09/12/2024
LEAGUE PLAY OFF OR SEMI FINAL
Pedmore Panthers Vs Dudley Dynamites
With so many games being win toss & bowl first, this toss could have brought a surprise but the Dynamites skipper stood firm on bowling first. Usama Bilal was happy as he would have batted first if he had won the toss with the pressure off a run chase in a do or die situation.
Opening pair Rishabh Siddhu & Bilal Hassan came to the middle for the Panthers and with Rishabh facing skipper Abeer decided to open with Husnain Akhmat. The over was quiet and it cost just 5 runs. Usman Riaz then bowled the second which Bilal Hassan watched cautiously as he wanted to dig deep for a long innings, 6 runs came off the second. Third over was a maiden bowled by Ahsan Kaleem Ahmed who finally decided to go around the wicket. 11 for 0 after 3. First 4 balls off Usman Riaz's fourth over were all dots before Bilal decided to change the gears. Six & a single to take the score to 18 and keep the strike. Zishan Sohail was asked to bowl the fifth which Bilal Hassan took advantage, 20 runs came off with one maximum and a few wides. Bilal again kept a hold off the strike & decided to take the powerplay over as a result. 7 runs were taken off Ahsan Kaleems powerplay over which was doubled to 14 runs. 52 for 0 after 6 overs and Bilal keeping the strike. Skipper Abeer was hit for a maximum by Bilal Hassan to bring up his half century but he was dismissed off the last ball with the score at 64 for 1 after 7. Final over was bowled by Ghulam Abbas which the Dynamites were satisfied with keeping the Panthers to a below par score off 75.
In reply the scores were level at 11 after 2 overs which was seen out by Ghulam Abbas & Hamzah Ishtiaq. Shoaib Kaleem & Muhammad Kashif applying the pressure. Abdullah Zahid bowled a few wides and went for 14 but also bagged the wicket off the leading Runscorer Ghulam Abbas. Skipper Abeer joined Hamzah Ishtiaq and the latter hit a maximum off Muhammad Kashif's fourth to boost the run chase. Score at 34 for 1 after 4 overs with 42 to get off the remaining four overs. Rishabh Siddhu was bought in to bowl against Abeer and skipper welcomed him with a six first ball. Rishabh Siddhu bowled three dots and then got the wicket that the Panther's skipper Usama Bilal was after, Abeer Ahmed stumped by Abid Cheema. Just the 6 off the over piled the pressure on the Dynamites. 36 to win off 18 with flamboyant pair back in the hut. Powerplay over bowled by Bilal Hassan cost just 2 runs which was doubled to 4 but also bought the Panthers the wicket off Hamzah Ishtiaq. Shoaib Kaleem then bowled the 7th which went for just 4 & he cleaned up Ahsan Kaleem Ahmed and the runs required reached 28 off 6 deliveries. Abid Cheema bowled the last over, two dot balls seemed like it was all over however a couple of wides and a couple of maximums by Zishan Sohail knocked the arrears and it was down to 12 off 2 however Abid held his nerve to take the Panthers into a well deserved FINAL.
Bilal Hassan was our Road House Man Of The Match for his unbelievable one hand catch and 54 important runs!!!