Sachin’s Blasters v Warne’s Warriors 2nd T20 Review: Sangakkara seals the series for Warriors

Sachin’s Blasters v Warne’s Warriors 2nd T20 Review: Sangakkara seals the series for Warriors: Houston witnessed a maverick show, as Shane Warne’s Warriors went past Sachin’s Blasters without much sweat.

Earlier in the day, Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hayden powered the Warriors to a massive start. The duo put up 51 on the board, before the former English skipper departed for 30.

Matthew Hayden on the other hand, smacked a few blows before packing up for 32 off 15 balls. Graeme Swann got his countryman out, while Glenn Mcgrath repeated the same.

Having gone past 150 in the 13th over, Warriors were eyeing a big total. Kumar Sangakkara didn’t disappoint, as he notched up a half-century in quick succession. The Sri Lankan southpaw scored 70 runs from 30 balls, with 6 boundaries and 6 sixes.

Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting also chipped in with fruitful contributions. Kallis scored a quickfire 45 off 23 balls, with 4 sixes and 3 boundaries; while Ponting smacked 41 runs from 16 balls, with 3 sixes and 5 boundaries. Graeme Swann was the pick of the bowlers, as he picked up 1 wicket for 40 runs in 4 overs. Apart from Swann, McGrath, Kulsener and Sehwag picked up wickets.

Andrew Symonds and Jonty Rhodes played vital cameos to see the team through to 262. Symonds was unbeaten on 19 from 6 balls, while Rhodes plundered 18 runs from 8 balls. The duo batted with a strike rate of 316.66 and 225.00 respectively.

Chasing a mammoth 263 to win, Blasters faced the first blow in the face of Virender Sehwag, as Ajit Agarkar cleaned him up. Sourav Ganguly, who is playing his first game; smashed a six to mark his presence, but soon went back to the dressing with 12 runs to his credit.

At 43-2, Brian Lara walked in to bat. The asking rate was going high, as the pair snapped up occasional boundaries along with some towering sixes. Skipper Sachin Tendulkar was the next man to go. Saqlain Mushtaq bowled a magical delivery, as Sachin had no clue. The Blasters were struggling at 80-3. The master-blaster scored 33 from 20 balls, with couple of sixes and 3 boundaries.

Brian Lara and Mahela Jayawardene were dismissed in quick intervals, as Blasters lost half their side for mere 102 on the board. Lance Klusener did remind us of the good times, as he smashed a couple of massive sixes along with a boundary.

The South African southpaw scored 21 from 18 balls, while Graeme Swann chipped in with 22 from 8 balls. The asking rate was way above the neck, but Shaun Pollock displayed his power with the willow, as he stroked his way to a 22 ball 55. The former South African captain smashed 7 sixes and a boundary, as he batted with a strike rate of 250.

Andrew Symonds was the pick of the bowlers for the Warriors, as he scalped 4 wickets, even though he was costly; going over 17 per over. Saqlain Mushtaq was at his best, picking up 2 wickets for only 12 runs in his 3 overs. Jacques Kallis and Ajit Agarkar picked up 1 wicket each.

Sachin’s Blasters ended up short of the asking rate, as they finished on 205-8 in their quota of 20 overs. Shane Warne’s Warriors took an invincible lead of 2-0 in the 3 match series, as they wrapped up the encounter by 57 runs.

K Sangakkara (Warne’s Warriors) was awarded the man of the match for his match winning 70 runs from 30 balls, with 6 sixes and 6 boundaries.

Brief Scores

Warne’s Warriors:  262/5 in 20 overs (Sangakkara 70, Kallis 45, Klusener 2/45)

Sachin’s Blasters:  205/8 in 20 overs (Pollock 55, Tendulkar 33, Symonds 4/70)

Shane Warne’s Warriors won by 57 runs.