SSS VS THY T20

That ends the Legends League contest for the day! In case you are wondering why was a day game played, it is a timely reminder for everyone that very soon, India will be taking on Bangladesh in the second T20I in Delhi. That contest starts at 7 pm IST but our dedicated folks have already got their typing pads working. Along with that, the Indian Eves are also ready for a rematch of the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, this time for a bigger prize, as the Women's T20 World Cup continues in the Middle East. Thursday, 10th October, 2024 will see India Capitals take on Manipal Tigers in Srinagar. The first ball should be bowled at 7 pm IST (1330 GMT), but we will be in much early with all the pre-match stuff. We are logging off for now, but do keep checking the tabs for all the action involving India, the Women's T20 World Cup and also, the Test series between Pakistan and England where Bazball is at its peak. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Turn of tide at the business end? Three wins on the trot for Hyderabad and 2 losses on the bounce for the Super Stars. As Kedar Jadhav mentioned earlier, there could have been a lapse in concentration because of the qualification but there is no time for another lapse. Technically, his team can afford one more defeat as the teams in Qualifier 1 get two chances at the trophy but he would want to get back to winning ways and seal the team's path to the final. Hyderabad, on the other hand, despite the momentum, could still end up playing in the Eliminator, because of how closely the table is stacked. But they would be happy to enter the knockouts on the back of a win.

Victorious Toyam Hyderabad captain, GURKEERAT SINGH MANN, says that he is really proud of his team for putting more than 100 percent in this game. Admits that the wicket did ease out in the second innings but had he won the toss, he would have batted first as well. On his batting, on being asked whether the short square boundaries were in his sight, the skipper says that his primary motive was to form a partnership with Ravi Jangid at that stage, as one could always cover up later on. Is proud to be a part of a competitive game in Srinagar, which rarely sees the sport being played here. Is happy with the turnaround of his team, winning 3 on the trot, but adds that even in the games that they lost, they went down to the last over, suggesting that Hyderabad were not playing badly.

For his allround show of 1/24 and a solid 42, RAVI JANGID HAS BEEN ADJUDGED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH.

Southern Super Stars skipper, KEDAR JADHAV, says that his bowlers were off the mark. Admits that looking at the pitch in the first innings, they felt that the pitch would get worse, but instead, the contrary happened. On him not bowling himself much, Jadhav honestly says that on these type of wickets batters would go after him and humbly says that he does not have any variations in his bowling. Admits that his team lacked intensity in the last two games and experimented quite a lot with their batting, since they had already qualified but promises a better, professional show, come the 12th of October, when they will play Qualifier 1. Ends by saying that it is awesome to be playing near the mountains and is happy to see that cricket can actually be played without breaking a sweat.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, the Southern Super Stars huffed and puffed their way past 150. No single batter could be credited to having had a feel of the pitch and which is why this is one game where there was no half century and 3 batters got dismissed in the 30s. SSS had Shreevats Goswami and Chirag Gandhi raise an 81-run stand for the 4th wicket but unfortunately for them, it ended up being on the losing side. Hyderabad used as many as 5 spinning options, out of 6 bowlers and barring Bipul Sharma and Shadab Jakati, everyone bowled well. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Hard to rate Kedar Jadhav's captaincy for the game. He used only three bowlers for the first 12 overs. Whether that was because he believed that Hamid, Razzak and Karia were his best wicket-taking options, or because he was thinking way ahead, for the playoffs, should they face a similar situation then. That sameness in the bowling allowed the Gurkeerat-Jangid stand to prosper. Another worrying aspect was the number of wide balls bowled by Southern Super Stars, showing that they were never in control of the ball, barring Jesal Karia and Pawan Negi. Abdur Razzak started well, taking 2 scalps but was taken for aplenty towards the end.

The Team In Yellow came out swinging like there is no tomorrow and went hammer and tongs at the Super Stars. They kept losing wickets but kept on coming at the bowlers. The scoreboard read 56/3 at the end of 6 overs - maybe, a wicket too many for Hyderabad - but the required rate had come down to 7 an over and the platform was set. Captain Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Ravi Jangid then got together and brewed a partnership along, which mustered pace as the game went on. Gurkeerat was the main aggressor while Jangid seemed content on rotating the strike and batting through. The partnership was broken on 69, but by then, victory was at the doorstep, albeit with some chaos towards the end.

If you are just tuning in now, you would take a look at the scorecard and say - okay, 153 - a below-par total in the modern age T20 era - what's the fuss? If you had checked the first innings, where the ball was gripping, stopping, turning and even staying low - 153 seemed like more than a handy total at the halfway mark. But as is always the case on such tracks, the new ball is the key and Hyderabad mastered the Powerplay to perfection.

Well, well, well - momentum is some word, isn't it? No wins for the first four matches for Toyam Hyderabad, staying at the bottom of the table and then, suddenly, a hattrick of wins takes them to the second spot! And to beat the top-ranked side, arguably the best team in the tournament, that too, back-to-back, says a lot. Congratulations to them as HYDERABAD BECOME THE SECOND TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE PLAYOFFS!

SIX! BOOM! Samiullah Shinwari hits it onto the roof to finish the game! Back-of-the-hand slower delivery from Bhati, on a back of a length from over the wicket, on off and middle. Samiullah Shinwari stays put and picks the change of pace. Holds his shape and pulls it well over deep square leg for a biggie. Toyam Hyderabad win by 5 wickets with 10 balls to spare and have booked themselves a spot in the playoffs!

Bhati goes wide of the crease on the around-the-wicket angle and serves a waist-high full toss, on off, Ravi Jangid punches it past point for one. Looked high initially but no signal from the umpire.

Flat and short, around off, Samiullah Shinwari presses half-forward and taps it to backward point.

This goes straight on, on off, Ravi Jangid punches it wide of cover and crosses over. 3 more needed now.

Slower and shorter, a hint of turn towards the batter, Ravi Jangid tries to steer it with an open bat face but gets an inside edge onto the body.

WIDE! Fired down leg by Negi, Ravi Jangid swings to get this one behind square on the leg side but misses. Wide called.