Milind Kumar’s fiery 37-ball 74 and Tajinder Singh (37-ball 58) powered Chicago Kingsmen to a dominating 69-run victory over Pakistan Shaheens in the 17th match of the Top End T20 at the Marrara Cricket Ground No 2 in Darwin on Tuesday.
After winning the toss, the Shaheens had invited the Kingsmen to bat first. After losing three wickets inside the 10th over, the Kingsmen staged a terrific comeback, courtesy Milind Kumar’s (74) batting brilliance. Kumar racked up eight boundaries and three towering sixes to put the Shaheens’ bowlers to the test.
Tajinder Singh had also notched a half-century, smashing four boundaries and two sixes, before he was trapped by Mohammad Wasim. Kumar and Singh’s brilliance with the bat steered the Kingsmen to a staggering 206-5 in 20 overs.
Pakistan-born batter Shayan Jahangir had also shown resistance with the bat, compiling 25-ball 30. He clobbered three boundaries and one six in his innings.
Sharjeel Khan (8), Shehan Jayasuriya (2) could not show significant resistance with the bat.
Hassan Khan (8) and Hammad Azam (1) had remained unbeaten.
For the Shaheens, Mohammad Wasim (2-57) had picked up two wickets, but he turned out to be the most expensive bowler for his team.
Shahid Aziz (1-27) and Saad Masood (1-39) took a scalp each.
Ubaid Shah (0-35), Faisal Akram (0-24), Maaz Sadaqat (0-17) remained wicketless.
Chasing a 207-run, the Kingsmen had restricted the Shaheens on 137-8 in 20 overs. The wicket of Khawaja Nafay had started the slide and it went downhill thereafter.
None of the Shaheens’ batters managed to show resistance with the bat, with the exception of Yasir Khan (38), Irfan Khan (24), Shahid Aziz (24).
Khawaja Nafay (2), Abdul Samad (2), Mohammad Faiq (2), Maaz Sadaqat (0), Saad Masood (4) failed to show resistance with the bat.
Mohammad Wasim (16) and Ubaid Shah (13) remained unbeaten.
For the Kingsmen, Scott Kuggeleijn (3-19) had started the early trouble for the Shaheens, removing Nafay and Samad to drag the Green Shirts in doldrums. Kuggeleijn had picked up three wickets.
Ehsan Adil (2-20) had bagged two wickets.
Ghulam Muddasar (1-29), Hassan Khan (1-24) and Umer Khan (1-19) took a scalp each.
