DCL Plate Quarter-final: Yes Bank vs Flamin Starz

Brief Scores

Yes Bank:                            8 / 151 in 20 overs

                                                            Pavas Joshi 37 (32)

                                                            Sumer 27* (19)

                                                            Naveen 2 / 18 (3)

                                                            Rakshit 1 / 25 (4)

                                                            Hoshiyar 1 / 25 (4)

                                                                                                                                               

Flamin Starz:                         1 / 155 in 13.5 overs

                                                            Vivek 64* (32)

                                                            Naveen 58* (40)

                                                                                                                                   

Man of the Match:                        Naveen (Flamin Starz)

Best Performer Yes Bank:               Pavas Joshi

Complete Scorecard:                    http://bit.ly/19T7uOR

Naveen and Vivek Earn Flamin Starz their First Win

Both teams came into this game looking to reverse loosing trends, and on paper it was a close one to call. Both have some solid players, but it was the Flamin Starz batsmen who came to the party in more commanding fashion. They were set up perfectly by their bowling unit, which pulled off an excellent containing job in the last 8 overs, after Satish’s crucial direct hit sent back an in-form Deepak Yadav.

Pavas (r) was the Best Performer for Yes Bank

Manik began the day in style for Yes Bank, crashing a straight six off Rishab first ball of the match. Rakshit finally had him dismissed, caught by Luv in the 5^th over, but Manik’s opening partner was in no mood to stop. After a watchful start, he unleashed a couple of sixes – one over extra cover off seamer Anil in the 9^th and another over mid-wicket in the very next over off off-spinner Luv. At 83 / 2 at the halfway mark, Yes Bank looked poised for a total in excess of 175.

Deepak Yadav looked to be in an aggressive mood, punishing boundaries off Anil and Dipen before a mis-understanding with Pawas had him stranded mid-pitch, only to watch Satish complete a pin-point accurate direct hit. His 12^th over dismissal against the run of play turned the tables. Flamin Starz established their advantages only 4 balls later, Pawas solid knock of 37 terminated by an excellent running catch by Rakshit at deep cover.

From that point on, Flamin Starz tightened the noose with disciplined medium pace bowling. The highlight was Hoshiyar’s 19^th over in which he picked up the wicket of Dixit and conceded a mere 2 runs. But for Sumer’s late hitting (27 not out), Yes Bank would have struggled to reach 150. he slapped a couple of sixes over long on, off Naveen and Rakshit in the 17^th and 20^th overs respectively to end the innings on a bright note.

Naveen (l) was the MoM for his all-round effort

After a couple of batting collapses, it was expected that Flamin Starz would be a bit edgy beginning their chase. They betrayed no signs of nerves, though, as Deepak and Naveen began with a strong of boundaries. Naveen stroked 3 boundaries in the first two overs, before Deepak picked out the ropes 4 times in 5 balls. The spell began as he lifted Dixit over covers and mid-wicket in the 4^th over, before plundering a straight drive and guiding a glance off consecutive Kumud deliveries in the 5^th. Although he edged the very next ball to the wicket keeper, there was no stopping Flamin Starz now.

With the ball coming on to the bat, Yes Bank’s predominantly medium-pace attack clearly suited Naveen and Vivek. The duo stroked 17 boundaries and 5 sixes between them, scattering their shots all round the park. The fast outfield only served to compound Yes Bank’s trouble. The 10^th over was the most productive for the batting side, as Naveen hoicked two boundaries over mid-wicket interspersed by a pull for six.

Flamin Starz raced away to their target in the 14^th over, and while Vivek’s innings of 64 not out (32 balls) was the highlight of the batting effort, it was Naveen’s all-round contribution that earned him the Man of the Match award. He backed up his spell of 18 / 2 in 3 overs with a solid 58 not out. For Yes Bank, Pawas was the Best Performer for his knock of 37.