On day three of the Finnish Premier League, Bengal Tigers faced Empire at the Kerava National Cricket Ground (KNCG) in the city of Kerava, just outside Helsinki.
After a poor start, Empire CC struck back strongly for a battling victory over Bengal Tigers on an enthralling Day 3 at the Finnish Premier League.
After winning the toss and electing to make first use of the conditions, Empire began to crumble early. Key batsman Vanraaj Padhaal was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Tonmoy Kumar and fellow opener Zeerak Ijaz also departed inside the first four overs.
Opening bowler Tonmoy Kumar picked up 4-23 off 4 overs - the best bowling figures of the Finnish Premier League so far, while Belayet Khan started with a wicket maiden in a decent spell of 3-17 off 4 overs, to further strangle the Empire scoring rate.
TONMOY KUMAR TAKES FOUR!Recovering from a perilous 25-4 off 8 overs, Jonathan Scamans tried strikingly to hold the Empire innings together. Finland international Scamans increased the tempo at just the right stage, hitting five off-side boundaries in a vital 38 off 42 balls, before falling caught and bowled to Belayet Khan in the 16th over. Mohammad Imran provided invaluable support at the tail of the innings with 20 off 22, with Mahesh Tambe showing late intent with 13 off 9 balls. Ultimately, Empire’s innings had been successfully put back together again and closed on 111.
Having allowed Empire to rebuild to 111, Bengal Tigers’ reply lacked bite and never looked like threatening the target. Starting disastrously as well, Bengal Tigers lost Muhammad Imrul Abedin, their all-time leading run scorer (with over 2700 runs) to the first legal delivery of the innings.
Applying scoreboard pressure, Empire went about their task with renewed vigour in the field.
Mahesh Tambe was the pick of the bowlers with three valuable scalps, coupled with decent spells by leggie Kushagra Bhatnagar and opening bowler Amjad Sher.
TAMBE TAKES THREE!Only Nurul Huda amassed a score of note at quicker than a run a ball with 22 off 21, before Bengal’s best bowlers amassed some late blows but never got within reach of the target, falling 11 runs short.
Scores and Statistics ----Empire CC won the toss and elected to bat first ----Empire CC 111/8 (20 overs, RR: 5.55) Bengal Tigers CC 101/7 (20 overs, RR: 5.05) Comments: Empire strikes back convincingly after amassing only 30 in first 10 overs
Player of the Match: Tonmoy Kumar from Bengal Tigers CC Runs: 21 | Balls: 21 | 6s: 1 | S/R: 100 Wickets: 4 | Runs Against: 23 | Overs: 4
Empire CC Batting
Jonathan Scamans | Runs: 38 | Balls: 42 | 4s: 3 | S/R: 90.5
Muhammad Imran | Runs: 20 | Balls: 22 | 6s: | 4s: 1 | S/R: 90.9
Abdul Ghafar | Runs: 13 | Balls: 10 | 4s: 2 | S/R: 130
Empire CC Bowling
Mahesh Tambe 3/19 (4 Overs, RR: 4.75)
Kushagra Bhatnagar 1/8 (2 Overs, RR: 4)
Abdul Ghafar 1/9 (2 Overs, RR: 4.5)
Bengal Tigers CC Batting
Nurul Huda | Runs: 22 | Balls: 21 | 6s: 1 | 4s: 1 | S/R: 104.8
Tonmy Kumar | Runs: 21 | Balls: 21 | 6s: 1 | 4s: | S/R: 100
Tushar Sarkar | Runs: 17 | Balls: 29 | 6s: | 4s: 1 | S/R: 58.6
Bengal Tigers CC Bowling
Tonmoy Kumar 4/23 (4 Overs, RR: 5.75) Belayet Khan 3/17 (4 Overs, RR: 4.25)
Nurul Huda 1/18 (4 Overs, RR: 4.5)
Umpires: Areeb Quadir | Manoj Thauayogarajah
EMPIRE CC WIN BY 10 RUNS – EARN TWO POINTS
