Falcons defeated Realtors to win their last match of the season
Summary (Season 3, Match #25):
Delhi Falcons: 171/8 in 20 overs (Saurabh 47, Kanav 35, Ruchit 21, Apoorv 21; Ritesh 3/26) defeated
Realtors: 156/8 in 20 overs (Gaurav 64; Kumud 3/35, Mohitt 3/27, Shaan 2/26) by 15 runs
Having failed to defeat Realtors in previous all encounters, Falcons came face to face yet again with them for the last match of the season 3 for a one final go. Falcons captain Apoorv who was running out of luck with the coin for the past few games, called it correctly this time and had no hesitation to bat first. Ruchit and Apoorv started the Falcon innings and again got them to a flier as in the last couple of games. Both took on the Realtor bowlers in the powerplay and Falcons raced to 51/0 in 5 overs.
Realtors introduced Ritesh as the first chang. He first got Ruchit caught at long on boundary and then trapped Apoorv in front while playing across in the same over. Suddenly Falcons found themselves at the backfoot with both their openers back in the pavilion. Agney became Ritesh’s third victim when he was cleaned up trying to force one to break the shackles. Saurabh tried to rebuild the innings holding up one end and Aakash gave him company. Both tried to just nudge the ball around taking ones and twos. Their 35 run partnership ended in the 13th over with Aakash’s departure. Khurram got one rough decision from the umpire when he was adjudged caught behind when the ball had just brushed his pads and was sent back in disbelief. Mohsin didn’t last long getting run out going for non-existent single.
From 51/0 in 5 to 113/6 in 14, it looked like Falcons had lost their way. Kanav joined Saurabh in the middle who was going steady but running short of partners. Both of them played sensibly and did all the hardwork running for everything and converting singles into twos. Saurabh hit one right at the sight screen against seasoned bowler Sushil. Both were dismissed in the last over, Saurabh perished trying to play a scoop over fine leg’s head and saw his leg stump being dislodged. He departed for a well-made 47(38). Kanav was run out of the last ball of the innings for 35(21). Both of them helped Falcons post a respectable 171 in 20 overs.
With a RRR of 8.5 an over, Realtors openers played first two overs of Kanav and Kumud watchfully. Then they came with all guns blazing attacking Kanav and Kumud both in their second overs taking 15 and 12 runs respectively. The score raced to 42 in 4 overs. Apoorv brought in Mohit the only recognized spinner in the line-up in the 5th over itself, a bit early than usual. He was brought in to provide a breakthrough and responded instantly. Got Gaurav caught behind by Apoorv to a quicker one and the threatening partnership was broken. Shaan was brought in and he too bowled a tight 6th powerplay over giving just 3 runs. Mohit struck again in his second over again to a quick catch behind the stumps by Apoorv.
In a span of three overs Falcons pulled back things with Realtors 54/2 in 7. However Gaurav who was well set counterattacked in Shaan’s second over taking 13 runs from 8th and 10 runs in the 9th over. Saurabh was introduced in the 10th over and bowled 2 tight overs. Kumud was brought back to disrupt the partnership and he obliged the captain by removing Ruchit and breaking the 53 run 3rd wicket stand. But Saurabh’s 3rd over proved costly, Gaurav completing his half century taking 12 runs. With 52 to get of 36 and 7 wickets in hand, Realtors looked in complete control.
Mohit started the 15th over and was clobbered for a six over long off by Gaurav stepping out. After some planning between the bowler and captain, Mohit bowled two full deliveries quicker through the air beating the batsman. Expecting Gaurav to come down the track, then bowled the next one short and wide getting him stumped to a quick glove work behind the stumps by Apoorv. 45 of 30 was very much still gettable. Shaan bowled the 16th with immaculate line and length. He bumped in one short and got the batsman to top edge and Apoorv claimed his 4th dismissal of the night.
Still 37 were needed of 24 now. Saurabh bowled another tight 17th over and the equation just toughened to 32 of 18. Shaan came back to bowl his last and team’s 18th over. He bowled a well disguised slower bouncer getting the batsmen hit straight to Mohsin at square leg. Kumud started the 19th over straying on the leg side conceding a boundary of the very first ball to make it 22 of 11. But came back strongly breaking the stumps of number 7 and 8 and bringing the curtains down on any chance of revival for Realtors.
With improbable 21 to get of last over, Kanav’s pace and line was too much to handle for Realtors tailenders who could only manage 5, conceding victory to Falcons by 15 runs in this trilling match. Falcons broke the jinx against Realtors by winning the last match of the season.
Report Courtesy: Falcons Staff