Karnal, December 4, (Sports Desk)
In a low-scoring encounter on a turning wicket at the Karnal Cricket Ground, Karnal Coaching Center (Sector 9) pulled off a clinical 4-wicket victory over Black Elephant Cricket Club, Patiala, to level the two-match Karnal Cup series 1-1. The home side’s bowlers dominated proceedings, setting up a straightforward chase despite a spirited fightback from Patiala’s attack.
Match Report
Karnal skipper won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch offering sharp turn and variable bounce, which proved a nightmare for the visiting batters. Black Elephant CC crumbled to a paltry 67 all out in 22.1 overs, their innings unraveling against the spin duo of Prayansh Choudhry and Ojash.
Right-arm spinner Prayansh Choudhry was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming a sensational 5/13 in a spell that left the Patiala lineup shell-shocked. He was ably supported by fellow spinner Ojash, who snapped up 3/11 to complete a devastating 8-wicket haul for just 24 runs. The Patiala top-order showed fleeting resistance, with Sukhpreet (15), Himanshu Lamba (13), and Lovraj (12) the only ones to reach double figures, but none could negotiate the turning ball effectively.
Chasing a modest target of 68, Karnal Coaching Center stuttered early against Patiala’s seamers but recovered through a gritty knock from Sahaj (35). The innings lost momentum mid-way, however, as right-arm medium-pacer Yash Tiwari struck back with figures of 3/15, triggering a collapse. Khurshid (2/30) and Ustat Singh (1/23) chipped in, but Sanjeev Kumar (10) and Sahaj’s anchoring ensured Karnal crossed the line at 69/6 in 15.5 overs.
The match, played under clear skies with a modest crowd cheering on the local heroes, highlighted the growing rivalry between the two sides. Prayansh Choudhry’s all-round brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award, a fitting reward for his match-defining spell.
watch….BECC Patiala’s 20-Run Win Fueled by Lamba’s 105 Runs
Brief Scores
Black Elephant Cricket Club, Patiala 67 all out (22.1 overs) (Sukhpreet 15, Himanshu Lamba 13, Lovraj 12; Prayansh Choudhry 5/13, Ojash 3/11)
Karnal Coaching Center, Sec 9 69/6 (15.5 overs) (Sahaj 35, Sanjeev Kumar 10; Yash Tiwari 3/15, Khurshid 2/30, Ustat Singh 1/23)
Karnal Coaching Center won by 4 wickets Player of the Match: Prayansh Choudhry (Karnal)
With the series now locked at 1-1, both teams will look to fine-tune their strategies for future clashes. Fans are already buzzing about the next edition of this pulsating local derby!
