MNT VS KSO T20

A humdinger to begin the tournament! Can't ask for more, can we? Actually, we can. There was not much cricketing action with the bat, to be honest, so hopefully, we get better action in the coming days. Both the teams take a 6-day break before meeting on Friday, 27th September, 2024 in a reverse clash in Surat. As far as this tournament is concerned, India Capitals and Toyam Hyderabad (Urbanrisers Hyderabad from 2023) clash in match number 2 in a day game on Saturday, 21st September, 2024. The first ball will be bowled at 3 pm IST (0930 GMT) but our build-up will begin much earlier. Hope to find your company then. We take your leave for now but do check out what's happening in the second Afghanistan-South Africa ODI. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Victorious Konark Suryas Odisha captain, IRFAN PATHAN, says that in the mid-innings break, he told his team that the pitch is on the slower side, so to try and take wickets in the Powerplay as a poor new-ball spell could end the game in the Powerplay itself. On taking the gamble to bowl the 20th over, Irfan says that honestly, he did not have any other option apart from Munaweera. Thanks Vinay Kumar for pointing out before the last ball that Ben Laughlin was tired after a jetlag and hence, he swapped him with Ambati Rayudu at the ropes. Praises his team for not conceding a single boundary for 13 overs. On his own over, Pathan says that he was trying mostly to bowl cutters and just one quick ball and hit the pitch, so that the batters do all the hitting.

Konark Suryas Odisha's VINAY KUMAR HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Kumar says that he was clear in his mind while batting in the 20th over. Adds that bowlers usually go for yorkers and hence, he judged the lengths accordingly. Thanks Robin Uthappa for helping him in the nets on Thursday while batting. Ends by saying that this is a new team and everyone is thrilled with this victory, which means a lot for them.

Manipal Tigers skipper, HARBHAJAN SINGH, says that 105 was chaseable but feels that the wicket was not the best to be played on. Credits both the teams for putting on a fight and spares some few words for Dan Christian. On the reason for the loss, Bhajji says that on a track which is slow and low, one needs to keep on rotating the strike and not just go for the big shots. But also adds that considering that this was just their first game, it is okay as they can learn in their upcoming matches. On the feeling in the Manipal dugout when the first ball of the 20th over went for a six, Harbhajan smiles and says that they should have definitely won from there but adds that these things happen.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, Manipal Tigers bowled brilliantly to restrict Konark Suryas Odisha to a modest 104/9. At that stage, it looked massively under par and had it not been for that massive 17-run 20th over, Odisha would not have even reached triple digits and perhaps, Manipal would have emerged victorious. On a night belonging to the bowlers, only two batters reached 30, that too, from the losing side. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Hard pill to swallow for Manipal. They should have chased down 105 on any given day but they blew up their Powerplay. Still, they played like champions to get within touching distance of the win, but could not get the sweet. Their top 5 prove a bitter reading with 5 single-digit figures and usually, in such low-scoring games, one decent partnership is good enough. That did come for Manipal, but it was 3 short. Good batting from Christian and Pienaar but questions will be asked of the others as to why didn't they apply themselves on this wicket.

Again, did we say? Think again. Having exhausted all his 4 premier bowlers, Irfan Pathan had no one else to turn to, to bowl the 20th over. There was Dilshan Munaweera, who had done well till then, but who would risk an offie to bowl the 20th over? Maybe, Aiden Markram might, but the World Cup is already over. Irfan had probably not expected the match to last 40 overs, so he never thought of using 6 bowling options. Forcefully, he had to use himself and the first ball set the tone - Wide. Then the next sent it into another octave - Six. But the fun was not done. With 6 needed from 5 balls, Irfan came back superbly, to concede just 3 from the next 4 and stole victory from the jaws of defeat! Everyone bowled well but that fantastic Powerplay upfront with the ball set it up for Odisha.

One Aussie and one Saffa got together and did the basic things right. Rotating the strike and get the odd boundary here and there. Then, at the right time, the counter-attack came but so did the strike from the opposition. In the 19th over, Christian miscued his cover drive and was dismissed, leaving his team needing 18 from 10 balls. At that stage, we felt that the writing was indeed on the wall. Again.

Where did Manipal lose it? In the Powerplay? One has to feel so. At 12/3, things just did not look right and when Gunaratne fell in the 13th over, with the score reading 38, the writing did seem to be on the wall. But as we have always witnessed in cricket matches, there is always one or the other fightback around the corner. Manipal found that through Dan Christian and Obus Pienaar.

Phew! So near, yet so far! Unbelievable. These legends keep turning it on even after so many years! This match might not have been for the chartbusters for the cricket being played, but that last over just gave everyone plenty to smile about.

OUT! CAUGHT! KONARK SURYAS ODISHA WIN BY 2 RUNS! Irfan Pathan is all smiles and the defending champions have somehow managed to lose from a winning position. Irfan bowls a length ball, around off, Pienaar looks to go big and skies the ball high in the air. It seems like the ball will clear the ropes but then, two fielders get ready to catch it at the mid-wicket boundary. One of the fielders calls for it, Ambati Rayudu, from deep square leg and takes a very good catch to his left, in front of the ropes! The crowd erupts as one and it certainly has got its money's worth.

OUT! CAUGHT! KONARK SURYAS ODISHA WIN BY 2 RUNS! Irfan Pathan is all smiles and the defending champions have somehow managed to lose from a winning position. Irfan bowls a length ball, around off, Pienaar looks to go big and skies the ball high in the air. It seems like the ball will clear the ropes but then, two fielders get ready to catch it at the mid-wicket boundary. One of the fielders calls for it, Ambati Rayudu, from deep square leg and takes a very good catch to his left, in front of the ropes! The crowd erupts as one and it certainly has got its money's worth.

Right. 3 to win. 2 to tie. What for do we vie?

Outstanding ball. On a length, outside off, Singh punches it towards wide long off. Just a single. Fantastic comeback by Irfan after going for 7 after 1 legal ball.

A slower short ball, outside off, angling away, Pienaar swings it towards deep mid-wicket for a run. 4 needed from 2 balls.

Dot ball! Finally gets his length right, fuller and outside off, stays low, Obus Pienaar looks to pull but is beaten by the lack of bounce.

Another slower ball, short in length, Anureet looks to repeat that dose but is a tad early. The ball takes the inside edge and dribbles towards mid-wicket. A single taken. 5 needed from 4.

SIX! BANG! Is that the killer blow? Another slower ball, but short in length, Anureet Singh rocks back and pulls it powerfully over mid-wicket! Got to be the Tigers' game now - 6 needed from 5 balls.