sixes, he scattered 9 boundaries over the course of his 58-ball knock.

Manish Supports Opener with Aggressive Fifty

Manish also made a fiery contribution, slamming a rapid 50 off 25 balls. Helped equally by his disregard for caution and dropped catches, his short knock consisted of 5 savage sixes. Poor fielding hurt Software One on the day, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suggest that it cost them the match. Manish was dropped twice, both easy catches. The first of these was lifted into the hands of deep midwicket in the 7^th over, and the next was an even simpler one spilled at short fine leg in the 9^th.

Shobhit (l), founder of Josh Talks, awards Manoj Jacob the Josh Talks Impact Performer

He made the fielding side pay in the 10^th over, walloping 3 sixes in a 23-run over by left arm spinner Sahil.

Software One Openers Manoj and Rakesh Knock HT Back with 98-run Partnership

In most circumstances 198 is a winning total, but Software One’s feisty openers Manoj and Rakesh were not about to call it quits. They got their side halfway there, grabbing the advantage over ten overs of belligerent hitting. Skipper Manoj, batting in pain with an injured thumb, proved that his considerable talent is buoyed by a big heart. He stunned Hindustan Tiles with a stinging counter-attack that began with 3 boundaries off the first four balls, two of them meaty straight drives.

After Manoj’s onslaught, Rakesh also tucked into Parveen’s gentle medium pace in the 3^rd over, smoking him for a straight six and two hoicks over the leg-side in-field to gather 16 runs. Vikas, Toshik and Akshay all took punishment in the Powerplay overs, as both batsmen targeted the straight boundary. After 6, the score read an imposing 70 / 0, and 66 of these had come in boundaries (12 fours and 3 sixes). Manoj reached his fifty with a massive straight six off Akshay’s medium pace in the 8^th over.

Seamers Toshik and Lande Engineer Comeback

Toshik (l) receives the chocolate for Best Bowler

Toshik finally brought some cheer to the battered fielding side in the 10^th over, picking up the wickets of Rakesh (38 off 26 balls) caught at extra cover, then Sahil caught plumb in front 4 balls later. Parveen ‘Lande’ then bagged the big wicket of Manoj in the 11^th over, squeezing the ball between bat and pad. That sent the fielding side wild, and for the bowler it was fair revenge for the early punishment. Lande completed his energetic comeback spell with the wickets of Imran and Sangu in the 13^th over, the latter bowled off an ugly slog.

The spirited Software One kept the fight alive, however, with 15 off Toshik in the 14^th over, including a bizarre full toss that ricocheted off the bails for a boundary and was promptly called no-ball for height. None of the batsmen following the openers really got going, though, and in spite of a combative last wicket partnership, Software One wrapped up at 187 / 9, 12 runs short. Toshik and Parveen, with 3 wickets each, were the catalysts of the turnaround midway through the Software One innings, and Toshik walked away with the Best Bowler award.

Akshay was, without any doubt, the Man of the Match, while Manoj, with his defiant fifty, was easily the Best Performer for Software One. He was also adjudged the Josh Talks Impact Performer of the day for his innings under pressure.

DCL Match 6: Yes Bank vs Valley Boys

Brief Scores

Yes Bank:                            7 / 142 in 20 overs

                                                            Deepak Yadav 46 (35)

                                                            Jeetender 24 (25)

                                                            Wasim 3/31 (4)

                                                            Vilayat 2/31 (4)

                                                                                                                                               

Valley Boys:                          119 all out in 16.3 overs

                                                            Yawar 46 (27)

                                                            Wasim Sofi 29 (26)

                                                            Kumud 3/19 (2)                                                 

                                                            Nitin Pahuja 2/23 (3)

                                                           

Man of the Match:                       Deepak Yadav (Yes Bank)

Best Performer Valley Boys:           Yawar

JOSH TALKS Impact Performer:       Kumud Jha (Yes Bank)

Complete Scorecard:                   http://bit.ly/1BUweN3

Deepak Yadav and Bowlers Seal Win for Yes Bank in Low-scoring Match

The second match of the day was once again dominated by bowlers, although Deepak Yadav and Yawar from Yes Bank and Valley Boys respectively served to demonstrate that there were no demons in the pitch. In fact, Yes Bank appraised the batting friendly conditions and decided to bat first on winning the toss. Barring one good middle-over partnership, however, their batsmen failed to justify that decision, but they were kept afloat by a capable bowling attack and helped by the opposition top order that made a hash of what should have been a comfortable run chase.

