Cricket360 could find both Ahmedabad Rockets and Chandigarh Lions, free of tension when they came face to face in the 35th ICL T-20 Challenge as they had no chance to get in to the last four of ICL Season 2. Rockets were determined to make it big in their last match and Martyn; their skipper chose to bat after winning the toss. Openers Campbell and Godwin smashed the bowlers all around the corners from the very beginning itself. The opening partnership clinched 44 runs and then Campbell departed with earnings of 28 runs off just 12 deliveries.

One more partnership of 44 runs was built up by Godwin and Martyn and the latter fell at 98 runs on the score board. In the first 10 overs, Rockets were well settled beyond 100 runs and cricket360 expected a longer innings from Godwin but he was bowled by Rajesh on the first delivery of the 12th over for 61 runs. He took only 31 balls to contribute those many runs. Later the act of destruction was taken over by Sodhi and Sanjeev and they made the score card read 143 for 3 after 13 overs.

The rate of scoring but started diminishing further and they could add only 37 runs in the next 5 overs for the loss of another 3 wickets which included Sodhi (23 runs) and Sanjeev (32 runs). The last over was bowled by Ablish and he nabbed 3 wickets in that over to make a 4 wickets haul. Ahmedabad Rockets were all out at 197 runs with one ball to spare.

Cricket360 couldn’t find the zeal to dominate and win over the opponents among the Lions after they came out to chase down the target. They kept on throwing away their wickets as if they were there to just complete the formalities of the match and were least interested in the outcome of the match. In the first 3 overs they were wandering around 12 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. Andrew Hall was the lone soldier to fight out there. His innings too curtained down by B Rao with the help of Sodhi for 22 runs. Lions took 10.2 overs to climb over the peak of 50 runs.

Lions’ poor response to a challenging total was given some life by Karanveer and Uniyal in the last phase of their innings. Karanveer made a brilliant 42 runs laced with 2 sixes before he failed to sweep Sriram to become LBW. Uniyal was a treat to watch and he entertained the big crowd with a 50 runs stand along with Harpreet for the 8th wicket. An unlucky Uniyal got run out by an impressive effort from Sodhi for 45 runs. Nothing more was left out in the arsenal of Chandigarh Lions and they surrendered before Ahmedabad Rockets at 158 for 9 after 20 overs. Rockets had clinched a convincing win in their last ICL Season 2 encounter and Godwin went back home with man of the match award.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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