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Thrilling win for Tigers

Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Panic in its lower ranks led Mumbai Champs to a painful two-run loss to a gritty Kolkata Tigers in the fourth match of the Indian Cricket League’s Edelweiss 20s Challenge at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium at Panchkula here on Wednesday.

Chasing 147 for victory, Champs was cruising at 127 for three after 16.3 overs but some needless aggression thereafter saw the team getting bowled out off the last ball for 144. Champs lost Nathan Astle (30, 2x6, 1x4), Johan van der Wath (10, 10b, 1x6), Kiran Powar (0) and Shreyas Khanolkar (2) in the space of nine deliveries spread over the 17th and the 18th overs.

In the final over, bowled by Nantie Hayward, Champs needed nine runs but lost the last three wickets in desperation and let Tigers escape to victory. The collapse undid all the good work of Raviraj Patil (52, 31b, 2x6, 8x4).

This 20-year-old from Pune, who never played first-class cricket, treated the Tigers’ bowlers with disdain.

Thereafter, Astle chose fellow New Zealander Andre Adams for special treatment. He hit two sixes before falling in the same over.

The dismissals of Astle and van der Wath triggered a collapse and the panic-stricken lower-order simply caved in.

Big blow

The defeat, Champs’ second in succession, has drastically reduced its chances of making the semifinals from the eight-team league.

Earlier, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala (33, 29b, 4x4) and Rohan Gavaskar (41 not out, 36b, 3x4) helped Tigers post 146 for five. Adams (21 not out, 12 balls) blasted two sixes in the last over which proved to be crucial in the end.

The scores:

Kolkata Tigers 146 for five in 20 overs (Rohan Gavaskar 41 not out, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala 33, Andre Adams 21 not out, Subhomoy Das 21, Ranjit Kharid two for 17) bt Mumbai Champs 144 in 20 overs (Raviraj Patil 52, Nathan Astle 30, Subhohjit Paul 27, Andre Adams three for 35, Nantie Hayward two for 14).

Thursday’s match: Hyderabad Heroes vs. Lahore Badshahs.

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