The Abraj Rocking Royals clinched a three-wicket victory over the Abraj Strikers in an exciting week eight contest in the Mega Abraj Premier League (APL5).
After winning the toss, the Royals opted to field first, a decision that set the stage for a gripping encounter.
The Strikers got off to a shaky start at bat, losing wickets at regular intervals. Tight bowling from the Royals, particularly by Sagar Dholaria (2/12) and Anoop (1/10), kept the Strikers under constant pressure. Sandeep Shah’s valiant 24 off 19 balls and Arun C R’s fighting 18 off 16 provided brief resistance, but the Strikers were eventually bundled out for a modest 121 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, the Royals had their own share of struggles as the Strikers’ bowlers fought back fiercely. Varun Sood was the star with the ball, taking 3/29, while Rakesh Kumar (1/13) and Himanshu Singh (1/9) contributed with vital breakthroughs.
The Royals’ chase seemed uncertain at times, but a composed knock from Anoop, who scored a crucial 26 off 16 balls, and a quickfire 20 off 10 by Kumar ensured the Royals crossed the line with 5.4 overs to spare.
Anil Verma’s impactful all-round performance, including a key wicket and sharp fielding contributions, earned him the Player of the Match award, highlighting his vital role in the Royals’ victory.
Despite the loss, the Strikers showed grit in defending a small total, with Varun Sood’s all-round efforts and Shah’s captaincy standing out.
The competition – sponsored by Mega Contracting, BFC, Desi Zaika, Weather Cool, and AAL Association – is heading toward its closing stages.
The Royals’ win keeps them in strong contention, while the Strikers will look to regroup and bounce back in their next outing.
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