Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 10: Riding on the magical performance of their spin duo of Rafiq Baba and Raman Dutta, clinical Mirza Gladiators (Hazrat Bal) beat Ghani Gliders (Zaina Kadal) by 2 runs in Qualifier 1, a cliffhanger, to confirm their place in the coveted finals of the ongoing Downtown Champions League (DCL) at the University of Kashmir Ground, here today. Lack of experience, series of run outs, coupled with senseless cricket led Ghani Gliders to defeat.
Ghani Gliders’ skipper Omar Alam won the toss but invited Mirza Gladiators to bat first. Alam’s decision seemed right at the half-way stage, as Mirza Gladiators batsmen failed to make any serious impression and folded out for trifling 120 in 18.1 overs. At one point in time it looked as if Gladiators would not be able to cross the double digit mark, but some sensible batting by Sameer, Aka Bell, and skipper Abid Nabi in the middle ensured that the Gladiators’ ship did not sink. Sameer’s knock of 43 proved match winning in the end. Abid Nabi made 21.
Ghani Gliders were led well by their leader in Omar Alam who claimed two wickets. Irfan Yusuf bowled a magnificent spell and took three wickets in four overs conceding only 16 runs while mystery bowler Riyaz also claimed couple of wickets but went for 31 runs.
Chasing 121 seemed a cakewalk during the break but skipper of Mirza Gladiators Abid Nabi played a master stroke by introducing left-arm spin bowler Raman Dutta in the very first over.
Follow our WhatsApp channel