Chakri Reddy of JETS struck 59 and picked up 4/18. (Right), Bhavik Dalsania scored 43 and took 1/11 in 3 overs.
By Sudharsan Ramarao
Bhavik’s Quick Fire Cameo Saves The Day For Lions
Losing the toss and being put in, Gujarat Lions were in for early trouble. Their batsmen started very timidly in what was a must-win game for them.
Openers Mehul Goswami and Hardik Patel took some time to settle in. But that didn’t pay off as they both lost their wickets soon. They both played 23 deliveries for a meagre return of 8 runs combined. Kalpesh Kathiriya and Dhruv Patel coming in at 3 and 4 also took the same route, gauging the balls and playing it safe because of which the Gujarat Lions innings never took off.
They were stranded at 43 for 4 at the end of 9 overs, at which point, their match winner Bhavik Dalsania stepped in to take control of the innings. Possessing a clean swing of the bat and the gift of ball striking, Bhavik played a counterattacking cameo when his team needed him the most.
His innings of 43 runs off just 27 balls included 3 sixes and 2 fours. He hit Sita Ram straight over the top, dispatched a short ball from Goral Patel over the midwicket and then took advantage of a no-ball from Daniel by dispatching it over square leg. He helped the Lions score 79 runs off their last 10 overs. Lions recovered to post 124 at the end of 20 overs. For Panthers, Salman Parvez bowled an excellent spell to pick 3 wickets for just 15 runs off his 4 overs.
Chasing 125 to win, Panthers found able support from their batting mainstay Kiran Vishnu. Kiran held an end for most of the innings and anchored the chase.
But he found no support on the other end as none of other Panthers batsman applied themselves and gave him company. For the Lions part, Mansij Rai Sharma picked up 3 wickets with his tidy off spin while Manav Patel, Dhruv Patel and Bhavik Dalsania put the Panthers scoring under immense pressure with tight bowling.
Panthers eventually succumbed for 83 of their 20 overs. Kiran made a valiant 33 in a losing cause. For his excellent counter attacking innings of 43 and his tidy bowling that fetched him a wicket, Bhavik Dalsania was adjudged the Man off the match.
Knights Bowlers Set Up A Close Win Against RPI
Asked to bat on a beautiful day at Grout Park, the Knights were in for a worry as they lost their top 3 batsmen in no time. Ankur Singh, coming in on the back of a 6-wicket haul against the same opposition just one week ago, was back at his best, bowling on a good length and moving the ball slightly either way.
Raj Ardham, the skipper of Knights, failed to cover the line of the ball that slightly nipped away and lost his off stump. Vamsidhar Varma, coming it at 3, also got out exactly in the same fashion. Ankur sent early jitters in to the Knights camp. The other opening bowler Ajinkya then dismissed Ruthvik Vemareddy out caught.
Knights were 26 for 3 at the end of their powerplay. Siva Dharman and Joseph Gali then put together a nice partnership and resurrected the Knights innings. They both rotated the strike and took their chances whenever offered. Siva made 35 runs that included 3 huge sixes all thru the long on region while Joseph Gali made 36 that included a six and a boundary.
Rest of the batsman chipped in with brief cameos as the Knights recovered from a bad start and posted 126 at the end of 20 overs.
Chasing 127 to win, the RPI lost Mahmood Hameed and Arun Baskaran quickly courtesy of fast skiddy leg breaks from “Mystery” Mithesh. Nithyagopal and Arun Gandhi then came together and strung a nice partnership. Arun Gandhi, in good form this season, was back at his best while effortlessly flicking balls on the middle and leg stump. He hit 5 boundaries mostly thru the covers and the long on-midwicket region. His batting partner Nithyagopal made 22 that included a boundary. After surviving the initial 10 overs, both stepped up their gas to chase down the target.
In the process Nithyagopal was struck plumb in front of the bowling of Arun Ghanta. Navdeep Grover gave the innings the much-needed impetus by striking 2 huge sixes but he got castled again by “Mystery” man Mithesh Jain. Arun Gandhi fought valiantly till the 18th over and got out for 38. RPI eventually folded for 98 runs. Mithesh’s spell at the end of his quota read 4-0-9-3. But for his excellent pressure soaking 35 runs that took the Knights innings from dumps and gave it a modicum of respect, Shiva Dharman was adjudged the Man of the match.
Maurice Persaud Empire Cricket League
All-Round Chakri Reddy Leads JETS To An Easy Win Against Falcons
JETS won the toss and put the Falcons in to bat. Their Openers Varun Penmatsa and Vikram Jegannathan played the initial 10 overs safely with an aim to preserve wickets. Chakri Reddy, the clever medium pacer from JETS, found the first breakthrough when he had Varun caught behind for just 14. He and Mohnish Bandaru then proceeded to put regular breaks on the Falcons innings by picking up wickets.
Chakri Reddy mixed his pace beautifully with his back off the hand slower balls while Mohnish bowled a tight line with his McGrath like action. Both picked up 4 wickets each and broke any kind of momentum Falcons created. Opener Vikram Jegannathan top scored for the falcons with a breezy 43. Vishal Sridhar held the lower order with an innings of 27. Falcons were all out for a sub-par 144 in 38 overs.
Chasing 145 to win, the JETS started of briskly with their Opener Ravi Ekambaram stroking back to back sixes of Falcons opening bowler Ramathirtha Randi. But the other opening bowler Vinit Todi picked up 2 quick wickets and pulled the JETS down. He first struck Ravi plumb in front and then had Anand Kalukuluri caught for 2. Chakri Reddy then came in and took control of the innings.
He and Danny Joseph played out crucial dot balls and blunted the Falcons attack. Danny got out for a patient 18. Pardha, the inform batsman, then joined Chakri and both took JETS close to the target.
Chakri showed his class and power in his match winning that included 4 sixes and 3 boundaries. Each of those sixes went towards the square leg and midwicket region with the six off Dhairya Dixit, the biggest of them all. He eventually got out of the bowling of Ajith Errabelly for a well-made 59. Pardha Phani remained not out and finished the game with another excellent contribution of 25. For his match winning effort with both bat and the ball, Chakri Reddy was adjudged the Man of the match.