Local League: Bowlers call the shots in Grand Slam-Vijay match

At stumps on day one, Pistons reached 19 for one in five overs. Trotters’ skipper MS Washington Sundar arrived at the crease after the fall of first wicket and scored a composed 44 off 79 balls with four fours and two sixes. Nidhish S Rajagopal scalped the key wickets of Washington and opener C Hari Nishaanth.  

Anmolpreet Singh blazed his way to a quick-fire 66 (84b, 9x4, 1x6) and was involved in a 69-run association with Washington for the fourth wicket. Trotters’ innings looked to be in danger of being bowled out for less than 200 but U Sushil 44 (99b, 5x4) ensured that his team crossed the 200-run mark. In the five overs possible before the close of play, off-spinner Washington struck a crucial blow removing opener Nidhish S for one run. 

In the other semi-final, a total of 15 wickets fell as Grand Slam CC was skittled out for 131 by Vijay CC. In response, Vijay lost four wickets for 70 runs. Vijay CC’s left-arm spinner Rahil S Shah continued his good show taking four wickets for 33 runs while pacer M Mohammed too chipped in with four scalps. 

The other two were accounted for by A Aswin Crist. None of the Grand Slam batsmen could cross 20 as Vijay CC kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Grand Slam bowlers came back hard at Vijay’s batsmen reducing it 70 for four. P Amarnath picked up two wickets. 

ELITE: SF: Globe Trotters 232 in 82.4 overs (M. S. Washington Sundar 44, Anmolpreet Singh 66, U. Sushil 44, Maan K. Bafna 5/23, Nidhish S. Rajagopal 2/57, M. Prabhu 2/65) vs India Pistons 19/1 in 5 overs. Grand Slam 131 in 51.3 overs (PS Raghul 19, P. Amarnath 19*, Rahil Shah 4/33, M. Mohammed 4/39, A. Aswin Crist 2/9) vs Vijay 70/4 in 30 overs (R. Rohith 32, P. Amarnath 2/18).