Shivaji Park Lions are 147/3 in 15 overs. They need 48 runs from 30 balls to defeat SoBo Supersonics and reach the Final of the inaugural T20 Mumbai scheduled on 21st March at the Wankhede Stadium.
The SoBo Supersonics Captain Abhishek Nayar has no significant fifth bowler option. He chooses Jay Bista to bowl the 16th over, the most economical bower of the night, SO FAR. Bista in his first over had given only two runs. The right-arm off-spin bowler is brought into the attack.
The fatal attack, however, is launched by Hardik Tamore and Alpesh Ramjani who make the most of what they are served. Both the Lions batsmen storm out on Bista and score 24 runs in the over to reduce the target to a simple 24 from 24 balls. The match is effectively over.
Also Read: Knights Reach the Final of T20 Mumbai and Lions Eat Blasters For Dinner
Earlier, The SoBo Supersonics reached 194/7 in their 20 overs courtesy of the Captain Abhishek Nayar and Aakarshit Gomel. Both batted with intent and scored 50 runs off 30 balls. They both got out in space of five balls, leaving Supersonics at 113/2 in the 13th over.
The middle order of the SoBo made themselves count and together started accumulating as many runs as they could. The late surge from Rohan Raje 26*(11) took Supersonics to a formidable total of 194 in the knock-out match.
Trying to break away from the scoreboard pressure, the Lions granted complete freedom to the experienced opener Paul Valthaty for getting them off to a flyer. Mr. Consistent Bravish Shetty showed his six-hitting skills as he launched Ankur Singh for three consecutive sixes, only to perish in an attempt of trying the fourth.
Soon Valthaty got out for 41(29) and the responsibility to guide the chase fell on the shoulders of Hardik Tamore and Alpesh Ramjani. Both the batsman sensing the delicate situation consolidated and seized their chances as and when possible.
The aforementioned Bista over eased the nerves of the Shivaji Park Lions team, and they needed their star batsman Shivam Dubey to bat just two balls to seal the mammoth chase with 13 balls remaining.
The Lions have won their last two Playoff matches and will be facing the Triumph Knights team which has dominated the league so far. The match of the eager lion against the dominating knight will end the chapter of T20 Mumbai Leauge tonight.
Full Scorecard of Qualifier 2 - T20 Mumbai
