DCL Cup Quarter-final 1: CCPL vs Star XI

Brief Scores

Star XI:                             57 all out in 12.4 overs

                                                            Karan 4/18 (4)

                                                            Ankit 2/6 (4)

                                                            Manish 3/24 (2.4)

                                                                                                                                   

CCPL:                               3 / 60 in 7.1 overs

                                                            Manish 28

                                                            Shikhar 3/23 (3.1)

                                                                                                                                   

Man of the Match:                        Karan (CCPL)

Best Performer Star XI:               Shikhar

Complete Scorecard:                    http://bit.ly/1yb7XBf

Confronted by Pace Barrage, Star XI Plummet from Season’s Highest to Season’s Lowest

All eyes were on Shikhar. With Mohit Mehlawat, the team’s other solid opener, not playing on the day, Star XI were desperate for their top star to lead the charge. It would have been far-fetched to expect another double ton, but even half of that would do. Against a fiercely competitive seam attack bowling with an extra spur of motivation and yard of pace, it was not to be, however.

Karan bowled with pace and control to finish with 4/18

Shikhar was dismissed cheaply, and the rest of the team folded behind him.

Credit for the Shikhar dismissal goes to wicket-keeper Aradhya. The gloveman produced the best wicket-keeping we have seen all tournament and the highlight of his effort was his stumping of Shikhar in the second over. Standing up to the seriously brisk pace bowling of Karan, his hands moved with lightning speed to collect a missed off-drive and instinctively whip out the bails, as Shikhar dragged his back foot out of the crease. As if to prove that it was no fluke, stumping Sonub off the same bowler in his next over. That left the batting side reeling at 11 / 4.

Ankit bowled the most economical spell of the DCL

Karan, on fire now, bowled his four on the trot and picked up another two scalps to leave Star XI shell-shocked at 18 / 6 in the 8^th. The other seamer Ankit, if anything topped Karan’s pace and energy, as he completed his four from the other end, ending with the tournament’s most economical figures of 4 – 1 – 6 – 2.

Star XI never recovered from the squeeze, and their follow-up to the season’s highest score ended up being the season’s lowest. 58 was a canter for CCPL, but before they got there, Shikhar drove home the point that his big-hitting blade was not his only asset. Using his powerful shoulders, he generated serious pace and aggression, picking up Manish, Aradhya and Aman, all clean bowled.

Shikhar picked up 3 wickets with his brisk medium pace

The fireworks were cut short quickly, though, as Jogi pummeled a boundary to complete the win in the 8^th over.

Karan walked away with the Man of the Match award, and for the second time in two games, Shikhar was the Best Performer from his side, this time for his bowling figures of 23 / 3 from 3.1 overs.