Infernos win a runathon!!

 Runfest at the maidaan (RIP bowlers) - By Dhruv 

The weather is getting warmer and so is the series with Vikings pulling 2 back last weekend making the scoreline 4-3 (in Infernos favor). This is a place that Infernos are not used to and the onus was on Vikings to build on the advantage.

No guesses for who won the toss. Vikings should probably concede the toss permanently now and not go through the formality every weekend.

Infernos came in with a positive mindset choosing to bat first and opening with Mark and Viky. They got off to cautious start taking 6 off the first two overs with Viky getting caught out early. 

Shitendra, continuing with his positive approach sent in HK next.....

One can probably say that off late HK hasn't been at his best...especially with the bat...getting a "mere" 20-25 runs every match which for most maidaan mortals is a good innings every three matches.

He put all those concerns to rest decisively today.

The flood gates opened in the third over with Piyush not getting his lengths right and HK started hitting the ball at will with Mark playing a clever innings at the other end. The next five overs were an exhibition of clean hitting, brilliant timing and great running. Mark finally got run out but the score had accelerated to 63 in eight overs.

In came Samir and the platform was set for infernos premier pair to take the score to 150+.

Samir got off to a sizzling start and things started to look even more ominous for the Vikings.

103 in ten overs. Samir , HK at the crease and five overs to go. Even 170 didn't seem impossible now. Unfortunately, Samir got runot in a terrible mix up which eventually helped Vikings "pull" things back.

HK however, was unrelenting and hit Sameer for five consecutive boundaries in a single over. He finally got out in the 13th over with the score at 142 and scoring the first century in two seasons.

The infernos finally finished at a monstrous 157 in 15 overs.

Innings two-

With 158 to chase, the instructions from the captain were clear...forget the target, take the game on.

Chaitanya and Aashish were sent into open and got off the Vikings to a superb start taking 24 off the first two overs instilling belief in the Vikings camp. 

The Vikings batting depth was on full display today with one batsman coming in after another playing useful cameos with a freedom that has probably been missing for large parts of the two seasons.

The score after 8 overs was at 88 and with Harsha at the crease and with Hari joining him, the match was by no means over.

Special mentions- 

Hari and Harsha were by far the most watchable batsmen from the Vikings

Samirs keeping was outstanding today...taking 4 catches (2 of them  were really tough ones)

Hari got out to a marginal lifted shot out of the ground and ironically the match was decided by some superb controlled bowling between Mark and HK.

Mark, who had a forgetful previous match, showed again that class is permanent with Shitendra continuing to take positive risks. Mark bowled a maiden 10th over and in the context of the match , wrested the tide decisively in Infernos favor.

With 63 to get off the last 5 overs, it was probably a mountain too high and Mark fittingly closed the match getting Kings out off the last ball of the 15th over with HK taking a superb running catch(which was rightfully Viky's)

Final score - 132 all out, Infernos won by 25 runs

MoM- HK

P.S. - sorry for missing any moments or missed contributions