Opener Swapnil Bivalkar(170) and Vaibhav Patil(101) clinch the game away from CIPLA qualifying in the finals of the Times Shield ‘18
Hindustan Times have been one strong team who have performed really well throughout this Times Tournament. They have one of the most balanced teams and it has been difficult to get the better of them in this year’s edition. In the all important semi-finals vs CIPLA at the New Hind Ground, Matunga, CIPLA won the toss and elected to field first.
Unaware of the batting depth and strength of HT, the batters showed them that their decision to bowl first was not the best of the decisions. Opening the innings Swapnil Bivalkar went on to score a massive hundred smashing 170 off mere 112balls. It was pure carnage and dissemination of the bowlers as he plonked a record 11sixes which is the highest by an batsman in an innings in this year’s Times Shield(any division). Swapnil coupled it with 11fours while also stitched a match winning 230run stand with the rock solid Vaibhav Patil who continued his purple patch smashing his 2nd back to back ton. Vaibhav at no.4 scored an effortless and a graceful 101 off 83balls with 12fours and 4sixes taking the team total to a very competitive 377/6 in 45overs. It was a batting feast displayed by these two as they took the game away single handedly.
Defending 378 in 45 overs, CIPLA were bundled out for 134runs in 26.5 overs with Vaibhav Patil also being the pick of the bowlers taking 4/25 in 9overs while Kunal Nikam and Umesh Gaurav taking 2wkts a piece.
Hindustan Times wins the semi-finals once again in a dominating manner by 254runs as promising young lad Vaibhav Patil and attacking opener Swapnil Bivalkar taking the centerstage.
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