Eklavya takes Delhi past Colombo in Superstars T20

Interface Delhi Mughals got their Superstars T20 cricket tournament off to a winning start by beating DCB Colombo Lions at the Fairground Oval of the Dubai Men’s College.

The tournament is conducted by Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) and supported by Web Channel with Yas Sports and Saaiba Restaurant as support sponsors.

Interface owe their victory to an unbeaten match-winning knock from Eklavya Dwivedi whose 95 proved crucial in their 15-run win over Colombo for whom it was their second straight defeat in Group D.

Interface won the toss and Eklavya and Saad Aslam were off the blocks quickly.

Two quick wickets of Saad and Nalin Khaitan suddenly put DCB Colombo back in the match.

But Jagrit Anand proved a perfect foil for Eklavya and the duo went about milking the DCB attack.

Eklavya was a treat to watch as he caressed seven balls to the boundary and also hit five sixes to up the ante.

Although Eklavya dominated their 100-run partnership, Jagrit came into his own with 45 from 28 balls which was laced with a six and five boundaries before he was run-out.

A target of 203 was always going to be difficult but openers Mohammed Iqbal and Farukh Qasmi set a good foundation with a 63-run partnership.

Farukh was stumped for 36 from 17 balls which had a six and six fours.
Then Naveed Malik and Shakoor Abdullah, each scored 19, to give Iqbal good support as DCB looked like getting their target.

With Iqbal still at the crease and Farooq Abbas stepping on the gas from the word go DCB should have won the match easily.

But the wicket of Iqbal when the score was 167 for 5 turned the match in Delhi’s favour.

Iqbal by then had contributed 73 from 43 balls with seven fours and three sixes.

It was now left to Farooq to try and win it for DCB and although he did his best to remain unbeaten on 27 from 17 balls (2x6, 1x4) the other batsmen that came in wasted crucial balls to leave Farooq stranded at the other end.

Brief scores:

Interface Delhi Mughals beat DCB Colombo Lions by 15 runs

Interface 202 for 3 in 20 overs (Eklavya Dwivedi 95 no, Jagrit Anand 45, Fahad Tariq 16 no; Naveed Malik 1-39, Umar Afzal 1-45) DCB Colombo Lions 187 for 7 in 20 overs (Mohammed Iqbal 73, Farukh Qasmi 36, Farooq Abbas 27 no, Shakoor Abdullah 19, Naveed Malik 19; Jagrit Anand 2-29, Vinod Banda 2-40, Umar Khalid 1-40, Nashwan Nasir 1-21). Man of the match: Eklavya of Interface.