National Cricket League T10 2025, Match 1, Review: Dallas Lonestars CC annihilate Atlanta Kings CC in curtain raiser

Brief Scores

Atlanta Kings CC 57/9 in 10 overs (Ansh Bhoje 17, Asa Tribe 9; Samit Patel 3/10, Naqash Bashrat 3/10) lost to Dallas Lonestars CC 58/1 in 4.5 overs (Aaron Johnson 47*, Colin Munro 10; Kristopher Ramsaran 1/7) by nine wickets.

Dallas Lonestars CC beat Atlanta Kings CC by nine wickets to make a phenomenal start to the National Cricket League (NCL) T10 2025. On Saturday, October 4, the second season of the NCL kicked off at the University of Texas Dallas at (UTD) Cricket Stadium.

Dallas won the toss and opted to field first. Aaron Johnson took the new ball and produced a chance off the second delivery he bowled. However, the fielder at cover spilt a regular chance. Ansh Bhoje got a lifeline early in the innings. He went on to play some exquisite shots before being trapped in front of the stumps while trying a reverse sweep off Johnson in the third over.

Bhoje's quickfire knock of 17 off nine balls helped Atlanta get off to a brisk start. However, none of the other batters managed to get to double digits. There was a procession of wickets through the middle overs, which continued till the end. From 34/1 in 3.4 overs, the Kings were restricted to 57/9. Left-arm spinners Samit Patel and Naqash Basharat were the best bowlers on show for Dallas. They finished with identical figures of 3/10 in two overs.

In reply, Johnson got his team off to a blistering start after Michael Leask dropped him off the first ball of the innings off his own bowling. The right-handed batter hit two fours and as many sixes in the first over to make his intentions clear.

Dallas raced to 50 in just 3.2 overs after Johnson was dropped for the second time in his innings, this time by Kevin Bhandara. Colin Munro did hit a six early on in his innings, but he departed at the start of the fifth over after trying to play a switch hit. Kristopher Ramsaran got the breakthrough as he bowled him between his legs.

In the end, Johnson combined with Aaron Jones to take Dallas to victory. The former finished unbeaten on 47 off 20 balls, belting two fours and six sixes.