PCL Season Opener - August 5th 2023...The Titans return

 *Cricket at Maidaan!!!!*

The wait is over where our ever- young players were  eagerly looking forward to playing in this refurbished Maidaana. 

*Infernos and Vikings resumed their cricket rivalry at the new look Maidaana today.*

Today's match between the Infernos & Vikings  lived up to the expectation.

*Batting first*, the *Infernos* were off to a solid start with *AK & Kiran* putting on 18 runs in the first 3 overs. 

*Gopi sir* was at his best today getting rid of both the openers.

*Kiran* hit a couple of nicely timed boundaries before he was bowled by Gopi, bringing *Chaitanya* to the crease. *AK* was caught by Aashish. 

 *Chaitanya* had to drop anchor as the Infernos lost a couple of wickets. He took time to settle before he took the attack to the Vikings bowlers. He struck a boundary every over for the next four overs propelling the scoring rate.

*Infernos were left amused with an incredible acrobatic catching effort.* *Sameer* took his fielding ability to another level and it was well appreciated by all. He dismissed *HK & Arjun* with his superlative diving catches.

*Chaitanya* in company with *Sathya* took the score to 65 by the 10th over. Sathya was looking good for a big score before he was bowled by *Eshaan*. Chaitanya holed out to Kings trying to increase the score.

*Shitendra* started with a huge six but perished going for another big one. 

*Kishore* also started with a huge six of Eshaan & was in a mood of playing a good cameo....but *Kings* cut the innings short.

If you talk about the *most amazing single-handed catches* that the Maidaana has ever seen, then the first name that would pop into the heads of most or rather all of us would be *Kings*. He took an immaculate & stunning one handed catch at the boundary to send Kishore to the hut. It was a kind of our *Rajni robotic magnetic catch*.

*Infernos folded their innings at 85 setting a target of 86 to win in 15 overs.* 

Gopi sir was the pick of the Vikings bowling attack.

Chasing 86, *Vikings* got off to the worst start possible as *CP (0)* was sent back to the pavilion by Satya on just the second ball of the innings. *However, the Hitman Pranshul and Bipin* did not let the momentum drop and the score read 35/1 after the end of the sixth over.

*Pranshul* provided some artificial excitement to the proceedings, slamming boundaries at will. He put the Inferno bowlers through the wringer in a short period. 

With *Pranshul* going ballistic, *Karthik bravely introduced spin at both ends*. With *Arjun & Shitendra* bowling immaculately & the scoreboard pressure mounting, wickets started to fall continuously.

The Vikings were still cantering to a comfortable win but messed up the chase in the final five overs. *Three run-outs...Raghu, Sushmit & Gopi* in a space of 2 overs & a *fantastic come-back over from Sathya* to remove the dangerous*Pranshul* brought curtains to the Vikings chase.

*Arjun* was brilliant in his bowling giving away a *miserly 14 runs in his 4 overs* spell including a maiden over & claiming *3 wickets* which included the *all-important wicket of skipper Aashish*. 

This game will be remembered long for the fearless batting display by Pranshul, splendid catching by Sameer & Kings & great sledging from the kiddos of Palladian cricket - Eshaan & Vedant.

*Infernos win by 18 runs.*

*SCORE :1-0  in favour of Infernos.*

*MOM: PRANSHUL & CHAITANYA*.