Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, July 28: Defeating strong side of TCI Cheetahs in a tough contest by 4 wickets, Surya Risers have shone like a rising sun by clinching their 4th consecutive victory to become top contenders for the play-offs in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Corporate Premier League (JKCPL) at MA Stadium, here today.
Earlier, winning the toss and batting first, TCI Cheetahs managed to score a modest total of 120 runs in the stipulated 20 overs, losing 7 wickets in the process. Feroz was the top scorer with 39 runs off 42 balls, which included 4 boundaries and one towering six, while skipper Majid Dar contributed unbeaten 24 runs off 21 balls with one four and one six. Both of them struck the ball with utmost timing and fluidity. Manik Gupta also chipped in with 13 runs. For Surya Risers, speedster Nitin Mehra captured 3 important wickets by conceding 15 runs in his 4 overs, while left-arm spinner Rompy Sharma took 2 wickets by giving away 18 runs in his 4 overs. Inderjeet Singh and Anoop Mangotra claimed one wicket each.
In reply, Surya Risers rode on a power-packed knock of 40 runs off 28 balls with 7 crispy boundaries by Bansi Lal reached the target in 18.2 overs. The unsung cricketer Bansi was simply on song and made his willow do the talking. In form batsman Pranav Gupta contributed valuable 26 runs off 30 balls, studded with 2 fours and one maximum. Inderjeet Singh also played a gutsy knock of 25 runs with the help of 4 delectable boundaries, while skipper Ian Dev Singh finished the match in style by hitting a boundary and a six in his brief unbeaten knock to take his team home. For TCI Cheetahs, Waris took 2 wickets, while Pawan Negi, Manik Gupta and Usman claimed one wicket apiece.
Bansi Lal of Surya Risers was adjudged HDFC man of the match, while Feroz got the TCI Maximum Sixes Award. The awards were given to them by Iqbal Shah, mentor TCI Cheetahs, SK Bansal, match referee and former International umpire and Bashir Bhat, senior cricketer. The owners of the two teams were also present on the occasion.
The match was officiated by BCCI panel umpires Amit Bansal and Sudhir Singh, while Dheeraj and Mohsin acted as scorers. SK Bansal was the match referee.
In the tomorrow’s fixture, two matches will be played and the first match between Simula Bulls and Surya Risers will begin at 10:30 am.