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.