Chennai Singams start ISPL 3 campaign with dominating win
Surat, January 11
Chennai Singams roared loud as they opened their Indian Street Premier League season 3 campaign with a comprehensive 44-run victory over Tiigers of Kolkata at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat. A blistering knock from Sarfraz Khan, combined with incisive bowling spells from Jagannath Sarkar and debutant Ashish Pal, powered the Singams to a commanding opening win.
After losing early wickets and slipping to 10/2 inside the first two overs, Chennai regrouped through a commanding, match-defining knock from Sarfraz Khan, according to a release. Batting with authority and control, Sarfraz anchored the innings with a superb 45 off 24 deliveries, counter-attacking the bowlers and firmly swinging momentum in Chennai's favour. He found valuable support in Jagannath Sarkar (16 off 19), with the duo stitching together a crucial middle-overs partnership.
The defining passage of the innings came in the seventh over, the 50-50 Challenge over, where Chennai amassed 40 runs, shifting the momentum and pushing the total beyond the 80-run mark. Despite a late fightback from Tiigers of Kolkata through disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, the Singams continued to press for runs.
A quick late flourish from Sambhaji Patil (14 off 6), introduced as the Googly Sub, ensured Chennai crossed the landmark, closing their innings at 102/8. The effort made Chennai Singams the first side in ISPL Season 3 to breach the 100-run mark.
Defending the total, the Chennai Singams bowlers asserted complete control. Jagannath Sarkar led the attack with an outstanding spell of 2/7, dismissing Kiran Pawar and Krushna Gawali in his tape-ball overs. Debutant Ashish Pal backed him up with a confident spell of 2/15, sealing a dominant 44-run win for Chennai Singams in their opening match of the third edition at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat.
Match Summary:
Chennai Singams: 102/8 (10 overs)Sarfraz Khan 45 (24)Vivek Shelar 3/15 (2 overs)
Tiigers of Kolkata: 58/5 (10 overs)Saif Ali 26 (23)Jagannath Sarkar 2/7 (2 overs)
Result: Chennai Singams beat Tiigers of Kolkata by 44 runs.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Fantastic win! But I have to say, the Tiigers' batting collapse was disappointing. 58 runs in 10 overs? They need to work on their strategy. The ISPL is a great platform, but teams need to be more competitive for the league's credibility.
That 50-50 Challenge over where they scored 40 runs was the game changer! Absolute carnage. Jagannath Sarkar with 2/7 - what an all-round performance. Chennai looks like the team to beat this season. #Yellove
So happy to see street cricket getting this kind of professional platform. Players like Ashish Pal getting a debut and performing well is heartwarming. This is real talent coming from the grassroots. More power to ISPL!
Watching from the UK. The energy is infectious! The tape-ball element is fascinating. Sarfraz Khan played a blinder. Hope the ISPL gets more international broadcast coverage. Well done, Chennai!
Good win, but let's not get carried away. It's just the first match. The real test will be against stronger sides. Bowling was tight, but the batting order still looks a bit shaky after the top. Need more consistency.
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