After putting on that huge score on the board, it was always Panjab's game to lose. However, it would be wrong to say that Fresh Tropical did not give them a scare.
The chasing team had a near perfect start with Zain Naqvi scoring 20 off the first balls. While he got out on the 5th, his opening partner Amir Sharif then took over and put on an exhibition of some clean ball striking.
At the half way stage, Fresh Tropical were ahead in the game. But then, the skipper delivered the goods for Panjab. Hardeep Singh came back in to the attack to bowl an over where he conceded only 6 runs and picked up two wickets. Fresh Tropical could never really recover from it and succumb to a 32 runs defeat.
Panjab advance to the finals, while Fresh Tropical will now feature in the bronze final match.
10
overs
146/9score
0
0
1
1
W
1
runs
Ali Haider*
1(1)
Zahid Cheema
6(3)
Sukhwinder Singh
2/16
9.6 Sukhwinder Singh to Haider Ali, PANJAB ARE OUT FIRST FINALISTS! Full around off-stump. A swing through the line from the crease and an outside edge down to third man for just the single!
New batter in is Haider Ali, RHB.
9.5 Sukhwinder Singh to Ahmadullah Safi, GOT HIM! Good length ball on off-and-middle. Safi stepped out and tried to whack it over deep mid-off. he mistimed it and got caught at cover!
Ahmadullah Safi c Jaspreet Kumar b Sukhwinder Singh 34 (14b, 0x4, 5x6)
9.4 Sukhwinder Singh to Zahid Cheema, short on off-stump. Cheema moved across to lap it around but could only get a single to the backward square-leg area!
9.3 Sukhwinder Singh to Ahmadullah Safi, full toss on middle-stump. Hoicked away off the back foot to the deep mid-wicket area for a single.
34 runs to win off 4 balls.
9.2 Sukhwinder Singh to Ahmadullah Safi, short over off-and-middle. Another swing and a miss, this time off the back foot! Dot delivery yet again.
That should seal it. Don't bowl any wides or no-balls now. 34 runs to win off 5 balls.
9.1 Sukhwinder Singh to Ahmadullah Safi, length ball over leg-stump. Safi swings for the skies with the angle and gets beaten completely! No run.
Sukhwinder Singh [1-0-13-1] has the responsibility to bowl the final 6 balls.
Well, the game is not done yet. 36 runs to win off the last 6 balls. It is improbable. But at the ECN, we have seen some crazy things happen in the past. So, whose to say it can't be done?
9
overs
143/8score
0
6
6
6
1
4
runs
Zahid Cheema*
5(2)
Ahmadullah Safi
33(10)
Gurdip Singh
0/37
8.6 Gurdip Singh to Zahid Cheema, FOUR! Length ball around off-stump. Crunched along the turf through cover on the up for a boundary!
Cheema needs to hit a boundary here. He has the license to swing for the heavens.
8.5 Gurdip Singh to Ahmadullah Safi, full around off-stump. Drilled down to the long-on area from deep in the crease for a single.
That is three sixes in a row now. Can Safi do the improbable?
8.4 Gurdip Singh to Ahmadullah Safi, PARRIED FOR SIX! Full toss around off-stump. Smacked flat and to long-on from the back foot. The fielder tries to catch it and just tips it over the bar in the process!
8.3 Gurdip Singh to Ahmadullah Safi, SIX RUNS! Full on leg-stump. Safi moves back in his crease and absolutely wallops this over deep mid-wicket for a maximum!