JKVS 172/8 in 20 overs (Pradyot 77, Shubham 28, Sawai 3/36) lost to Narendra Sharma XI 176/9 in 19.5 overs (Sawai 68, Prem 38, Surendra 2/13) by 1 wicket
54 teams from across Jodhpur battled it out for 24 days to claim the HPL 19 title. After some breathtaking games throughout the summer, it all came down to the last over of the tournament to decide the winner.
Jodha Khelkud Vikas Socity were up against Narendra Sharma XI for one final battle, the battle for the crown. The coin landed in the favor of JKVS and they had no hesitation in batting first. JKVS added 52 runs in their powerplays with some brilliant display of strokeplay from Pradyot and Shubham. Despite scoring at brisk rate, they lost two important wickets in the back end of the powerplays. While Pradyot held one end, wickets were tumbling on the other end. By the time it was thirteenth over, half of the JKVS were back in the dugout. A 46 run partnership ensured some fightback and some lower order blows from Eklavya ensured a decent total on the board for their bowlers to defend. If you go through the scorecard, you will realize that Pradyot was lone warrior with his 77 of 52 balls. He smashed 6 fours and five massive sixes on the way.
Chasing 173 in a final is always a tricky task. Despite losing the wicket of Rahul in the very first over, they racked up 57 in the powerplays but lost another wicket on in the back end of the powerplays just like their opposition did. The middle order crumbled under pressure and Narendra Sharma XI could only manage 37 runs for the loss of 4 wickets between sixth and thirteenth over. With six wickets down and the target being 79 runs away in the fourteenth over, JKVS must have thought that they have the trophy in their cabinet already but Sawai (68 off 37, 5*4, 6*6) had other plans. Lower order ensured a fight and Sawai kept Narendra Sharma XI in the hunt but With eight wicket down and the target still 33 runs away in the eighteenth over, Sawai needed to produce a magic.
The game turned its head in the nineteenth over when Chaudhary took on Shailendra and smashed 22 runs in the over. After the first ball dot, Sawai smashed four fours in a row before smashing the last ball out of the park. Although Narendra Sharma XI managed to score 22 off the penultimate over, it bought in a tailender on strike with 11 required off last six. Hemant kept his composure and smashed 10 runs off first two balls but more drama was about to come. Hemant was stumped off the third ball while trying to go for the glory. Sahil missed the fourth ball as he tried to whack it over mid wicket, the moment must have increased the blood pressure in both the camps. The celebrations began in Narendra Sharma XI dressing room as Sahil smoked the fifth ball into the cover boundary.
