Tiigers of Kolkata Clinch ISPL Final Berth with Tense Victory Over Ahmedabad Lions
The Tiigers of Kolkata have booked their place in the championship match of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) Season 3, securing a hard-fought four-wicket triumph over the Ahmedabad Lions in Qualifier 2. The thrilling encounter unfolded at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium on Thursday, where Kolkata's bowlers set up the win before their batsmen navigated a tense run chase to seal the deal.
Dominant Bowling Display Restricts Ahmedabad to Modest Total
Earlier in the match, the Tiigers produced a clinical and disciplined bowling performance that completely stifled the Ahmedabad Lions' batting lineup. They successfully restricted their opponents to a meager total of 72 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 10 overs. The Lions found themselves on the back foot right from the beginning, losing both their openers during the powerplay overs.
Sikandarbhai Bhatti managed to score 8 runs off just 7 balls before being caught by Saroj Pramanik off the bowling of Firdos Alam in the second over. Alam struck again shortly after, trapping Prathamesh Thakre leg before wicket for 11 runs, leaving Ahmedabad in a precarious position at 11 for 2.
Ashiq Ali Shamsu emerged as the lone warrior for the Lions, batting with aggressive intent and counter-attacking the Kolkata bowlers. He smashed three powerful sixes during a brisk innings of 29 runs off only 15 deliveries, briefly threatening to propel his team to a competitive total. However, his dismissal, caught by Mahesh Nangude off Ankit Yadav, exposed the fragile nature of the Ahmedabad middle order.
Vivek Shelar's Sensational Hat-Trick Turns the Tide
The decisive and game-changing moment arrived during the seventh over, which was designated as the 50-50 over. Vivek Shelar turned the contest completely on its head with a sensational hat-trick that dismantled the Lions' batting lineup. Shelar first bowled Pradeep Patil before dismissing Amit Naik and Birendra Ram on successive deliveries, sending the Ahmedabad innings into complete disarray.
The lower order failed to mount any significant resistance thereafter, with a late run-out of Majid Yousuf Sheikh further compounding their troubles. Ahmedabad eventually limped to a disappointing total of 72 for 9, with Vivek Shelar finishing with outstanding bowling figures of 3 wickets for just 3 runs. He received excellent support from Firdos Alam, who claimed 2 wickets for 15 runs, and Ankit Yadav, who also took 2 wickets for 14 runs.
Nervy Chase Sees Tiigers Overcome Early Setbacks
Chasing a modest target of 73 runs for a coveted place in the final, the Tiigers of Kolkata themselves suffered early and alarming setbacks. Rahul Mundhe was dismissed for a two-ball duck by Jignesh Patel, before Farman Khan struck twice in the second over to remove Kiran Pawar for 8 runs and Mahesh Nangude for just 1 run. This dramatic collapse reduced Kolkata to a precarious 1 wicket for 3 runs, putting their qualification hopes in serious jeopardy.
Saroj Pramanik stepped up to anchor the chase with a measured and composed innings of 25 runs off 22 balls, providing much-needed stability to the innings. Although Pramanik was eventually dismissed in the ninth over by Ashiq Ali Shamsu, captain Bhawesh Pawar sealed the contest in emphatic fashion. Pawar smashed an unbeaten 10 runs off just two balls to guide the Tiigers into the final with four wickets to spare.
Final Showdown Awaits Against Chennai Singams
With this victory, the Tiigers of Kolkata have earned the right to face the Chennai Singams in the grand finale of ISPL Season 3. The championship match is scheduled to take place on Friday, promising an exciting climax to the tournament. The ISPL Season 3 Final will commence at 7 PM, with live television coverage available on Star Sports Khel and live streaming on the JioHotstar platform. Tickets for the final are available for purchase online through the BookMyShow website and application.
Brief Scores: Ahmedabad Lions 72/9 in 10 overs (Ashiq Ali Shamsu 29; Vivek Shelar 3/3) lost to Tiigers of Kolkata 74/6 in 8.3 overs (Saroj Pramanik 25; Nizam Ali 2/6) by 4 wickets.
