That's it from me (Sameer Deodhar) and my colleague Abhinav Singh! Stay tuned to SportsKeeda for the remainder of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and most other major tournaments around the world. Until then, Goodbye and take care!
PONDICHERRY HAVE CHASED DOWN 227 with 4 balls to spare! It's taken a really special, brave and fighting knock from the stalwart Sheldon Jackson to take his new team to a fantastic victory at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai!
Jackson took his time to get his eye in and once he targetted Ismal for three consecutive boundaries, he never looked back! It was all class from the veteran batsman hailing from Saurashtra, who left no stone unturned with his hitting! Jackson remained unbeaten on 106 off 50 balls including 7 boundaries and 8 big sixes! There was no bowler that could escape the blitzkrieg from Jackson tonight!
Not to forget, it was his partner Paras Dogra, who got the run-chase going after Pondicherry lost a couple of early wickets. Dogra got to his half-century in 17 deliveries with just 2 fours and 6 sixes before getting out courtesy of an exceptional catch by Ashwin Hebbar on the fence behind the bowler!
Cheepurapalli Stephen was easily the pick of the bowlers. He kept everything tight but was hit for 10 runs on the last 2 deliveries of his spell by the man of the moment, Sheldon Jackson. Stephen returned with figures of 2/26, which were second to only Harishankar Reddy, who picked 3 wickets for 35 runs.
You don't get to see such huge scores above 220 get chased every day of the week and it was a pleasure to bring to you this amazing game from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021! So, Pondicherry get their first points on the board!
Over: 20 |
Summary: 6 4
Bowler:
Score: 0/0
19.2 SK Ismail to Sheldon Philip Jackson, FOUR! PONDICHERRY HAVE DONE IT! another half-tracker dug into the pitch which allows Jackson to transfer his weight on the backfoot. As soon as Jackson goes deep in the crease, he powers the ball nonchalantly over the extra cover fielder for a magnificent boundary to kill the chase and achieve the historical victory! Pondicherry win by 4 wickets and 4 balls to spare!
19.1 SK Ismail to Sheldon Philip Jackson, SIX! DEPOSITED! CENTURY FOR SHELDON! a loosener bowled at three-quarters length into the pitch. Sheldon deep in his crease, merely swings through the line and easily clears the long off fence for another MAXIMUM! First-ever T20 century for Sheldon Jackson and what a game he's chosen to get there!
Sheldon Jackson, on 96, needs to scrape off 9 runs off the final over and has a confident No. 8 batsman at the other end in the form of Ashith Sanganakal, who has just hit two boundaries in the penultimate over the game!
18.6 KV Sasikanth to Sheldon Philip Jackson, low fulltoss bowled wide outside off. Jackson moves away from the stumps and guides the ball to the deep point fielder for an easy single to keep strike for the final over. Will Jackson take Puducherry to the victory shores and reach his century as well? Final 6 deliveries beckon us all...
18.5 KV Sasikanth to Ashith Sanganakal, yorker length delivery bowled in the blockhole with pinpoint accuracy. Ashith camped on the backfoot manages to dig it out to short square leg for a single to bring Sheldon for the final ball of the penultimate over
18.4 KV Sasikanth to Ashith Sanganakal, FOUR! POOR POOR FROM KV! short of length delivery sprayed down the legside. Ashith is quick to seize on the length, swivels in the crease and pulls the ball behind square to long leg for a boundary
18.3 KV Sasikanth to Ashith Sanganakal, FOUR! WELL WELL! overpitched ball on middle and leg. The tail ender stands tall, gets in the perfect position nd tonks the ball towards the cow corner fence for an all-important boundary. That's the support Jackson needed for some time now!
18.2 KV Sasikanth to Sheldon Philip Jackson, length delivery bowled wide outside off. Sheldon waits on the backfoot and caresses the ball behind point to third man for a single
18.2 KV Sasikanth to Sheldon Philip Jackson, BUMPER! short of length delivery really dug into the pitch that goes well over the head of the batsman. WIDE and one for the over signalled
18.1 KV Sasikanth to Ashith Sanganakal, short of length ball tailing into the batsman on the middle and legstump line. Ashith moves across and comfortably tucks the ball to midwicket for a single to bring Jackson on strike. Right then...what do we have in store now?
Sheldon Jackson continues to keep Pondicherry's hopes alive with 10 runs off the final 2 deliveries from Cheepurapalli Stephen! 22 runs needed off the final 12!
KV Sasikanth with the ball!
Over: 18 |
Summary: W 1 0 0 4 6
Bowler: Cheepurapalli Stephen
Score: 205/6
17.6 Cheepurapalli Stephen to Sheldon Philip Jackson, SIX! FETCH THAT FELLAS! back of length delivery bowled at a gentle pace on the middle and legstump line. Sheldon patiently waits for the ball to reach him and then absolutely murders the ball over the cow corner fence for a glorious MAXIMUM!
17.5 Cheepurapalli Stephen to Sheldon Philip Jackson, FOUR! THE GAME IS AFOOT! short of length delivery bowled wide outside off. Sheldon holds his ground this time, waits for the ball and then smashes it over the deep sweeper cover fence for one bounce four
17.4 Cheepurapalli Stephen to Sheldon Philip Jackson, slow short of length delivery dug into the pitch. Sheldon deep in the crease is ages early into the shot as he only manages to hit it back to the bowler. Another dot ball
17.3 Cheepurapalli Stephen to Sheldon Philip Jackson, fuller length ball bowled with some pace across from the batsman. Sheldon took two paces down the track and tried to whack the ball down town, only to connect with fresh Mumbai night air
