AKHIL 93 (not out), DRAWS MAMMOTH WIN

  • May 13, 2016

Match: Chicago United vs Combine Stars (Match 1)
League: BPL 30-30
Ground: BPL Ground 1
Date: 05/07/2016
Time: 2:00 PM
Report by: Zeeshan Baig (Zee)

Chicago United started their BPL 2016 campaign with a comfortable win against Combine Stars of the BPL 30-30 tournament.

Chicago United won the toss and decided to bat first losing the first wicket of Rakesh in the second over causing trouble in the camp. Akhil came in at number three position starting slowly while at the other end Abhijit took a lead to move scoreboard with brilliant hitting all over the park. Things started looking ominous for Combine stars as Abhijit smashed 3 sixes in an over of their main strike bowler Rauf. As both batsmen were looking solid, Abhijit got run out (40 off 19) due to a miscommunication between the two batsmen and at 45 for 2 – game sat even stevens. After a short break, Chicago United started looking solid, with Akhil forming crucial partnerships with Ahmed to give the innings some momentum and later on with new kid on the block Pratik, who justified his promotion in the batting order. Together Akhil and Pratik (36 off 25) established a chance-less and match turning partnership smashing the ball all over the park, almost unusual for middle overs. One six from Akhil on Combined Star’s veteran bowler Pradeep saw the ball go over the fence and had to be replaced. Thanks to Akhil’s brilliant 93 not out and Abhijeet and Pratik’s quickfire cameos, CU scored a solid 223 in 30 overs at an asking rate of near 8 per over.

Combined Stars started their chase with a shaky start. The pace battery Sikander Gill provided an early breakthrough with a brilliant bouncer and Abhijit dived in to take a low catch. In the very next over CS lost their captain Khurram of the bowling of Zeeshan B thanks to Abhijit with another great high catch. Next breakthrough came a little later with wickets by Raghuv and Mursaleen, and a brilliant run out of a direct hit by the captain Abhijit that sealed the game more or less in CU’s favor with formalities to finish. There were few drop catches but Chicago United kept the momentum by taking wickets at regular intervals and never allowed opposition to settled down. Combined Star were all out for 134 in 23rd over without much fight from the lower order. Overall it was true all round dominating performance by Chicago United where everyone jumped into the party and contributed their part. Chicago United will go in next game brimming with confidence.