What an absolute thriller we've just had here and the Zalmi have clinched it by 13 runs! Msida had a mountain to climb but they were kept in the chase by Rocky Dianish who almost singlehandedly won them the game. He put in a humongous effort as he scored a magnificent 84 of 33 balls. Unfortunately for the Warriors he didn't really have a lot of support from the other end. The second highest scorer was Ajin Soman with 12 and no other batter apart from the openers, crossed the double figures.
The Gozo Zalmi bowlers did go the distance but they kept their nerve and managed to make comebacks at critical junctures with wickets. They kept getting the breakthrough's from one end and that made life incredibly difficult for Rocky Dianish who was left stranded. He did give them a major scare in the last over as they needed 14 of 3 balls at one stage but Shakir bowled a brilliant delivery to get him LBW and from there they sealed it.
Gozo Zalmi win by 13 runs!
10
overs
120/6score
0
1wd
6
6
W
1
0
runs
Shijil Joy*
0(2)
Joy Mathai
1(1)
Shakir Afridi
1/14
9.6 Shakir Afridi to Shijil Joy, DOT BALL! GOZO ZALMI STORM INTO THE SEMI-FINALS! Full and angled into Joy, backed away to hoick and misses, through to the keeper. Zalmi the deserving winners but take no credit away from Warriors as Rocky Dianish played a blistering knock.
9.5 Shakir Afridi to Rocky Dianish, yorker length, angled into Mathai, drilled it back to the bowler who picks it up and has a shy at the stumps and misses, they sneak in a single anyway.
Joy Mathai, RHB, comes to the crease.
9.4 Shakir Afridi to Rocky Dianish, OUT! LOUD APPEAL FOR LBW, UP GOES THE FINGER! That's the end of Dianish, take a bow, that was a scintillating innings from him to take his team close to where they are. Length delivery on the middle and leg, Dianish walks across to sweep but misses, raps on the pad.
Rocky Dianish lbw Shakir Afridi 84(33b 7x4 8x6)
9.3 Shakir Afridi to Rocky Dianish, SIX MORE! Back to back maximum, Dianish is on fire here. Length delivery on the off-stump, sits on one knee to access on-side and he's DISPATCHED it way over deep square-leg fence for another maximum. Shakir is under the pump now!
9.2 Shakir Afridi to Rocky Dianish, SIX! BAM! This game is not over by any means here, Dianish believes he can pull off a heist. Short and slightly down the leg-side, DIanish gets inside the line and SMOKES it way over fine-leg fence for a maximum.
9.2 Shakir Afridi to Rocky Dianish, WIDE! Full and angled into Dianish, but strays down the leg-side, called a wide.
9.1 Shakir Afridi to Rocky Dianish, short and angled into Dianish, down the leg-side, pulled it down to fine-leg, fielder gives the chase and a top effort from the keeper who runs all the way to parry it back with a dive as they come back for a brace.
Shakir Afridi, right arm medium, comes into the attack.
Mehboob went for some runs, early in that over but he came back well to finish things off! Just 1 over is remaining here and they will need 28 for the win here.
9
overs
106/5score
1
4
6
1
1W
0
runs
Shijil Joy*
0(1)
Rocky Dianish
72(29)
Mehboob Ali
2/18
8.6 Mehboob Ali to Shijil Joy, yorker length on the fourth stump, Joy shuffling too much inside the crease, decides to sweep and misses.
Shijil Joy, LHB, comes to the crease.
8.5 Mehboob Ali to Tony Louis, RUN-OUT! Length delivery on the off-stump, Louis smacked it down to long-off, they decide to scamper back for the brace and Louis finds himself well short and has to go!
Tony Louis run out (Zeeshan Khan/ Ijaz Ahmed) 5(5b 0x4 0x6)
8.4 Mehboob Ali to Rocky Dianish, change of pace, back of a length on the off-stump, Dianish heaves it to deep square-leg for one.
8.3 Mehboob Ali to Rocky Dianish, SIX! BAM! Is there still hope for Warriors? Dianish throwing all the punches now. Length delivery on the stumps, Dianish lifts it and then sends it sailing over long-off fence for a maximum.
8.2 Mehboob Ali to Rocky Dianish, FOUR! Clever from Dianish. Length delivery on the stumps, gets into position and ramps it over the top of short third, runs away and finds the ropes again.
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Marsa Sports Club, Malta
Shijil Joy
*
Shakir Afridi
Video
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