BYB vs DB

Bayer Boosters 140/5 in 10 overs
Sakeshkanth Indran 47(17) | Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai 1/12
Aritharan Thivakaran 32*(12) | Neeraj Sharma 3/12

What an absolute thriller we've just witnessed here and this has been absolutely heart wracking stuff! The Blackcaps and Ahmadzai held their nerve in the end and they managed to get over the line. They've successfully defended 145 here and they've put up their best performance so far in the tournament to upstage the best side. 

The Bayer Boosters started off well with Indran and Vaseekaran like they so often do but Neeraj Sharma was a game changer in the middle overs as he got three wickets and pegged them on the back foot, They were struggling at that stage but they managed to get back in the game courtesy a real fighting innings from Thivakaran who made 32 runs from just 12 balls.

Ubaid Manzoor bowled a really expensive over in the 9th over and he gave away 32 runs. At this stage, the Boosters looked down and out. But Abdul Majeed bowled to outstanding overs in the death and gave away just 7 runs from the final over. Spare of thought for Thivakaran who was outstanding but couldn't get his side over the line in the end. 

9.6 Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai to Aritharan Thivakaran, Ahmadzai does it! He holds his nerve under pressure to deliver a brilliant last over! Hits the block hole at the stumps this time - a very brave delivery given that if he got his execution wrong, he would have traveled. Poor Thivakaran can only squeeze it out past the bowler and into the off-side for a lone run and his team will celebrate. Dussledorf Blackcaps win by 4 runs and secure their berth in the semifinals of the ECS Krefeld 2023!

9.5 Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai to Aritharan Thivakaran, BEATEN! Back of a length and angling across the off stump. Thivakaran attempts a pull but doesn't make contact. 6 needed off the last ball!

9.4 Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai to Murali Prasad, low full toss well outside the off stump as he goes around the wicket. Prasad comes forward and mistimes his swing down to long on for a lone run

9.3 Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai to Murali Prasad, FOUR! Just past the dive! Short and angling down the leg-side as Prasad swivels to help it on its way. Just beats a valiant dive from the keeper before it races down to the ropes

9.2 Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai to Murali Prasad, AH! Attempts a ramp off a full one at the stumps as he shuffles across to execute it. He fails to put bat on ball though

9.1 Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai to Ashok Andrew, TOP EDGED! DROPS RIGHT IN BETWEEN! Angling into leg stump and overpitched as Andrew attempts a pick-up across the line. Balloons it a mile over the man turning around and running after it from backward square leg before it drops right in between the two fielders converging in the deep. This is followed by a throw as the keeper dislodges the bails despite the batter putting in a dive. Has he made it though?

No he hasn't! Andrew is well short of his ground and he has to depart. Big moment in the game. RUN OUT!

Ashok Andrew run out (Jamshed Khan/ Ross Wilkinson) 15(9b, 3x4, 0x6)

Abdulmajeed Ahmadzai [1.0-0-7-1] comes back into the attack

Like they often say in the European Cricket Series, "It all happens in the ninth" and it indeed happened in the ninth over. Thivakaran has played an absolute gem of an innings here. There were a couple of no balls in that over and there was absolute chaos. The Boosters need just 12 runs to win from the final over. 

8.6 Ubaid Manzoor to Aritharan Thivakaran, CHAOS EVERYWHERE! Back of a length in the channel. Thivakaran steps out and mows it straight back with the bowler fluffing it as he sticks a hand out to his right. He then has a shy at the bowler's end although he misses before the batters take a single on the overthrow and bolt back for the second. The throw is awry again before the bowler removes the stumps but it turns out that Andrew has just about made it on time. Phew - what a manic end to an equally manic over!

8.6 Ubaid Manzoor to Aritharan Thivakaran, SIX AGAIN! THIVAKARAN IS ON FIRE! Steps out and hoists this full one at the stumps with all might over long on. Gets a good piece of it and cracks it many a mile over the fence for six. And guess what - it's another no ball! Would you believe it!

8.5 Ubaid Manzoor to Aritharan Thivakaran, SIX MORE! This is not done yet! Back of a length delivery outside the off stump. By no means a half-tracker but Thivakaran picks the length, rocks back and absolutely hammers it wide of long on for a maximum

8.4 Ubaid Manzoor to Aritharan Thivakaran, SIX! MASSIVE! In the arc and Thivakaran steps out to thump it over the bowler's head. Clears the straight long off fence without a fuss for half-a-dozen

8.4 Ubaid Manzoor to Ashok Andrew, NO BALL! Low full toss on off stump and Andrew manages to drag it across the line for a single into the leg-side. And guess what - it's a back foot no ball which the umpire has done supremely well to spot!

8.3 Ubaid Manzoor to Ashok Andrew, FOUR! Back of a length delivery outside the off stump. Andrew swivels and pulls flat behind square on the leg-side to pick out the ropes