T20 Mumbai League 2019, 2nd Semi-Final Review: SoBo SuperSonics crush Aakash Tigers to enter final

Riding on stunning knocks from their openers Jay Gokul Bista and Hersh Tank, SoBo SuperSonics thrashed Aakash Tigers MWS by 26 runs to enter the final. After setting a mammoth total of 218, the SuperSonics restricted the Tigers to 191 for 9. The SuperSonics will now take on North Mumbai Panthers in the title-decider on Sunday.

SoBo SuperSonics skipper Jay Gokul Bista totally justified his decision to bat, scoring a stunning century to lead his side to a mammoth total. Bista was well supported his fellow opener Hersh Tank who missed out on a well-deserved century by just seven runs. He set the tone by dispatching his Tigers counterpart Dhawal Kulkarni for a four and a six in the second over. From thereon, the SuperSonics did not look back as they went on to score the highest total of this tournament.

By the time the powerplay ended, the SuperSonics had raced away to 63 for no loss with Tank leading the charge now. Both the batsmen were matching each other shot for shot while Tigers bowlers were looking clueless on how to contain the duo. Tank was the first to reach his fifty, crossing the milestone off 29 balls in the tenth over. At the halfway stage, the SuperSonics were comfortably placed at 97 for no loss.

Bista reached his century off 34 balls in the 12th over with a cracking four off Salman Khan. The competition between the two was now who would race away to the century first. At one stage, it looked like both the players would reach the triple-digit mark. However, in the 18th over, Tank’s breathtaking innings came to a disappointing end when he was run out for 93. His knock came off 51 balls and was studded with seven fours and 5 sixes. But unlike Tank, Bista went on to score the first century of this tournament before being dismissed for 110 in the penultimate over.

It looked all over for the Tigers at that very stage and their batsmen did very little to make a contest out of the game which was fast turning out to be lopsided. Arjun Tendulkar and Bhavin Thakkar were back in the hut for seven and 0 respectively, leaving their side reeling at 12 for 2. Aakarshit Gomel and D Subramanian then added 63 runs for the third wicket before the former’s dismissal opened the floodgates.

The Tigers lost wickets at regular intervals and soon found themselves 5 down for 110 and then 6 down for 116. Kulkarni then provided the innings with some much-needed solidarity although he was fighting a lost cause. The skipper remained unbeaten on 68. For the SuperSonics, Dhrumil Matkar starred with the ball, picking up 5 for 32.

Brief scores:

SoBo SuperSonics: 217/4 in 20 overs (Jay Gokul Bista 110, Hersh Tank 93; Sylvester Dsouza 2-30)

Aakash Tigers MWS: 191/9 in 20 overs (Dhawal Kulkarni 68*; Dhrumil Matkar 5-32)

Result: SoBo SuperSonics won by 26 runs

Man of the Match: Jay Bista