SKK Rapids became the first side to win a match chasing in the Finnish Premier League against Greater Helsinki CC as day four came to a close at the Kerava National Cricket Ground (KNCG).
After winning the toss and batting first, Greater Helsinki’s Ziaur Rehman provided the glue at the top of the innings. Leading run scorer last season with 693 runs, opener Rehman carried his bat for 55 off 48 balls. After blasting 27 sixes last term, Gulfam Nazir added two more huge maximums in his entertaining 30 off 20 balls., to post a challenging total of 132.
After his match-winning innings in the opening win, SKK’s Ateef Rasheed impressed with the ball this time with 3-18. Kamalraj Chandrasekeran was especially miserly too with 1-14 off his allocation.
In reply, SKK got off to an explosive start chasing 133. After failing in his first knock, Finland captain Nathan Collins was especially motivated to take his side close, hitting 19 off 10 in sprightly fashion.
However, SKK subsided rapidly, losing three wickets on 30 with Naveed Shahid, top wicket taker last season with 34 wkts @ 15, picking up 3-16. With SKK suddenly in trouble, the faltering innings was given a boost by five penalty runs after the ball hit the helmet behind the keeper.
SHAHID SHABASH BOWLINGAided immeasurably by wayward bowling including 14 wides, Aussie duo Peter Gallagher (22*) and Jake Goodwin (34*) rebuilt the innings to take the SKK score to 94-4 off 12 overs when a squally shower arrived to suddenly halt play.
With SKK well ahead on run rate, the match was reduced to a 15 over affair after the break in play.
Left needing an entirely manageable equation of 9 off 18 balls, SKK coasted home to win by 6 wkts to maintain their 100 % record in the 2020 Finnish Premier League.
