Deepak Hooda smashed a quick-fire 70 to power IOC to victory over SBM-Bengaluru in the final of the all-India Lava YSCA trophy here on Sunday.
Chasing 204 for victory, Hooda’s 70 came off just 38 balls, with three sixes and six boundaries, as IOC got to the target with 10 balls to spare.
Earlier, after being put in, Anirudha Joshi produced a magnificent knock of 95 to help SBM post 203 despite a terrible start that saw the Bengaluru side reduced to 10 for four by the fourth over.
Walking in at 32 for five at the end of the ninth over, Joshi took just 68 balls to get to within five runs of a century, with five sixes and three boundaries. He struck some crucial partnerships lower down the order to help resurrect SBM’s innings.
Joshi got his eye in by rotating the strike as he and Pavan Deshpande struck a 35-run partnership to stabilise the innings. After Deshpande’s dismissal, Joshi cut loose using brute power to clear the fence, compiling a 74-run stand with Kranti Kumar (30, 23b, 2x4, 1x6) for the seventh wicket.
In reply, IOC began well, with openers Jay Bista and Ravikant Shukla putting on 53 runs.
Armaan Jaffer and Hooda built on that platform putting together 65 runs for the fourth wicket, with the former making 44 off 36 balls. Hooda then took the side almost all the way; he was dismissed with three runs needed.
The score: SBM 203 for eight in 30 overs (Pavan Deshpande 31, Anirudha Joshi 95, Kranti Kumar 30) lost to IOC 204 for five in 28.2 overs (Jay Bista 32, Ravikant Shukla 31, Arman Jaffer 44, Deepak Hooda 70).
