Faisal Altaf’s fine spell helps Z Game Strikers strike down Thambapanni Lions by two runs in a nail-biting thriller

By K.R. Nayar

Faisal Altaf’s three-wicket spell ensured Z Game Strikers record a nail-biting two-runs win over Thambapanni Lions in the fourth match of the 29th Bukhatir League T20 match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday night. Z Game Strikers were restricted to 163 for 7 in 20 overs but they fought back to stop Thambapanni Lions to 161 for 9 in 20 overs through some fine bowling and good fielding.

 


Faisal Altaf’s spell gives Z Games Strikers a two- runs win


Z Game Strikers won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Ronak Panoly went for the shots but at the score of 17 he got out to Hirantha Baddage for 11.  This was followed by a partnership of 64 runs between opener Muhammad Furqan Khalil and Shahrukh Muhammad Amin. At the score of 81, Furqan Khalil got out stumped by wicketkeeper Shabik off Samal Udawaththa for 28. One run later, Shahrukh Muhammad Amin too fell caught and bowled by Samal Udawaththa for 37.

 

Safeer Tariq and Ahaan Fernandes steered the total past the 100 run mark. At the score of 112, two wickets fell. Safeer Tariq got trapped leg before to Samal Udawaththa for 14.  Sardar Bahazad got run out for a duck in a terrible mix up with Ahaan Fernandes when both the batters ended up in the same crease. Faisal Altaf pushed the score to 138 before he too got run out for 10 going for the run for which he was not ready. He made a frantic effort to reach the crease despite his bat falling off and racing like a sprinter. Moazam, who kept the score moving with an invaluable unbeaten 41 off 21 balls with four boundaries and one six, gave Z Game Strikers a challenging total of 163 for 7 in 20 overs.

 


Chasing the target, Thambapanni Lions lost an early wicket when Dylan George got out to Irfan Khattak for a duck. Charith Nirmal and opener Samal Udawaththa took the score to 57 when Nirmal became a Ronak Panoly victim for 5. At the same score, Samal Udawaththa fell to Faisal Altaf for 37. Panoly struck again to have Janaka Chaturanga caught behind by wicketkeeper Safeer Tariq for 1. Nilansh Keswani removed Shabik who was batting smoothly on 30.

 

With half the side  back in the dug-out for 115, Shehan Thandakkara too quickly followed falling to Faisal Altaf for 1. When Hirantha Baddage too got stumped by wicketkeeper Safeer Tariq off Nilansh Keswani, pressure began to mount on the batters. Charith Buddika Gunawardana tried to push the score to 151 but Faisal Altaf provided the breakthrough getting him out for 11. Mohamed Halan then made a valiant effort to take his team to the target scoring an unbeaten 39 but in vain. Irfan Khattak clean bowled Danuka Chamikara for 1 off the last ball of the match to pull off a two runs win. Thambapanni Lions got restricted to 161 for 9 in 20 overs.

 

Brief scores:
Z Game Strikers bt Thambapanni Lions by 2 runs.  Z Game Strikers 163 for 7 in 20 overs (Shahrukh Muhammad Amin 37, Muhammad Furqan Khalil 28, Moazam 41n.o, Samal Udawaththa 3 for 28) Thambapanni Lions 161 for 9 in 20 overs (Samal Udawaththa 37, Mohamed Halan 39n.o, Shabik 30, Irfan Khattak 2 for 31, Nilansh Keswani 2 for 41, Ronak Panoly 2 for 28, Faisal Altaf 3 for 26)
Player of the Match: Faisal Altaf

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