In a thrilling encounter at Lauderhill, Florida, the New York Warriors secured their spot in the US Masters T10 League Final with an emphatic 8-wicket victory over the California Knights.
The California Knights won the toss and elected to bat first, looking to set a formidable target for their opponents. Opening batsmen Jacques Kallis and Aaron Finch got off to a blazing start, piling on boundaries from the get-go. Their partnership was marked by explosive shots and sixes, propelling the Knights to a formidable 60/1 within 5.5 overs.
However, the Warriors mounted a stunning comeback, grabbing four crucial wickets in quick succession. Umaid Asif, in particular, was instrumental in putting the brakes on the Knights’ scoring, finishing with figures of 2/18. Despite the initial fireworks, the Knights found themselves limited to a competitive but not insurmountable total of 96/4 in their allotted 10 overs.
In response, the New York Warriors faced early setbacks as their opening batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kamran Akmal fell early in the innings. The Warriors were left reeling at 28/2 in 3.3 overs, requiring some vital partnerships to secure victory.
That’s when the experienced Misbah-ul-Haq stepped up to the plate, changing the course of the game with his calculated aggression. In the sixth over, Misbah-ul-Haq launched a six and a boundary off the bowling of Devendra Bishoo, swinging the momentum in favor of the Warriors.
Richard Levi joined the party in the following over, taking on Krishmar Santokie with a flurry of boundaries, including a four and a towering six in the seventh over. With Misbah and Levi at the crease, the Warriors inched closer to their target.
Ultimately, Misbah-ul-Haq and Santokie steered the New York Warriors to victory with 8 balls to spare, ensuring their place in the US Masters T10 League Final.
Brief Scores:
New York Warriors: 97/2 (Richard Levi 47*, Misbah-ul-Haq 29*, Devendra Bishoo 1/17)
California Knights: 96/4 (Aaron Finch 42, Jacques Kallis 29, Umaid Asif 2/18)
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