KSO VS TOH T20

Phew, aren't you entertained? A knockout game that perfectly lived up to its hype and anticipation. With this, we are done and dusted with Qualifier 2. Now, the two best teams of the tournament stand face-to-face against each other. The journey of a couple of weeks or so has now reached its ultimate climax. It's the finale. It's the battle of the best, Southern Super Stars will take on the Konark Suryas Odisha in the grand finale. It will be played on 16th October, Wednesday, and the first ball will be bowled at 7 pm IST (1330 GMT). See you for the finale! Take care. ADIOS!

Irfan Pathan, the victorious skipper of Konark Suryas Odisha is also adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his exceptional all-round performance. He says he knew the pitch and that it had some grip in it. Mentions that when he got hit for a maximum, he tried to go for a seam-up delivery. Appreciates Richard Levi for coming up to the wickets and had he not stopped the ball in the last delivery, the game would have gone to the Super Over. Mentions that when he pulled off his muscle, he decided to push Vinay Kumar to bowl in the first few games. On Rikki Clarke's batting, he says that when he struck 26 in the 12th over, he told everybody that the game was not over yet. Says somebody had to step up to cheer the guys and when everyone started believing, it was easygoing. Also says that they had a lot of challenges in the team, with three batters leaving mid-tournament. Appreciates the crowd of Srinagar and says whenever he comes here, he gets a lot of love and affection from the locals. Ends by thanking them for the support.

The captain of Toyam Hyderabad, Gurkeerat Singh Mann is in for a chat. When asked if he was expecting the cutter on the last ball from Irfan Pathan, he says that he was not expecting it and tried to work it in the gap on the off side but could not connect. Feels that Rikki Clarke got them into a good position but could not capitalise. Adds that it was a difficult wicket and lauds Clarke for the way he batted. Mentions that that any T20 game is full of surprises and that is what we got tonight. Tells that even after they started the tournament, they kept believing in themselves. Ends by saying that this was their 4th last-ball finish of the season but could not hold their nerves when it mattered most.

... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...

Earlier in the game, Konark Suryas Odisha were invited to have a crack with the bat first. On a slow and damp surface, the openers started in a streaky fashion, hardly finding the middle of the bat and even lost a wicket inside the restrictions. However, the moment they got accustomed, runs came at a brisk pace. The slowness of the surface was well exploited by the Hyderabad bowlers collectively as they took wickets at regular intervals. While Odisha's batters managed to get starts, they struggled to build momentum, resulting in a sluggish middle phase that lasted for much of the innings. The tide turned when captain Irfan Pathan joined forces with Kevin O'Brien. Their crucial partnership injected life into Odisha's innings, propelling the team from a precarious 64/4 to a competitive total of 156. The duo's 79-run stand provided the late surge Odisha needed.

But the game was far from over as Ben Laughlin, with the task to stem runs and get a wicket, did exactly as the captain demanded from him. A brilliant over from Laughlin was followed by an extremely economical penultimate over by Navin Stewart where he conceded only 5 runs. However, the true climax unfolded in the final over. With 11 runs to defend, KSO captain Irfan Pathan made the bold decision to take matters into his own hands. He did concede a six but poured in all his experience from over the years of his illustrious career. It all went down to 2 required off the last delivery. And when the ball was being tonked over the park, a dot ball from Pathan proved to be the difference ultimately.

This onslaught seemed to unsettle Konark Suryas Odisha, leading to a streak of fielding errors and a couple of dropped chances. As the pressure mounted, KSO's earlier confidence began to crumble, and it all went from bad to ugly for them after that. While Rikki was striking every ball from the middle, at a brilliant strike rate, Mann's measured approach complemented Clarke's aggression, as he anchored the innings with a responsible knock. Together, the duo orchestrated a masterful partnership of 76 runs off just 45 balls.