Seamer Vilayat Puts Valley Boys on Top

Naveen got a positive start, cracking a boundary in the second over, but the joy was short-lived as two balls later he took the long walk back to the dugout, run out attempting a second run off a drive over mid on. The fielder there, alert to the opportunity, completed the perfect sequence of a quick pick-up and throw to the wicketkeeper. Ajay and Nitin both looked good with boundaries through the off-side ring, but they were both dismissed by medium pacer Vilayat within the Powerplay. Nitin was caught by wicketkeeper Wasim Sofi off a thin edge in the 4^th and Ajay was caught by Yawar at extra cover in the 6^th. 40 / 3 was far from satisfactory.

Deepak and Jeetendra Put Together Crucial Middle-over Partnership

Deepak played an excellent knock of 46

Sumer was the next to go shortly afterwards, as he became the first of Wasim’s 3 wickets in a probing middle-over spell of medium pace bowling. Wasim began poorly, conceding 12 off his first over including 4 wides, but made up for it off the first ball of his second over (9^th of the innings), accounting for Sumer, caught at long on. Valley Boys had to wait a while, however, for their next celebration as Deepak Yadav and Jeetendra put up the only meaningful partnership of the innings.

Both batsmen negated risk, nudging and placing the ball for singles and twos, while waiting for bad balls to get boundaries. Deepak played a classic late cut for four off Wasim in the 11^th, before Jeetendra unfurled an exquisite cover drive in the same over that also found the boundary. Off spinner Sakib also conceded two boundaries in the 13^th, both off Jeetendra’s blade – a scoop over cover and a cut. At 122 / 4, with four overs to go and both batsmen well set, Yes Bank looked good for a total in excess of 160.

Wasim Bowls Match-turning Over, Yes Bank Restricted

The 17^th over, however, turned the course of the innings, as Wasim picked up both set batsmen in the space of 3 balls. First Jeetendra (24) stepped out to a back of length delivery, only to hear his stumps rattle, then Deepak holed out to Nasir at deep cover, terminating an excellent knock of 46 off 35 balls. His busy knock consisted of 6 boundaries and as many as 18 singles. Karan, Hashim and Vilayat all bowled stifling overs after that to restrict Yes Bank to only 20 in their last four overs and a below par 142 / 7.

Kumud Destroys Valley Boys Top Order

Kumud was the best bowler of the day

Much like Arun in the previous game, seamer Kumud Jha left the Valley Boys chase in tatters with 3 wickets in his opening 2-over spell. Wasim was caught at mid off in the 1^st over, and Karan and Tariq were both swallowed by good length deliveries in the 3^rd, the latter caught by the wicket-keeper off an ill-timed attempt to clear the cover boundary.

Hashim’s dismissal by Sandeep in the next over was even worse, as he completely missed his attempted slog and was clean bowled, leaving his team in a spot at 25 / 4. The 6^th over would have lifted the batting side’s hearts, though, as Waseem Sofi punctured Sandeep’s off-side ring for four exquisitely timed boundaries. The first two were straight drives off full deliveries, the third was threaded through cover and the fourth lifted over mid-off.

Yawar Revives Hope for Valley Boys with All-out Attack

Wasim’s promising knock ended in an unfortunate manner on the last ball of the 10^th over as Yawar’s straight drive deflected off Sumer’s fingers into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Uncannily, Opto Group’s Ravi Chauhan’s building innings was also cut short in exactly the same manner at exactly the same point in the match during the 3^rd game.

Yawar was the Best Performer for Valley Boys

Worse was to follow as off-spinner Nitin Pahuja picked up the wickets of Vilayat and Hussain in the next over to leave Valley Boys reeling at 71 / 7. Yawar, content with singles up until that point, decided that it was now too late to construct a careful innings. He cut loose, slamming the first two sixes off the match, both full-bodied swings straight back past bowler Sumer in the 12^th over, before launching into Nitin for a six and a four in the 13^th.

Two boundaries followed off leg-spinner Deepak’s first two balls in the next over, and in a flash the big hitting Yawar had moved on to 46 and brought life back into a dead game. However, before the worry could build any further for Yes Bank, Yawar was snapped up by Deepak next ball, caught at extra cover. The last wicket pair of Nasir and Sakib hung on for 3 more overs, before Nasir was the last batsman dismissed, caught at long on.

Deepak Yadav was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match award for his dynamic knock of 46 and crucial wicket of Yawar in an incisive 2-over spell. For Valley Boys, Yawar was the best performer for his adventurous batting at the death, and Yes Bank’s tall seamer Kumud Jha was awarded the Josh Talks Impact Performer Award for his spell of 2 – 0 – 19 – 3.