HUL defeat Agricole by 15 runs in Dreamz Trophy T20 Champions Semifinal
Venue: M.B. Union Cricket Ground, Cross Maidan(Plot no 6) Mumbai | Match Scorecard | Tournament Details
In the semi-final of Dreamz Trophy T20 Champions, Hindustan Uni Lever showed great team effort and walked away with a clinical 15 run victory over Credit Agricole. No one player could be given the sole credit for the win as most players contributed both with bat and ball ensuring the victory for HUL.
HUL won the toss and elected to bat first. It was worst of starts for HUL as opener Fernandes was run out first ball without scoring. By the time third over ended HUL has lost two more wickets with just 11 runs on the board. Chief tormentor being Ziauddin who scalped two wickets in his second over. The other opener Vijay was then joined in by Dhiraj and both steadied the ship for HUL and took the score past fifty.
Agricole bowler Rahul removed both of them on successive deliveries in the 13th over giving a serious jolt on HUL’s progress. But Sachin and Rajesh played good hand and took their team to a respectable total of 148. Rajesh was particularly aggressive scoring 28 runs of just 13 balls.
It was a good bowling display by Agricole with Rahul taking 3 wickets and Ziauddin and Vishal scalping a couple of wickets each.
The stands were even at the end of first innings as there was no outright winner. Agricole were off to an equally worse start like their opponents losing 3 wickets by the third over itself. Ajay and Rahul tried to build the innings and were looking good when Rahul was out of the bowling of Ashwat. The scoreboard read 46 at that time and 9th over was in progress.
Agricole were losing wickets on regular intervals and were not able to keep up with the required run rate. The pressure began to mount and Ajay finally lost his wicket on a personal score of 44 and team score on 108. Ziauddin tried his bit but it was too little too late and Agricole fell short by 15 runs and also lost out on a final berth in the process.
It was a complete team effort in bowling as Bagul and Ashwat bagged a couple of wickets to their names and three others bowlers scalped a wicket each. They were also aided by as many as three run outs which proved to a decisive factor in the match. Vijay Swaminathan, for his well-made 44 was adjudged Man of the match.
Brief Score:
HUL: 148/9 in 20 overs (Vijay 44, Rajesh 28, Rahul 3/30)
Credit Agricole: 133 all out in 19.3 overs (Ajay 44, Ziauddin 23, Ashwat 2/20, Bagul 2/27)
Match Report By:
Sumanyu Jain| Regional Manager & Editor| Cricketgraph