Who said cloud cover helps fast-bowlers? Not in T10! Zalmi dominated with the ball in the bright sunshine but as soon as that cloud cover came on from the left of our screen, United started clicking and ended up with a fighting total.
Mehboob Ali bowled a poor first over but got lucky with Qasim's wicket. Salman Sharjeel took it one step further by prizing out the dangerous Ajmal in the second over. Ali got found out in the third but Kaushal got Ameer and United were at an unenviable 25/3.
Then Jaspal Singh happened. Having failed to convert most of his starts this series, he took on the bowlers with aplomb and reached to his first 50 of ECS. Ramesan supported him well from the other end and they managed to get till the last over unscathed.
This is by no means a winning total but runs on the board matter more in knockouts. We'll see how it all unfolds in just a few minutes!
10
overs
115/4score
0
1
6
0
6
W
runs
Jaspal Singh*
53(22)
Arun Ramesan
47(26)
Waseem Abbas
0/26
9.6 Waseem Abbas to Jaspal Singh, RUN OUT TO FINISH! Full outside off stump, Jaspal gave himself room to try and maul this one over the off side, didn't connect. So engrossed he was in ruing the missed opportunity that he never noticed Ramesan hurtling towards his end. By the time he realized and set off, the keeper underarmed the ball towards the bowler, who broke the sticks and caught Jaspal yards short of his ground. Swieqi United end with 115 in their 10 overs!
Jaspal Singh run out (Adnan Anwar/Waseem Abbas) 53 (22b, 0x4, 8x6)
9.5 Waseem Abbas to Jaspal Singh, SIX! Fifty for Jaspal Singh! Full toss on off stump, Jaspal gets right under this one and clubs the ball well over the ropes at long off!
9.4 Waseem Abbas to Jaspal Singh, on a length outside off, Jaspal had a swing aiming for the leg side, missed out
He moves to 47!
9.3 Waseem Abbas to Jaspal Singh, SIX! Incredible! Abbas misses the wide yorker by inches - this one ends up being a half volley close to the tramline. Jaspal got right under it, sliced the ball over point and cleared the ropes!
9.2 Waseem Abbas to Arun Ramesan, Abbas went full and followed the batter as Ramesan moved away. Ramesan bunted this one towards long on, and Jaspal has the strike
9.1 Waseem Abbas to Arun Ramesan, full outside off, Ramesan had a big swing aiming for the off side, missed out
Waseem Abbas will finish things off
A big last over coming up. United have all the momentum in the world behind them. But this still isn't a match-winning total. Can the bowling side take something back from this?
9
overs
102/3score
0
6
1
6
0
1
runs
Arun Ramesan*
46(24)
Jaspal Singh
41(18)
Fazil Rahman
0/21
8.6 Fazil Rahman to Arun Ramesan, fires the yorker in on leg stump, Ramesan somehow squeezed it towards the off side. A direct hit would have been curtains for Jaspal
8.5 Fazil Rahman to Arun Ramesan, full, swinging away from the batter, Ramesan had an aimless slog at it, missed the ball completely
8.4 Fazil Rahman to Arun Ramesan, SIX! The hundred comes up! Full outside off, Ramesan threw the kitchen sink at it, the ball took a thick outside edge, flew towards third man, the fielder in the deep leapt and got a hand to it, but ended up parrying the ball over!
8.3 Fazil Rahman to Jaspal Singh, short of a length, pulled away towards deep mid wicket. Just a single
8.2 Fazil Rahman to Jaspal Singh, SIX! Full on middle and leg, Jaspal moved away and lofted this one towards long off. The timing and connection were good enough to clear the man and ropes out there!
8.1 Fazil Rahman to Jaspal Singh, short, wide outside off, Jaspal looked to slash this one over point, misses out