SIB vs SOS

It's been an interesting game, a pretty one sided affair without doubt, but it's been full of some good quality cricket. SIB batted really well in the first innings, and their bowlers barely put a foot wrong in the second innings. They are ticking all the boxes at the moment, and will be looking to finish in the top two. That's all from here for now. On behalf of Pradeep Somashekar and myself, it will be me, Ankit Sharma, taking your leave! Take care and stay safe! 

Well then, the second innings does go down as expected. SIB yet again dominating the game and dictating terms. Having the upper hand all the time, and clinching the win without any hesitation. Nikola Davidovic gave SOS a glimmer of hope at the start, as he set off the chase with a couple of boundaries in the very first over, but he also ended up losing his wicket in the very next over. Since then, it was all downhill for SOS.

Sam Houghton and Josip Jukic failed to make an impact in the chase, and went for scores of 0 and 1 respectively. Sakib Hasan joined them almost immediately, with a golden duck to his name, and SOS were already 4 wickets down, inside the powerplay. Omob Masum, who had come in at 3, gave them another glimmer of hope, to post a fight in this one sided contest, but he too, was not given a very long leash. 

Right after Reb's dismissal in the fifth over, was Masum's time to bid goodbye. After that, the game was as good as done for SOS. More than half of their team were back in the hut, and the remaining overs were bowled out with ease. Wickets kept tumbling on either side, as SOS lost 9 wickets, but their no. 10 and 11 stuck out for the last 7 balls and managed to not lose 10 wickets. 

Nikola Stanojevic managed to pick up a late boundary in the over, and received a loud cheer from the dugout, which was the most happiest SOS have been in the second innings. They ended up with just 60 on the board, handing SIB a 64 run win. 

All credits to the SIB bowlers, who stuck to their lines and lengths, bowled stump to stump, and were successful in picking wickets. They picked up just 5 wickets in the previous game, but picked up 9 in this game. They've been ruthless and they've been quite instrumental. They'll take this moment into the next few games and will hope they can produce the same result. For SOS, things need to drastically change, if they are to compete for the top 4 spots. 

Sir Oliver Split manage to survive the full 10 overs, but they do lose the game, which always seemed like the only result. SOS try their best, and they battle out 10 overs, but they come nowhere close to challenging SIB for the game. Split India Brodosplit win by 46 runs. 

9.6 Vasu Pulibanti to Nikola Stanojevic, FOUR! Full delivery on the outside off as Stanojevic drives that one on the up and the sweeper lets it through and picks up a boundary to finish but SOS lose their second game on the trot and have a lot of thinking to do here.

9.4 Vasu Pulibanti to Drazan Jakolis, OH MY! Terrific effort from the square-leg fielder, charges forward to take the catch but fails to hold on to it, Jakolis looks to tuck it away but the ball lobs straight up in the air.

9.3 Vasu Pulibanti to Nikola Stanojevic, length delivery on the outside off as Stanojevic slices it to the point region and Jakolis had to hurry as the fielder has a shy at the stumps and misses.

9.2 Vasu Pulibanti to Nikola Stanojevic, OH! Full delivery tails into Stanojevic on the leg-stump as he comes forward to drive but misses, whistles past the leg-stump in the end.

9.1 Vasu Pulibanti to Nikola Stanojevic, length delivery that shapes away on the outside off as Stanojevic prods forward to drive on the up but gets beaten.

Abraham does well to conclude his spell with 3 wickets and gives away just 11 runs. Was not very far from taking his fourth as well, but he ball somehow has swung extra, and has slid down the leg stump. 

8.6 Kuruvilla Abraham to Drazan Jakolis, OH MY! How did that miss everything! Back of a length delivery that zips through everything as Jakolis plays all around it and misses, the keeper was surprised as well.

Stefan is lucky in the previous delivery, as the ball rolls away just post his stumps, but this time, the inside edge works in favor of the bowler! 9th wicket down now! 

8.5 Kuruvilla Abraham to Stefan Nerandzic, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Full on the off-stump as Nerandzic goes low to hoick it but gets the under edge and that goes on to rattle the stumps and SOS lose their ninth wicket.

Stefan Nerandzic 0 (5) b K Abraham 

8.4 Kuruvilla Abraham to Stefan Nerandzic, full delivery tails into Nerandzic on the leg-stump as he hangs back to play but gets the inside edge and squirts past the leg-stump in the end.

8.3 Kuruvilla Abraham to Stefan Nerandzic, back of a length tails into Nerandzic on the leg-stump as he looks to swipe on the backfoot but misses, thuds on the pads, polite enquiry from Abraham which was turned down, that was going down leg-side longway.

8.2 Kuruvilla Abraham to Stefan Nerandzic, full again on the fourth stump line as Nerandzic on the backfoot looks to play and misses it, through to the keeper.