Right! That's it from us here at Sportskeeda for this game! Do join us for match 2 of the Vincy Premier League today in a few minutes! Till then, this is me (Shashwat Kumar), Habil and Prasen signing off! Goodbye!
Hikers win their second consecutive encounter! The Hikers started off their innings well and though they lost a bit of momentum through the middle, they managed to post a decent total on the board. In reply, the Explorers began in circumspect fashion and that trend continued for much of the innings as James was left to fend on his own. Although there wasn't much support around the skipper, James could've taken matters into his own hands and attacked the Hikers' bowling line-up earlier, thereby allowing the Explorers to establish a firmer foothold in the game.
In the end though, James' innings counted for nothing as the Explorers went down by 6 runs, despite the Hikers providing them with a plethora of extras.
9.6 Dean Browne to Shamon Hooper, FOUR! Streaky way to end the innings! Hooper looks for glory over covers, gets a thick outside edge that bisects the keeper and short third man and rockets away to the ropes. But, the Explorers fall short by 6 runs.
9.5 Dean Browne to Shamon Hooper, pacy and outside off, Hooper is beaten for pace. Hooper tries to crash it through the off-side but is nowhere near the ball as he ends up swiping at thin air.
9.4 Dean Browne to Sealron Williams, length ball outside off, Williams looks for a heave over mid-wicket but only gets an inside edge to short fine leg. The Explorers are paying the price for not going after the bowling earlier in the innings.
9.3 Dean Browne to Shamon Hooper, OUT! James is Run Out! Hooper missed the ball and they tried to sneak a bye, keeper does well to take his gloves off and hit the stumps at the striker's end. And, that should be that for the Explorers' chase!
9.2 Dean Browne to Shamon Hooper, yorker length delivery outside the off stump, Hooper looks to carve it away behind point but does not lay bat to ball. A diamond ball as the VPL jargon goes.
9.1 Dean Browne to Lindon James, off-pace delivery on the stumps to begin with, James swings for glory but gets an inside edge onto his foot. An ugly hoick by the skipper. Would've been better served maintaining his shape.
13 runs are required off the final over, with James and Hooper at the crease for the Explorers. Are we in for a Super Over? This match is going down to the wire!
8.5 Othneil Lewis to Shamon Hooper, FOUR more! Same ball, same result, a little finer this time! Lewis has tried his best to dig his side's own grave. He has speared the ball into the batsmen's hitting arc and has paid the price.
8.4 Othneil Lewis to Shamon Hooper, FOUR! What a start for Hooper! Short and outside off, Hooper rocks back and cuts it away behind backward point for a boundary. Where was he all this while?
8.2 Othneil Lewis to Lindon James, FOUR! Full toss sliding down leg, James sweeps it away to fine leg for a boundary! Dire bowling by Lewis. He was lucky to escape punishment on the first delivery but it seems that he hasn't learnt from his mistake
26 runs are required by the Explorers off the final two overs. James needs to hog most of the strike and he needs to land a few early blows in the 9th over if the Explorers are to get across the line.
7.6 Rayan Williams to Kensley Joseph, OUT! Off pace delivery outside the off stump, Joseph gets absolutely no timing on his attempt to loft, offers a simple catch to the man at mid-off. And, Joseph's rather troubled stay at the crease comes to an end. That innings nearly sucked the momentum out of the Hikers' chase, although James has so far ensured that that has not materialized.
7.5 Rayan Williams to Kensley Joseph, wide down the leg side. This over seems to be going into tomorrow. The Hikers bowling coach has a lot of work to do before the team takes the field next time round.
7.4 Rayan Williams to Lindon James, FOUR! James is on the move! Short and outside off, James rocks back and hammers it down the ground for a boundary. Raw power from the skipper. But, he can't do it all alone. Joseph needs to get in on the act soon!
7.1 Rayan Williams to Lindon James, wide outside the off stump now! That ball almost landed out of the pitch! Seems Williams is already ready for the next game that is slated to be played on the adjacent strip.
6.6 Jeremy Haywood to Lindon James, SIX! High and long over long on! James has clearly been reading this space and has now decided to break the shackles. He planted his front foot and handsomely cleared the boundary over long on.
6.4 Jeremy Haywood to Lindon James, FOUR! Power from James! Full and outside off, James powers it through long off for a boundary. Much-needed hit to the fence for the Explorers skipper. Can he build on it though? Such one-off boundaries won't help his side.
6.2 Jeremy Haywood to Lindon James, short and outside off, James gets an under edge which trickles away to the leg side. James has played a smart innings thus far. Yet, at this juncture, either he needs to explode or he needs the batsman at the other end to indulge in a bit of pyrotechnics. Else, the target could get out of hand.
The Explorers now need 53 runs off 24 deliveries. Usually, one backs the batting side in such situations. But, with the uncertainty of the Vincy Premier League, you can't rule out any outcome, including a tie. Anyone up for that though?
5.5 Kenson Dalzell to Lindon James, pacy ball moving into the pads, James is beaten for pace. Dalzell has made a good comeback after spraying the ball at the start of the over. He needs to finish the over well now.
5.3 Kenson Dalzell to Deron Greaves, OUT! Hikers lose their first wicket! A short ball that beat Greaves for pace, the southpaw skies the ball up in the air and the keeper takes a comfortable catch. Greaves seemed a bit tired towards the end of his essay and his dismissal could probably prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Hikers.
5.1 Kenson Dalzell to Lindon James, FOUR wides! Yet again Dalzell loses his mark and bowls it down the leg side, the unusual bounce beats the keeper and the ball races away to the boundary. If the Hikers lose today, they would only have themselves and their wayward bowling to blame. That's the 10th run they have conceded via wides today.
The Explorers have gotten themselves to 46-0 after 5 overs and are in a good position to hunt down the Hikers' total. However, for that to happen, they need to inject a bit of impetus now and ensure that they don't let the asking rate increase.
4.5 Jeremy Haywood to Lindon James, lucky for James! Off pace delivery that got stuck on the pitch, James mistimes a loft to mid-on. For perhaps the first time today, the ball just held in the surface. Is that a sign of things to come?
4.2 Jeremy Haywood to Lindon James, SIX! Boom! Length ball outside off, James kneels down and wallops the ball over cow corner for a maximum. James got a good piece of that and the ball sailed over the fence comfortably. Are they targeting the off-spinner here?
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