APL 2018: Match 12, Balkh Legends vs Paktia Panthers, Review- Balkh Legends storm atop the points table

The match between Balkh Legends and Paktia Panthers in Sharjah turned out to be a drab affair as the former won by a mammoth 89 runs. Mohammad Nabi and Co took one more step towards the semi-final. In the meantime, the Panthers are hanging midway in the points table and would be hoping to make a comeback in their next match against Nangarhar Leopards in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL).

Ten Doeschate propels Legends’ score

Balkh Legends won the toss and didn’t hesitate to bat first. Chris Gayle and Colin Munro opened the batting and made a steady start. In the fifth over, Gayle tried to break the shackles and became Yamin Ahmadzai’s first victim. Colin Munro promised with 25 from 18 balls with four boundaries and a six and it was part-timer Sikandar Raza, who nipped the left-hander out.

Thereafter, Darwish Rasooli and Ryan ten Doeschate cobbled together a stand of 71 runs to build a platform for a flourish in the last few overs. Rasooli blazed away to 44 runs at a strike-rate of 157.14 and perished to Azmatullah Omarzai. Englishman Ravi Bopara joined ten Doeschate in the middle and they carried on the good work courtesy of a 28-ball 45 run partnership.

Bopara was dismissed by Isuru Udana at the score of 26 from 16 balls. Ten Doeschate went on to play till the very end and guided his team to a formidable score of 195/4 in the 20 overs with a magnificent knock of 74 runs from 41 balls with the help of four boundaries and five humungous hits into the stands. For the Panthers, Udana, Ahmadzai, Omarzai, and Raza got one wicket each.

Panthers capitulate alarmingly   

Mohammad Shahzad and Rahmanullah Gurabaz blazed away and put 31 runs in the first 19 balls. Eventually, it was Aftab Alam, who got rid of Shahzad in the fourth over to draw first blood. Cameron Delport couldn’t make an impact and gave his wicket away to Mirwais Ashraf. Gulbadin Naib picked up his first wicket in the form of Gurbaz in the eighth over of the innings.

It was a procession of wickets thereafter as the Panthers couldn’t inject any sort of momentum to the run-chase. Sharafuddin Ashraf and Calum McLeod couldn’t survive the heat either. In the last 10 overs, Paktia needed over 110 runs with half the side back in the pavilion. The body blow came in the form of Sikandar Raza’s wicket taken by leg-break bowler Qais Ahmed.

The last few overs turned out to be completely one-sided as both teams went through the motions for a victory. In the end, the Legends bowled their opponents out for 106 runs and most importantly, they did so with 28 balls to spare. Ravi Bopara was their most successful bowler with three wickets in as many overs. The Legends also got atop the points table with eight points.

Brief Scores

Balkh Legends: 195/4 in 20 overs; (Ryan ten Doeschate 74*, Ravi Bopara 26; Sikandar Raza 1/12, Isuru Udana 1/27)

Paktia Panthers: 106 all out in 15.2 overs; (Rahmanullah 33, Mohammad Shahzad 16; Ravi Bopara 3/17, Gulbadin Naib 2/14)

Balkh Legends win by 89 runs.

Man of the Match: Ryan ten Doeschate

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