Akhtar’s half century helps INDIA FIRST INSURANCE beat SHM easily in 5th match of CCD PROGRESSIVE CUP 2019

Going into their second league matches, both SHM and India First Insurance were high in confidence, as both these teams had won their opening encounters with great aplomb. Going by how All Saints pitch behaved on the first day, both Captains were skeptical at the toss, pondering what they will do if they won the toss. On 2nd day as new wicket was used, it certainly created more doubts in the captains mind. India First Insurance , won the toss and decided to field first. SHM being the side they are, began in style, attacking from the ball one. First ball of the match was dismissed by Nanha for a maximum over long off fence. Both Simit and Nanha play like theirs no tomorrow. Going for the leather from ball one. Both batsman gave solid pasting to opening bowlers of India First Insurance. 50 was reached in no time. Simit was first to go being castled by Pushkar. Nana again did it for his team scoring 46 runs of just 18 balls which included 7 fours and 2 sixes. This guy is a real deal. Bat’s and bowls attackingly and is a live wire in the field. A solid asset for any captain and team. After Nana’s departure, Praveen and Sanju carried on the good work as the platform by the opening batsman was there for them to capitalize. Both batsmen very extremely positive in their approach. Running their singles hard, converting them into two’s. And boundary’s and sixes followed continuously.

The new strip turned out to be a belter and batsman were making full use of it. Praveen and Sanju built a good partnership. Praveen was stumped off Wasim’s bowling. Wasim bowled an outstanding spell of 3 overs, 19 runs and 1 wicket. SHM is great side packed with premium allrounders. Hemant, who is a keeper/batsman also bowls with decent pace. He stamped his authority on the proceedings, by scoring a classy 56 runs off just 28 balls. He played with lots of freedom and authority, hitting 4 boundary’s and 4 sixes during his knock. Hemant 46 and Demba 13, kept the momentum going for the SHM innings. If Hemant wouldn’t had not been runout by Sanket, SHM would had surely crossed the 200 run mark. SHM ended their innings on 178 off their 20 overs. A stiff chase indeed for India First Insurance. Sanket 3/30 and 1 wicket bowled with good pace. He was able to extract a lot’s of bounce from good length, which certainly put brakes on the scoring. Rammanna and Wasim were the pick of the bowlers for India First Insurance .

India First Insurance got of to a worst possible start, as their opening batsmen Ajish was caught off the first ball that he faced. Bowler was none other than SHM star all rounder NANHA. Who did a double whammy as he accounted for Javed also who was bowled off an inside edge. Two telling blows by Nanha and India First Insurance were immediately on the back foot. Rammanna was also dismissed soon dragging India First Insurance further into the abyss. But Pushkar who scored 50 runs off 30 balls, entertained all with his elegant and stylish stroke play. He was accumulating runs steadily from one end. Some of the back foot drives through offside and lofted shots that he played were simply orgasmic. He got solid support from other end, as Babli Sharma who scored 29 runs, also played extremely well along side Pushkar. The track had become flat as a board. No side ways movement, no spin and no swing. Batsmen were teeing off at will. Once the ball was past the fielder, it reached boundary line in a jiffy. The quick outfield didn’t help SHM’s cause too.

Babli and Pushkar both got a life each, as SHM fielders couldn’t hold on to a couple of difficult catches. Afternoon cool breeze, flat track, wonderful ground stokes and humungous maximums provided spectators with great viewing treat. Ajish and Babli got out in a quick succession. Nanha hit the bulls eye running out Ajish and Hemant had Babli caught plumb in front. Akhtar and Wasim took over from where their previous batsmen left off. Both played sensibly and attackingly at the same time. Wasim was the accumulator and Akhtar was the attacker. Akhtar sored 50 runs of just 19 balls with 4 fours and 6 sixes. Wasim also remained not out on 22 off 16 balls. None of SHM bowlers other than Nanha were effective on the day. In an high scoring affair India First Insurance edged out SHM quite convincingly. What a run feast and entertainment for all who witnessed it.