An absolute classic here in the first qualifier and a match living up to the "French derby" hype!
Dreux were on the back foot from the very start of the run chase, after losing their first wickets for just 45 runs from 3.3 overs. From there it took a monumental effort from Mohammad Nasir to get his side back into the same with a blistering knock of 56, hitting five sixes along the way. He also partnered well by Tabish Bhatti (24) towards the end.
PUC, however, will credit Kismatullah Surate and Manish Kapoor's opening spell for their eventual victory. Kapoor, who was given the Man of the Match award, picked up three early wickets to set the tone for his side.
The Golden Ball moment, however, was the highlight of the game which ensured PUC have reached the group final!
An absolute thriller here! Hope you enjoyed it as much as we need here. For the time being, this is me Vatsal along with Bidipto signing off. Have a great rest of your day!
JUST WOW! What a phenomenal end to this game! A dropped catch and then a runout sees PUC win an amazing tie!
0.1 William Singh to Muhammad Rafah, GOLDEN BALL! AND IT IS PARIS UNIVERSITE CLUB WHO MAKE IT TO THE FINAL OF GROUP D, FIRST! Full around off-stump. Rafah thumps it flat to the man at long-off. The fielder there dropped it but was quick to release the ball, all be it with an underarm throw. By then, the batters ran the first run and were off for the second. William held his nerve and collected the throw first and hurled it at the other end. Even if it was high, the keeper timed his jump to perfection and collected it. Then, he was quick to whip the bails off and run Rafah out!
10
overs
120/7score
1wd
2
1
0
6
0
1wd
1W
runs
Ammar Zahir*
8(6)
Tabish Bhatti
24(15)
William Singh
0/22
9.6 William Singh to Ammar Zahir, WE ARE GOING TO A GOLDEN BALL! Full outside off-stump. Clubbed to the wide long-on area from deep in the crease. They run through for one and see the throw go wide of the bowler. But the batters fail to complete the second run as William gets to the stumps and takes the stumps down!
Remember Ravi Ashwin against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022? Pretty much the same here from Ammar Zahir!
9.6 William Singh to Ammar Zahir, OH NO! IT IS A WIDE! Short and flat down the leg-side on this occasion! Well well!
9.5 William Singh to Ammar Zahir, full and flat on off-stump. Thumped straight back to the bowler off the front foot, no run.
Have the tables just turned in his amazing run chase? Three to win off two deliveries.....
9.4 William Singh to Ammar Zahir, SIX RUNS! WOW! Length ball on off-stump. Slapped well over wide long-on off the back foot for a maximum here!
9.3 William Singh to Ammar Zahir, full and flat around off-stump. Another swing and a miss through the line from the back foot, no run.
9.2 William Singh to Tabish Bhatti, full and wide outside off-stump. Swung through the line to wide long-off for a single only.
9.1 William Singh to Tabish Bhatti, full around off-stump. Swung away to the fine-leg area off the inside edge for a couple of runs!
9.1 William Singh to Tabish Bhatti, WIDE outside off-stump to begin with here!
Are we set to have a blockbuster finish here? Should the game end in a tie, there will be a "Golden Ball" situation where the batting side has to score two runs off a ball or else the fielding side wins!
9
overs
108/6score
1
6
1
W
2nb
1lb
0
runs
Ammar Zahir*
1(2)
Tabish Bhatti
21(13)
Tahseenullah Safi
1/20
8.6 Tahseenullah Safi to Tabish Bhatti, GOOD BALL! Yorker on the leg-stump. A swing and a miss on the charge by backing away but the run is not on for this delivery.
8.5 Tahseenullah Safi to Tabish Bhatti, FREE HIT! Full and speared at the legs. A miss of the swing over mid-on but they don't run a leg-bye here.
8.5 Tahseenullah Safi to Ammar Zahir, full toss on middle-and-leg. Cut away off the splice of the bat to the point area off the back foot for a single. Oh, called a no-ball for height!
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Paris Universite Club
Ammar Zahir
*
William Singh
Video
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