Hyderabad Blues 132/8 in 20 overs (Sambit 30, Baksh 20, Jawed 3/11) defeated Shining Stars 129/8 in 20 overs (Mohammed Omer 43, Aslam Khan 40, Uttam 3/25) by 3 runs
The fifth season of Champions Cricket League concluded here at Green Hamsa Cricket ground, Hyderabad in a thrilling manner. The tournament saw 16 teams go head to head , split across two groups , all the teams ensured some A grade entertainment for the followers. Some extremely talented bunch of players exhibited their talent in this season, just like every year.
Any final of a tournament is always full of thrills if it’s been played between two teams who competed in the same group. But despite being in the same group, Hyderabad Blues and Shining Stars did not get to play each other in the league phase and that’s due to the format of the tournament.
Two unfamiliar teams, one dream, the final began at the iconic venue. Hyderabad Blues won the toss and elected to bat first. The openers got them off to a slow yet steady start. Anmol struggled to find the meat of the bat and his struggle came to an end in the 7th over when Omer had him caught off Himanshu. The Blues middle order failed to build on their starts and soon they found themselves struggling at 75 for 6. The lower order didn’t give up and they fought bravely against roaring Stars. With the help of some nasty hits from Baksh, The Blues finished with a respectable total of 132 in their quota of 20 overs.
With batsmen like Omer and Shamshu, 132 looked like an easy total for the Stars and at the end of the powerplays, they were well on the course to win the game. The first 6 overs bought 53 runs without any loss for them and the partnership between Omer and Aslam didn’t just stop there. They went on to add 76 for the first time wicket. When Aslam got out in the 10th over, Stars needed just 57 runs, at less than 6 an over. Who might have thought at this point that Blues can probably pull out a heist? Well probably no one apart from the 11 men out in the middle. That’s how inspiring this sport is.
Post Aslam’s departure, The Blues caption focused on tightening the grip and with some great support from the bowlers, they managed to choke on their opposition. Mani strangled both Shamshu and Omer, the two top batsmen from the Stars XI within 2 overs of his second spell but even at this point, they were favourites. Blues did not stop their and they kept going with some extremely attacking field placements and they ensured that every batsmen who entered the ground, were welcomed with toughest exam of their lives.
From 97/1 in 14th over, Stars collapsed to 107/5 in the 16th but still you’d back them to chase 26 off 29 with five wickets in hand but it was the day of Blues, probably one of the greatest day those 11 players can ever have. The extraordinary belief possessed by those 11 gentlemen was unmatchable on that particular day. The game entered last over with Stars still 7 away. In previous 6 overs they could manage only 28 runs so 7 off and over with two tail enders were a bit too much. Uttam closed off the game with another fine over, the last of him in the season and no doubt he made it count by defending those 7 runs. As he delivered the final ball which had Jahangir a few metres short of his crease, the celebration began. The CCL got a final it deserved.
