Match report Punjab Lions yet again !!
The game was reduced to 16 overs a side after the toss took place due to a delayed start as the morning game was still ON. Viral chose to field this time and was the right call as you never know what Punjab can come up with. Sameer and Jagdish opened with the new ball and were right on the money. Their opening spell of six overs yielded maybe 10 runs but 5 wickets in return. Fawad picked up from Jagdish and looked good too with a wicket under his belt. As the fast bowlers were feasting on the Lions the spinners had an off day at work. Their tailend batsmen (not so much after that innings) mainly Happy and Piyush were hitting our spinners out of the park at will. Each time they swung they connected and it was a six. By the time we bowled 16 overs their score touched 100 which is a very competetive given Punjab's bowling strength.
Washington's response started with a new opening pair, Sameer and Shounak as Sameer had to leave early like always ;) Shounak (02) didn't quite have a great start and we lost his wicket very early. Tarun joined Sameer and looked like the TC we donot know. He was in a T20 mood as he opened his account with a six :) Tarun (14) played a nice little cameo till he surprised us all with his dismissal. Yes TC was bowled this time !! Nevertheless Anil Bhai joined Sameer and continued his dream form with the bat. Sameer on the other hand looked in terrific touch and was making Anil run for everything. They were stealing singles at will and it is safe to say that the hunter got hunted this time ;)Running between the wickets was key here and the odd boundary was not really a rare sight. One bad full-toss to Anil disappeared into the trees. The fielders didn't even care to go and look for it. Guess the ball crossed the state-lines ;) Sameer (27) ended up getting run-out but by then he alongwith Anil had seen WCC through. Well Almost!! Kalyan walks in next and lays the golden egg thanks to a bad LBW call by the umpire for which he later apologised. Viral is next with a few runs to chase and expectation of big finish was on the cards. But not this time, Viral (02) remained not out along with Anil (43) who yet again stayed unbeaten to take WCC through in a tough chase.
We are the only unbeaten team in T20's. And are dierctly into the Semi-Finals which will be held in October later this year.
Time to switch gears and get back to 40 over mode as we have some big games coming up !! Well played and good luck.