Hyderabad Heroes beat Mumbai Champs

Panchkula, Nov 6 (UNI) Hyderabad Heroes carved out an easy 79-run victory over Mumbai Champs in the 32nd match of the ICL 20s Indian Championship at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex here today.

Nicky Boje was declared Man of the Match for his sparkling knock of 88.

Chasing a victory target of 216, Mumbai Champions could muster only 135 for 6 in allotted 20 overs. Skipper Jadhav and Morris who got off to a reasonable start till a terrible mix-up saw the end of Morris in the third over. The fifth over mark had the Mumbai Champs placed at 37 for 1 needing another 178 runs with a run rate of 12 runs per over. Harris introduced his famed twin spin attack as early as the 7th over and both Boje and Reddy worked up a disciplined spell, adding to the vows of the Mumbai chase. At the 10th over mark, Mumbai were struggling at 66 for 3.

Young Reddy picked up his second scalp of the match with the big wicket of Dheeraj Jadhav (43), in the 12th over.

The spinners were doing the job brilliantly for Hyderabad blocking off the boundaries and in turn putting extra pressure on the Mumbai batsmen. The pressure eventually started taking a toll on the Mumbai innings, reeling at 94 for 6 in the 14th over.

In the end, Mumbai Champs fell short of the target by 79 runs.

For the Hyderabad Heroes, it was I S Reddy who returned in the figures of 3/25.

Earlier, Chris Harris won the toss and elected to bat. Mumbai Champs got off to a great start in the field, seeing the back of the dangerous Abdul Razzaq with the first ball of the match.

Jimmy Maher and prodigal Rayudu got into the repair act right away and took the score to 45 before Rayudu threw his wicket to a rash shot off the last ball of the fifth over.

Mumbai's new bowlers Van der Wath and Kasprowicz were bowling with a lot of purpose. Kasprowicz got into the act in the very next bringing curtains on a promising innings of 19 runs from Jimmy Maher.

Hyderabad Heroes' batting depth, however, was on full view and despite the early reversals, they were placed at 69 for 3 at the 7th over mark, scoring nearly 10 runs per over.

The halfway mark of their innings had the defending champions placed at 89 for 4 and Binny and Boje holding the batting mantel.

Boje got into the accelerative mode in the crucial middle overs with 18 runs off Robin Morris' 14th over and took the score to 140/4 at that stage of the match, setting for a major onslaught in the final overs.

Binny too got into the act taking 17 runs off Vander Wath's 15th over to take the 5th wicket partnership to dangerous proportions for the Mumbai Champs. Binny hit his 2nd ICL half century off only 24 balls, laced with 5 fours and 3 sixes.

Avinash Yadav finally brought to an end the 92-run partnership for the 5th wicket with the scalp of Binny out for a well made 51.

Boje brought about his well deserved fifty runs off 36 balls in the 17th over.

Boje stepped on the accelerator and some brilliant batting took the defending champions to the highest total of the tournament, folding their innings at a humongous 214/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Boje's innings of 88 came off only 49 balls studded with 8 fours and 5 sixes.

Brief scores: Hyderabad Heroes: 214 for 6 in 20 overs (Boje 88, Binny 51, Kasprowicz 2 for 35).

Mumbai Champs 135/6 in 20 overs (Jadhav 43, Van der Wath 26, Reddy 3 for 25).

UNI XC PK RN2400