Delhi Giants diffuse Ahmedabad Rockets in rain interrupted encounter.

The third match of the ICL 20- 20 domestic tournament featured the Ahmedabad Rockets take on the formidable Delhi Giants at the ICL facility; Lahari Resorts Ground, Hyderabad. The rain interrupted match saw the application of the VJD (V Jayadevan) method for rain interruption. In the end Delhi Giants came out tops by 14runs. Giants’ all-rounder JP Yadav was declared man of the match for his attacking batting (22 runs off 21 balls; including 2 fours & a six) & disciplined bowling (0/17 in 4 overs) spell.

The Rockets won the toss and elected to bat on the freshly laid track. Left arm pacer Shalabh Srivastava (Delhi Giants), made full use of the helpful conditions sending back both the Rockets openers to the Ahmedabad dugout without troubling the scorers.

The Rockets were soon in further trouble when their batting mainstay S Sriram was foxed by the spin musketeer Ali Murtaza for 3. It was then left to the Rockets’ international stalwart Reetinder Singh Sodhi in company of Anshu Jain to resurrect the Rockets innings. Just when Sodhi’s stroke play was taking the game away from the Giants, the wily Murtaza struck again scalping Sodhi for a well made 43 (31 balls, including 7 fours & 1 six).

A handy 56 run partnership between Sanjeev Martin & Bhima Rao for the sixth wicket saw the Rockets set the Giants a target of 131 runs.

In reply the Giants got off to a confident start with both Bali & Mishra taking the total to 31 in the 4th over. Rockets struck back in the match through medium pacer Baburao Yadav, who scalped the prized wicket of Bali for 20.

Mishra did not last long (13runs) and was Baburao’s second victim of the match in the 6th over. It was then left to the experienced duo of JP Yadav & Abbas Ali to take forward the Giants chase. At the ends of the 11th over Giants, were comfortable placed at 78/2, with both Abbas & Yadav looking good at the crease.

It was at that point that the rain gods intervened, washing out the chances of any further play. The VJD method was applied to declare the Giants as winners by 14 runs.