SIRSA, September 9 :Ishan Ganda gave an an all-round display as Air India snatched a nail-biting three-run victory over Saracens Sports Club of Sri Lanka in the International Twenty20 Cricket League at the JCD National Cricket Academy Stadium here on Tuesday. The Air India star performer Ishan contributed a valuable 33 and later took five wickets for 17 runs.
Sri Lanka team captain N Abheyrathne won the toss and decided to chase the total. Air India were all out for 121 in 19.5 overs. Ishan Ganda played a brilliant knock of 33 which contained three boundries and one six.
Left hand batsman Deepak Joon slamed three fours and one six in his 28. The third wicket partnership between Ishan and Joon yielded 57 runs. Air India lost the wickets of openers J Arun Kumar (1) and Rohit Parkash (11) before Ishan and Joon did the rescue act.
Naman Sharma remained not out on 26 in 17 balls. He hit two sixes. Sri Lanka’s left arm spinner Malinda Pushpkumara bagged 3 for 18.
In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 118 in 20 overs Geeth Alwis was their main scorer with 36 in 27 deliveries and hit four boundaries. Nabheyrthne made 14 and UKD Arvinda made 12.
Air India off spinner Ishan Ganda wrecked the Sri Lanka innings as he bagged five wickets for 17 runs.
Ishan Ganda was declared man of the match.
Brief scores: Air India: 121 in 19.5 overs (Rohit Parkash11, Ishan Ganda 33, 3x4s, 1×6, Deepak Joon 28, 3x4s, 1×6, Naman Sharma 26 not out, 2x6s, Malinda Pushpkumara 3 for 18, Chatara Athkorala 1 for 17, Nigal Adams 1 for 26, UKD Arvinda 1 for 25, Miliinda Siriwardena 1 for 16).
Saracens Sports Club, Colombo: 118 all out in 20 overs (Geeth Alwis 37, 4x4s, Nabheyrathne 14, Suresh Niroshan 11, Milinda Sirwadena 12, UKSD Arvinda 17, Chathura Athukorala 11, Ishan Ganda 5 for 17, Ajit Chandela 1 for 17, Abid Khan 1 for 25, Arun Pandey 1 for 22). Air India win by three runs.
Man of the match: Ishan Ganda
United Arab Emirates defeated hosts JCDNC Academy in another match held last night. UAE won the toss and decided to bat first. They scored 168 for 4 in stipulated 20 overs. Left hand Abhishake Kapoor made 25. Captain Rameez Sahzad posted a fiery 69 in just 55 balls with 11 fours. Puneet Mehra scored a hurricane knock of 54 in 25 balls. He hit seven fours and a six.
Abhijeet , Digvijay and Deepak Chaudhary were took one wicket each.
JCDNCA replied with 118 all out. Shakti Singh fought made 24 made in 29 balls. Rohit Saini topscored with 34 in 34 balls. Tushar Pant took three wickets for 25 runs. UAE won by 50 runs. UAE captain Rameez Sahzad was declared Man of the Match.