Strikers got promoted to Div C
It was the last group stage game for strikers and its a do or die situation for them if they have to move to next division. Strikers have to win against Sammamsih balzers and they have to make sure Blazers doesnt get more than 6 points if strikers are to end up in Top 2 in points table. It was a tough situation but considering the strikers lineup, they should be able to pull off if there are no suprises. Losing the toss, strikers were asked to bat first. Strikers went out with new opening combination which they tried for the first time. Mahi and Avinash opened the batting for strikers and they got to a good start as they were 25/0 in 4.1 overs. When things were looking good, Mahi got out to a very good ball from sadik which i think is the only good ball bowled in his entire spell. Raghunath came in after mahi and stabilized the innings but unfortunately got out on an LBW at 9.6overs when strikers were 59. Varun came next and tried to accelerate the innings but blazers bowled beautifully during that period. Eventually Varun and Avinash got out trying to accelerate the innings and strikers were 92/5 at 15.4 overs. Avinash scored an important 41 runs off 38 balls where he provided stability and accelerates the innings when required. Strikers sent out their hitter Pabbi hoping to get some quick runs but that did not work out as he got out after scoring 5 runs off 4 balls. When there was no hope left, Srikanth provided a small ray of hope by scoring some quick runs in last 2 overs. in the 19th over, Srikanth hit 2 sixes and four and in the 20th over he scored a six off last ball. Strikers got a total of 34 runs in last 2 overs and ended with a score of 149/6 in 20 overs. Abhijeet too provided a cricial partnership with Srikanth by scoring quick 2's. By the end of 20 overs, Srikanth was unbeaten scoring 31 runs off 16 deliveries. Eventhough Strikes ended up with a good score, there is another complexity. Blazers already got 3 points since they took 6 wickets while bowling. So if strikers are to end up in top2, they have to restrict blazers under 117 and not 149.
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Starting the second innings, Srikanth started with the ball for Strikers and he was against the top run scorer in Div D in T20s. It only took him 3 deliveries to get the top scorer of Div D to nick the ball to keeper. Mahi came in to bowl the second over and he took the another opener out. By the end of 2nd over, both the openers were back in the pavilion. Blazers were playing catiously and their batsmen suyog was trying to be aggresive but Mahi put him on his back foot. They were literelaly crubling for runs. Avinash came in as a replacement of Srikanth's spell and bowled beautifully in right areas. Kishore started with Avinash and got a wicket on his first ball itself. This continued thoughtout the innings as strikers made sure they are restricitng the runs and took wickets in regular interals. By the end of 11 overs, Blazers were 40/6 and are mostly out of contention. It was just a formality after that as Blazers were all out for 82 in 19.3 overs.
Highlights
1. Srikanth scored a quick 36 off 16 balls to ensure Strikers got to a good total. 2. Mahi bowled beautifully as usual. He ended up taking just 1 wicket but he only game 5 runs in 4 overs. 3. Kishore bowled good by taking 4 runs and giving just 13 runs in his 4 overs. 4. Avinash bowled another excellent spell by giving just 11 runs in 4 overs and taking a crucial wicket.
Kishore Kumar Kolipaka
Kishore Kumar Kolipaka joined Bellevue Cricket Club in 2018 and has played for all 4 club teams, captaining multiple squads. When he's not dominating matches for the Strikers, Blasters, Chargers, or Smashers, Kishore works as a Data Engineer at Amazon