The Defenders, well their campaign hangs on a thread bare, and a loss today would mean curtains for them in this year’s KCL. Winning the toss, Shakir Ahmed’s Strikers opted to bat first in a pressure game of this magnitude.

In a surprise move, Irfan Ahmed was promoted up the order to open the innings by the strikers. Whilst Aamir couldn’t create an impression in this match having fallen early, Irfan was clearly in the mood to play another one of his nuclear innings having hit 4×4 out of 5 balls that he had faced. Fortunately for the Defenders, Irfan only lasted 6 balls (scoring 16 off 6). Anees Butt was also in the mood to roll back the years hitting 16 off 8, but he too couldn’t make the most of the fast start and the score was 60-4 by the end of the powerplay. Whilst the run rate was brilliant for the strikers, the loss of four wickets was less than ideal.

Whilst Qaiser helped to ensure some time was taken out of the game with the scoreboard ticking and no further loss of a wicket until the 10th over with the score at 5-83, Mudassar Dogar was getting into his groove with Shakir Ahmed for a 30 run partnership until the 14th over. With 6 overs to go and 4 wickets in the hut, Mudassar decided that he had to chance his arm and push as much as he can to produce a competitive total. He found an accomplice in his mission in the form of Hamza Iqbal, who’s electric reputation came to the fore as Hamza produced an electrifying cameo of 39* off 16 (243 strike rate). Mudassar himself finished on 77* off 46 (8 fours and 5 sixes!), and the 7th wicket partnership was worth 93 in 36 balls for the Mighty Strikers, posing a daunting total of 205-6 in their 20!

The Strikers had absolutely struck hard in the last 3rd of their innings asking the Defenders to chase at 10 an over in order to keep their hopes alive in this year’s KCL.

With a massive, uphill task ahead of them, the Defenders had belief that these runs could be chased with their batting firepower. They were positive, and they kept on going especially with Yasir and Azmat having a field day. Irfan who opened the batting was on opening duties again with the ball, and the Yasir Ahmed sensed an opportunity to set the tone right away, as 3 sixes in the first 6 balls of the chase and a thumping 19 runs sent a huge message of authority and confidence into the defenders camp. From hereon, the Strikers continued to feed them bowlers, and the Defender’s openers had no issues feasting on anyone that came in their way. Both Yasir (85 off 41) and Azmat (70 off 42) produced a stellar 153 run partnership off 79 balls for the first wicket, hitting 10 sixes and 17 fours between them in the process. The breakthrough came in the 14th over with the score at 153-1 with Azmat making way, however the opening stand had made the equation a lot simpler for the Defenders who needed 53 runs in the last 7 overs with 9 wickets still in the hut. With a few more hiccups along the way, the Defenders breezed to the total with Atta-Ul-Faheem and Haseeb remaining not out to chase the total down with 9 balls and 7 wickets to spare. An emphatic chase under immense pressure!

Yasir Ahmed has been playing brilliant cricket for the Defenders, and he was awarded the MOTM today for his brilliant 85 in a huge chase. The Defenders with this win live to see another day as they can target a playoff position with a win in their last match of the league next week. Stuck on 6 points, the Strikers have been knocked off the top 4 due to net run rate, and they now can only hope the results elsewhere could potentially allow them to sneak into the top 4 if another team finishing on 6 points has a lesser nrr than them. Nervous, nervous times ahead for both teams who have participated today!

Scorecard summary is as follows;

Man of the match;