Konark Suryas Odisha, buoyed by their strong finish with the bat, were aware of the potential impact of dew on the field. Nevertheless, their pacers maintained a disciplined line and length, keeping the run flow in check. This tight bowling not only restricted the scoring but also yielded a couple of crucial early wickets.Walking on a tight rope, it was Rikki Clarke who dramatically shifted the momentum towards Hyderabad as he struck 4 sixes in the 12th over and brought back life in the game.

Chasing a tough total, Toyam Hyderabad needed a strong start in the field restrictions. Walton did strike a couple of boundaries but the team found itself in turbulent waters, crawling at 38/2 in 6 overs. While the match remained neck and neck, the high stakes of knockout amplified the pressure of the mounting required run rate after a sluggish start. In such crucial games, the scoreboard often weighs heavily on the chasing team. Hyderabad was under the pump, in desperate need of a partnership.

BOX OFFICE ENTERTAINER IN SRINAGAR! AND IT IS THE KSO SKIPPER IRFAN PATHAN WHO HAS BOWLED A FANTASTIC FINAL OVER! Pathan's joy knows no bounds. He is running, not running, he is in fact steaming with joy, and all the KSO players flock together, hugging each other, and are all pumped up, and rightly so! The game tilted back and forth unimaginably but eventually, it were the Konark Suryas Odisha who got the better of Toyam Hyderabad to punch the ticket to the finale and will meet the Southern Super Starts in the Grand Final. A proper treat to the spectators of Srinagar where cricket returned after almost 3 decades.

Irfan Pathan has done it for Konark Suryas Odisha! The skipper is off on a celebratory run and he is chuffed to bits. Pathan holds his nerves to take the tournament debutants into the final. Coming to the delivery, with the keeper up to the stumps, Pathan serves a cutter, going across the batter, on a length, around off, Mann opens up the off side and flays at the delivery. The ball lands and goes away from the batter to beat Mann on the outside edge. A clean take by the keeper, Richard Levi near his right knee to ensure that it is a dot. Konark Suryas Odisha win by 1 run and are through to the final!

So, 2 from 1! A single means Super Over, and that's exactly what Irfan Pathan needs to prevent here! A lot of discussions going around in the middle. Pathan is making some tweaks in the fielding. Here we go!

A direct hit and Binny was gone! Pathan goes into the wicket and it is the slower one, on off, Binny tries to drag it on the leg side but toe-ends the shot in front of cover. He gets called through for a single where the fielder collects and has a shy at the bowling end. He fails to hit the stumps but Irfan Pathan does well to get behind the stumps there and prevent any overthrows. Just a single off it then.

A wicket for KSO and Pathan, but more importantly, it is a dot ball! Who's next? It is Stuart Binny in at number 8 for Toyam Hyderabad! Are we in for a Super Over folks?

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Pressure catch by Navin Stewart! Samiullah Shinwari goes for the glory shot and holes out! Pathan keeps it full and around off. Samiullah Shinwari goes for a heave across the line. Gets a leading edge that goes in the air towards extra cover. Navin Stewart back tracks and keeps his eyes on the ball all the way through. Stewart tumbles backwards and holds on. Konark Suryas Odisha are not out of it yet.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Pressure catch by Navin Stewart! Samiullah Shinwari goes for the glory shot and holes out! Pathan keeps it full and around off. Samiullah Shinwari goes for a heave across the line. Gets a leading edge that goes in the air towards extra cover. Navin Stewart back tracks and keeps his eyes on the ball all the way through. Stewart tumbles backwards and holds on. Konark Suryas Odisha are not out of it yet.

SIX! Shinwari clears the fence! Is that the killer blow? Pathan angles it across the batter from the over-the-wicket angle, full and around off. Samiullah Shinwari stays low to make the connection and drags it towards wide long on. Gets more than enough bat on it to clear the leaping Ben Laughlin at wide long on for a six. 3 needed from 3 now for Hyderabad.

Pathan goes full and straight, at the stumps, Shinwari drills it down the ground to the left of long on where Ben Laughlin is standing a bit wide. He gets around to his left and cuts it off. Two runs taken.