PCL 2022-23 Finals - Vikings win the season

The all expected Palladian Cricket League 2023 has finally come to an end & the *Vikings led by Aashish* emerged as the *champions* against the *Infernos.*

*Congratulations to Team Vikings & commiserations to Team Inferno*. It was expected to be a *closely-fought nerve shredding going right down to the wire contest* but ended up a one-sided one.

*HK* called the coin right & put the *Vikings into bat*. Vikings started with *AK & Chaitanya.* Inspite of losing Chaitanya early, Vikings were off to a rollicking start. *AK* started with a boundary of *HK* in the very first over followed by a *couple of boundaries* in his next. Trying to go for one more, he was boundary out. The score board read, *3 overs -22 runs - 2 wkts.*

It was from here the Vikings changed gears as *Harsha & Arjun* started the run riot .
*Harsha* was magical in his stroke play while *Arjun* was brutal. Both the batsmen hit boundaries at will. Harsha was particularly very severe on Raghu as he dispatched him for a couple of boundaries.

*Harsha* was looking good for a big innings but was out to a *stunning one-handed catch by Manoj*. By the time he was out, Vikings had raced to *60 runs of 8 overs.*

*Sameer joined Arjun* at the crease to  show the sheer range of power hitters Vikings have at their disposal. The striking was raw and clean, and the effects were devastating. It was one of those days when not a single Inferno bowler could do anything to stem the flow of runs and impact proceedings. It was a carnage from here.

In matches like these, it becomes a case of who can cart the ball a long way, and *Arjun and Sameer* were in sublime form; at one stage, both of them were timing shots that went for boundaries & sixes.

*Arjun* played an absolute blinder of an attacking innings & galvanised the team. He blasted *5 sixes & 7 boundaries in his score of 60+*. The first victim of attack was *Sushmit* who was *clobbered* for two back to back majestic sixes. He was run-out in the 11th over, the only way he could been out.

*Sameer* has been a revelation in the  Palladian League and has etched his name as one of the best big hitters.
It’s the impact, it’s the way he bats, it’s the strike-rate he bats at. Hence, it’s no surprise that he is one of the most dangerous batsman

*Arjun & Sameer*  butchered the Infernos bowling into submission as they helped Vikings  to a whopping *136 runs in the alloted 15overs.*

*Infernos* chasing a mammoth total had only one option - *Open with HK*....but the idea backfired as he was *out* to the *3rd ball of the very first over* bowled by *Aashish* in a bizzare fashion caught brilliantly by Harsha at short 3rd man... that can happen only at our Maidaan.

The wicket of skipper *HK* was the winning moment & *Harshas catch* was another. The match was almost over as the flamboyant *Raj* was out to a lightning fast stumping by *AK* of the bowling of *Aashish*.

*Manoj*, after been dropped by AK tried hard to accumulate some runs in association with other Inferno batsmen but the match was of no contest as all Inferno batsmen fell like nine pins & folded up to a meagre *70 runs*.  *Vicky* was the highest scorer for the Infernos.

*Shitendra picked up 3 wkts. Aashish, Mark & Sameer* were brilliant picking up wickets at will. Sameer was outstanding in the outfield taking two beautiful catches.

*It's a fabulous victory. The way Vikings have bounced back from 1-4 down to win the championship is a great achievement.*

*PCL CHAMPS - VIKINGS*

*MOM* - *SAMEER*
*Man of the series*- *ARJUN & SATHYA*