It has been a long enduring day at the Madhya Pradesh T20 League. We had two teams that started with losses, turn the tables against two teams that started with wins. That is cricket for you where nothing is guaranteed.
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Anirudh Modi and Sahil Khan. B-Byeee
Ashutosh Sharma (Player of the Match and Malwa Stallions' Captain): "(On his performance) I always love to surprise people. I like when there is pressure on me, I took the onus on me to stop the flow of runs as I am the senior player.
(On his bowling) I was trying to use my experience, I felt my team needed me, and I wanted to step up for them."
Player of the Match: Ashutosh Sharma
Time for the post-match presentation ceremony..
Chanchal Rathore (Ujjain Falcons Captain): "(On the loss today) Last time we really worked on our plans and executed them really well. Today that was not the case and that cost us the game. Maybe we succumbed to the pressure today and their batters also played really well.
(On his batting) I think I got out at the wrong time. Had I stayed there longer I would have pushed the team to a better total."
11:38 PM IST, Local Time | A massive win for Malwa Stallions! They defeat Ujjain Falcons by 6 wickets and chase down 207 with 10 balls to spare!
Ujjain Falcons won the toss and elected to bat first! On the back of skipper Chanchal Rathore's 56 runs off 38 balls, Madhav Tiwari's 43 runs off 24 balls, and late innings cameos from Ojasa Yadav (37) and Rishi Miglani (27), they were able to register a big total of 206/8 from their 20 overs.
Malwa Stallions' skipper Ashutosh Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with 3/15 from 2 overs. While Vineet Rawat, Vivek Sharma, and Aryan Deshmukh picked up a wicket each.
Come the chase, Ansh Yadav provided the early acceleration in the powerplay with 29 runs off 18 balls, but Mankar ensured he did not go beyond that. Aryan Deshmukh was run out in the next over. However, the duo of Prashant Kasde and Akhil Nigote Yadav had other ideas as they hammered 81 runs for the 3rd wicket, with Kasde playing a blistering knock of 52 runs off 25 balls.
Akhil Nigote Yadav carried on the mantle from there, but only thanks to an error from the Ujjain skipper behind the stumps that reversed a stumping decision. The right-handed batter did not look back after that as he smashed a match-winning, unbeaten knock of 60 runs off 35 balls with Rishabh Chauhan in tow at 17 runs off 8 balls. Ashutosh Sharma played a handy cameo of 19 runs off 7 balls to help the cause, and he was the last wicket to fall for Stallions.
Ujjain Falcons will be thinking about their mistakes in the field, with multiple catches getting dropped and a poor error behind the stumps that cost them the match.
Aayush Mankar picked up 2/24 for them, but despite his best efforts, there was no stopping the Malwa Stallions' batting order today. The Stallions open their account in the tournament and pick up crucial points in the early stages.
OVER 19
Malwa Stallions
207/4
Rishabh Chauhan
17(8)
Akhil Nigote Yadav
60(35)
Gajendra Goswami
0-47(3.2)
18.2 Gajendra Goswami to Rishabh Chauhan
6 SIX! That is how many people thought it would end! Shortish ball on the stumps, sits up well, Rishabh hangs back and pulls the ball with pure force over the deep midwicket fence for a maximum! Malwa Stallions win by 6 wickets with 10 balls to spare!