Talented left-arm spinner Asif Shaikh stole the thunder claiming a timely hat-trick to inspire Souvenir Cricket Club register a comprehensive eight-wicket victory against P.J. Hindu Gymkhana in the first semi-final match of the 70th Nawab Salar Jung Invitation T20 Cricket Tournament 2019 and played at the Parsee Gymkhana ground on Friday.
Souvenir CC spinner Asif Shaikh grabbed a hat-trick to spin his team to a eight-wicket win against P.J. Hindu Gymkhana in a semi-final match of the 70th Nawab Salar Jung Invitation T20 Cricket Tournament 2019.
Hindu Gym who were put in to bat scored 129 for 7 wickets in 20 overs and Souvenir CC easily scored 130 for 2 wickets in 12.1 overs.
In the second semi-final, defending champions Parsee Gymkhana charged to a nine-wicket win against Apollo CC and seal their place in the final against Souvenir CC at the Islam Gymkhana on Saturday morning.
Parsee Gym after deciding to field first restricted Apollo CC to 125 for 6 wickets in 20 overs. Siddhanth Singh 43 runs, Rahil Shaikh 35 runs and Siddharth Ghule 25 runs contributed to the Apollo innings, while Parsee Gym bowlers Shams Mulani 3 for 18 and Shivam Malhotra 2 for 35 shared the wickets. In reply, Parsee Gymkhana lost opener Akarshit Gomel for a first ball duck, but captain and one drop batsman Aditya Tare 74 runs (49b, 10×4, 3×6) and the other opener Ashay Sardesai 51 runs (38b, 9×4) stitched together an unbeaten 126 run partnership to steer Parsee Gym to victory.
Earlier, the upcoming Asif was disciplined and bowled a tidy spell and was rewarded with three consecutive from the final three balls of the innings to finish with figures of 3 for 19 runs from his four overs. His brilliant efforts haled Souvenir restrict Hindu Gymkhana to 129 for 7 wickets from their quota of 20 overs.
Thanks to left-hander Megh Adhvaryu solid knock of 82 runs, Hindu Gym were tottering at 129 for four wickets at the end of the 19th over. But, they were unable to add to the total from the final over bowled by Asif, who picked up three successive wickets and with all the victims falling for ducks. He first clean bowled Hussain Raza with the fourth ball of the 20th over and then with his teasing line and length foxed Dhruv Vagasia and Aman Maniyar getting them to charge out and leaving wicket-keeper Sachin Yadav to complete the stumping and close the Hindu Gym innings.
In reply, Souvenir batted steadily and comfortably reached the winning target of 130 runs losing just 2 wickets in 12.1 overs. Openers Swapnil Salvi 33 runs and Usaid Cutlerywala 32 runs put together 49 runs for the first wicket and later Usaid and Sachin Yadav 54 runs added a further 48 runs for the second wicket which helped them to safely cross the finish line and a place in Saturday’s final.
Semi-finals – Brief scores: P.J. Hindu Gymkhana 129 for 7 wickets in 20 overs (Megh Adhvaryu 82 (52b, 5×4, 6×6), Farhan Kazi 25 (40b, 4×4), Asif Shaikh 3 (hat-trick)for 19) lost to Souvenir CC 130 for 2 wickets in 12.1 overs (Sachin Yadav 54 (24b, 8×4, 2×6), Swapnil Salvi 33, Usaid Cutlerywala 32) by 8 wickets.
Apollo CC 125 for 6 wickets in 20 overs (Siddhanth Singh 43 (45b, 4×4, 1×6), Rahil Shaikh 35 (32b, 3×4, 1×6); Siddharth Ghule 25; Shams Mulani 3 for 18, Shivam Malhotra 2 for 35) lost to Parsee Gymkhana 126 for 1 wicket in 14.4 overs (Aditya Tare 74 (49b, 10×4, 3×6), Ashay Sardesai 51 (38b, 9×4) by 9 wickets.