The challenge issued to them was to defend a total against the Knights, who elected to chase once again, a method that suits them at the venue of today’s match.

Ehtisham and Safwan got the Challangers off to an ideal start, in particular Safwan who was only dealing in maximums for his 28 off 19 balls (4 sixes). A 45 run opening stand between the two in 5 overs quickly turned into trouble by the 7th over as 3 wickets had now fallen with the score at 52-3, the gentle swing of Sarfaraz Ahmed doing the damage up front with 3 quick wickets. Muha Ud Deen, a proven dangerous customer was at the crease earlier than he and his team may have liked, but a fantastic 66 run partnership between him and his captain Tahir Ahmed helped the challengers get out of a precarious situation and the score now at 128-5 in 13.3 overs (Muha Ud Deen with a powerful display of 43 off 26 at a strike rate of 179).

A foundation was set for a strong finish for the Challangers, but some good bowling by the knights at the back end ensured that wickets kept falling as soon as momentum would build, and eventually the Knights did will to restrict the Challangers to a total of 176-9. A par total considering 180+ was on at one point for the CC.

Requiring close to 9 per over, the Knights showed intent early on in the chase, but the fall of wickets (Asad and Hafiz sab both returning to the pavilion early) proved to be quite an obstacle in building the required momentum. Daud Ahmed who’s been having a reasonably quiet tournament considering his stature looked to be in the mood today for his side with a threatening 29 off 16, but Muha Ud Deen who was having quite a game in terms of big impact delivered another big blow to the knights by removing Daud before he could take this game away from the Challangers. Wasim who seemed to have cracked the code on how to chase at Cheam struggled to have the same kind of form today as he has had in his previous games, and more pressure was built on the Knignts who required over 11 an over with the fall of his wicket at 5-79.

The Knights still had two in form batsman at the crease in Safeer and Imran Qaiser, and run rates close to 12-13 would not be out of their reach, however some excellent bowling changes by Captain Tahir Ahmed in the back end ensured wickets kept on falling at a regular interval now. Eventually the game was completely gone for the Knights as they barely did well to not get bowled out completely with a final total of 131-9.

It is hard to go past Muha Ud Deen’s all round efforts today for the MOTM award, although the 4-33 by Sarfaraz for the Knights should also be appreciated in ensuring his side were kept in the game through it. A good win for the Challangers, however the Knights are now in a real spot of bother with only two more games to go for them and 3 points on the board. Another defeat can be critical in the campaign of last year’s finalists!

Scorecard summary is as follows;

Man of the match;