Match 8, Abu Dhabi, November 23, 2024, 02:45 PM
Morrisville Samp Army
100/7(10.0ov)
UP Nawabs
97/3(10.0ov)
Morrisville Samp Army beat UP Nawabs by 3 runs
That's all we have from this one but don't go anywhere because the next match is right on our heels, where Bangla Tigers take on the New York Strikers. The first ball should be bowled at 3.30 pm local (1130 GMT) but our buildup has already begun. Do hop in to that matchcentre!
Victorious Morrisville Samp Army's skipper, ROHAN MUSTAFA, has a big smile on his face. Calls it a great performance from his team's bowlers, candidly admitting that at one stage, he himself thought that the game was done. But praises the young Hotak for doing really well in the last over, adding that the wind aided them pretty well in this game.
Morrisville Samp Army's AMIR HAMZA HOTAK HAS BEEN ADJUDGED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant spell of 2-0-9-2.
... THE PRESENTATION ...
Earlier in the game, UP Nawabs bowled really well to curtail Morrisville Samp Army to exactly 100/7. It seemed under par at that stage and this is definitely an opportunity missed by the Nawabs, after controlling the run chase for 8 overs. After 8 overs, they were 83/1 while Morrisville were 82/5. The latter scored 18 in their last 2 overs while UP managed just 14/2. Tough pill to swallow. Please stay tuned for the presentation...
The spinners were triumphant for Morrisville but it was overall a good effort. Isuru Udana and Karim Janat were expensive but the others bowled well. Especially the captain, Rohan Mustafa, who took on the responsibility of bowling the 9th over and conceded just 7. Brilliant.
Factor this. Gurbaz was on 56 (29) at the end of the 8th over. UP needed 18 in the last 2 overs. And Gurbaz faced just 3 balls in those 12. And just one in the last over. No excuses for mucking up a run chase but that's what happens when the ball is spinning and a new batter arrives at the crease. Always difficult to start scoring from the word go and Mustafa used his bowlers brilliantly.
Hard to explain a scorecard which sees only 3 wickets fall, an opening batter batting right through till the end, making 60, an opening partnerhip of 61 in 34 balls, but still failing to cross 100. That's T10 cricket for you. You just never know when can a game turn. UP were looking full throttle when the openers were going great guns but once Malan fell, the Samp Army pounced in. They starved Gurbaz off strike and focussed on the other batters.
Wow. The spin army of Morrisville Samp has done it for them. 4 spinners used, with combined figures of 6-0-40-2. That's the game right there. Just squeezed out the Nawabs who were within a shot of getting their first kebab this season.
In over# 10
0
4b
0W
1wd
1
1
0W
Amir Hamza Hotak 9/2(2)
9.6
.
MORRISVILLE SAMP ARMY WIN! Hamza gets it right in the hole, outside off and Odean can only dig it out towards cover! He sets off for the single but a frustrated and downcast Gurbaz declines the run. It will be a dot ball and the Samp Army win by 3 runs!
9.5
4b
FOUR BYES! This match is not done yet! The keeper gets nutmegged on this occasion. A missile from Hotak, full and outside off, Odean Smith swings but misses. Luckily for him, the keeper Andries Gous is unable to get up in time and the ball snakes through between his legs, to the fence behind! 4 needed on the final ball now!
OUT! CAUGHT! Rahmanullah Gurbaz throws his bat down in disgust, at the non-striker's end. It was a full toss, around off and Andre Fletcher threw the kitchen sink at it. But he got more height than distance and with plenty of protection on the leg side, the ball finds one of them, Taimoor Ali, at wide long on. Fletcher departs for 1 (2) and UP Nawabs are 93/3, needing 8 from 2 balls!
9.4
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Rahmanullah Gurbaz throws his bat down in disgust, at the non-striker's end. It was a full toss, around off and Andre Fletcher threw the kitchen sink at it. But he got more height than distance and with plenty of protection on the leg side, the ball finds one of them, Taimoor Ali, at wide long on. Fletcher departs for 1 (2) and UP Nawabs are 93/3, needing 8 from 2 balls!
9.4
1wd
WIDE. Miles outside off, left alone. 8 needed from 3.
9.3
1
Fuller, outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz backs away and looks to hammer it. Gets it from the toe end of the bat, wide of the bowler, towards long off. Gurbaz turns blind for the second but Fletcher does not come. Gurbaz has to return with a dive but is unhappy, He believes that Fletcher should have sacrificed his wicket. 9 needed from 3 now.
9.2
1
A full toss, outside off, slapped to long off for a single. 10 needed from 4 now.
Andre Fletcher walks in next at number 4, replacing Najibullah Zadran.
OUT! CAUGHT! A wicket on the first ball and even though the Samp Army would have preferred Gurbaz, this wicket means that Gurbaz will not come back on strike till the third ball! Slower through the air, outside off, Najibullah Zadran goes for an ungainly slog and perishes against the wide line. He has to fetch the ball and as a result, gets a massive top edge. The ball goes straight up in the air and Isuru Udana takes it calmly at point, getting across from short third. Najibullah departs for 10 (11) and UP Nawabs are 90/2, needing 11 from 5 balls!