TNCA XI convincingly secured their place in the semifinals of the Buchi Babu tournament, defeating Mumbai by a resounding 286 runs at the Sri Ramakrishna College Cricket Ground on Friday. The match saw a dramatic turn of events as Mumbai, chasing a daunting target of 510 runs, suffered a series of setbacks.
Mumbai’s star players, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan, were tasked with salvaging a draw. However, both fell victim to short-pitched deliveries within a short span, leaving Mumbai in a precarious position. The responsibility of rescuing the innings was further compounded by the absence of Suryakumar Yadav, who injured his hand while fielding on day three.
The turning point of the match came in the first session when TNCA XI implemented a strategic field set-up designed to disrupt Shreyas’ rhythm. R. Sai Kishore introduced an unconventional approach, deploying fielders in unconventional positions. This plan proved successful, as Shreyas’ pull shot was caught by the TNCA XI skipper, C.V. Achyuth. In the very next over, Achyuth dismissed Sarfaraz with a wide and rising delivery, caught at deep backward point.
This double blow sent shockwaves through the Mumbai batting order, as they crumbled from 122 for two to 122 for five in the space of a few overs. Mumbai never recovered from this setback and were eventually bowled out for 223 runs.
The match was a testament to the brilliance of TNCA XI’s bowling attack. Achyuth, in his debut game, was particularly impressive. He took three wickets for 37 runs, including the crucial dismissals of Iyer and Khan. His performance earned him praise for his ability to consistently bowl short-pitched deliveries and utilize the pace of the pitch effectively.
The victory secured TNCA XI’s spot in the semifinals, while Mumbai was eliminated from the tournament. The match concluded with TNCA XI scoring a total of 379 and 286 runs, while Mumbai managed 156 and 223.
