This weekend saw wins for Mavecrics, Senayan CC, Jaguar CC and the first tied game of the season between Ceylon CC & Challengers CC in the GMIS JCA League. Nimesh Shah continued his penchant for taking big wicket hauls with his second fiver of the season.
Challengers CC took on the Division 2 leaders Ceylon CC in a T20 game on Sunday and were quickly into the action having taken 3 top order wickets after Ceylon elected to bat first. Rajeev Kumar justified the faith his skipper showed by promoting him to open the innings as he anchored one end while losing partners at the other end. The slower bowling twins Vimal Nair & Manickavasagan did most of the damage as last the 5 wickets fell for just 34 runs & Ceylon were bowled out for 106.
The target of 107 looked chaseable on paper but Challengers lost too many wickets early on as Lakmal & Shubham Patni benefited from the brilliant tight opening spell by Sanjeewa. Vimal Nair was called upon once again to hold the Challengers innings together which he did gallantly till he was caught behind with his team at 75 for 6. Srinivasan Govindarajan, known for his plucky confidence was at the crease when Challengers needed 16 runs of the last over with two wickets in hand.
A couple of big sixes and a frantically run couple by Srini meant only 2 runs were needed off the last 3 balls. Rajeev Kumar, then fought back brilliantly to get rid of Srini off the 4thball and Manickavasagan took a single of the 5thball to tie the scores. Rajeev, then trapped Arul Kumar in front with the last ball to tie the game for his team.
