Mumbai T20 League: SoBo Supersonics seal top spot with a thrilling win

SoBo Supersonics scored one of the most thrilling wins in the T20 Mumbai League with Dhrumil Matkar hitting a last ball six against Shivaji Park Lions on Sunday.

With three runs needed off the last ball, Matkar hit Shivam Dubey over long off fence to seal his side’s top spot in the league table. With the three-wicket win, Supersonics earned two shots at a place in the final. Supersonics will meet Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the first qualifier on Monday. NaMo Bandra Blasters will then take on Shivaji Park Lions in the Eliminator to be played on Monday evening. Both the games will telecast live on Sony ESPN.

Defending 150, Lions bowled tight lines and lengths, and never quite allowed the Supersonics batsmen to run away. They didn’t allow the Supersonics any big partnerships, making sure that the required run rate kept going up.

Shivam Dubey took two wickets in two balls to make things even tougher for the Supersonics. With 46 runs required of the last three overs, Lions looked in a strong position. However, with Sujit Nayak at the crease, Supersonics were still in the game. Nayak smacked Dubey for two sixes and a four, as the equation came down to 25 required off two overs.

Next over from off-spinner Kotian went for 10, bringing it down to 15 needed off the final over. Nayak getting run out off the second ball of the final over to a direct hit from Tamore made things interesting. But a six from Gaurav Jathar brought things down to 4 needed from two balls. With three needed from one ball, Dhrumil Matkar smacked a six over long off to send the Supersonics into a wild celebration.

Lions got off to a terrible start, losing both their openers in the first two overs. Rohan Raje bowled Hardik Tamore off the very first ball of the match, while Badre Alam dismissed Paul Valthaty in the next over. Siddharth Akre didn’t last long either, and Lions looked in more trouble at 30 for 3 inside Power-play.

Bravish Shetty, batting at No 3, continued his good form with a quick 32. Shetty’s 39-run stand for the fifth wicket with Shams Mulani steadied the things a bit for Lions. Mulani then added 46 runs off 38 balls with Shivam Dubey to give Lions’ total some respectability. Mulani scored a run-a-ball 37, with the help of one four and a six. Dubey, at the other end, was more aggressive, remaining unbeaten on 37 off 26 balls. Dubey struck two fours and as many sixes in the process.

Rohan Raje and Ankur Singh bowled wide yorkers with reasonable success at the death to restrict the Lions below 160-run mark. Alam was the best bowler for Supersonics with figures of 2-26 from four overs. Harmeet Singh bowled an economical spell of left-arm spin, giving away just 22 runs from four overs.

Brief score: Shivaji Park Lions 150 for 7 in 20 overs (Shivam Dubey 37, Shams Mulani 37, Badre Alam 2-26) lost to SoBo Supersonics 154 for 7 in 20 overs (Jay Bista 34, Sujit Nayak 29, Shivam Dubey 3-43) by three wickets.

Match Schedule – Monday, 19th March 2018

SOBO Supersonics vs. Triumph Knights Mumbai North East: Sony ESPN & Sony ESPN HD, 15:30

NaMo Bandra Blasters vs. Shivaji Park Lions: Sony ESPN & Sony ESPN HD, 19:30