CRICKET – SHAHEEN Group delivered a resounding 133-run victory over MOI in the Division-T20 S2-2025 series.
The victors were largely powered by a record-breaking partnership between Prashant Kurup and debutant Satish Yadav.
Electing to bat first, Shaheen got off to a solid start with Prashant Kurup (93 off 62 balls) anchoring the innings. However, the match was truly defined by an explosive, game-changing partnership between Kurup and Yadav.
Yadav played a splendid innings, blasting an unbeaten 109 from just 45 deliveries. His knock, laced with eight fours and a staggering nine sixes, left the MOI bowlers with no answers. He raced to his century at a phenomenal strike rate of 242.22, tearing the bowling attack apart in the middle and death overs.
The duo added 144 runs for the second wicket in just over 13 overs, propelling Shaheen to a mammoth total of 233 for two in their 20 overs. Kurup, who deservedly won the Player of the Match award, played the perfect foil with his well-compiled 93 before falling late in the innings.
The MOI bowling figures told a grim story, with most bowlers going for more than 10 runs per over. Only M Mohsin Zaki (4-0-22-0) managed to contain the flow of runs with some respectability.
Faced with a daunting target of 234, MOI’s innings never gained momentum. Their chase was derailed early by tight bowling from Pankaj Pandey and Faishal Ansari, who created immediate pressure.
Only Muhammad Sajid Khan (40 off 26 balls) offered any significant resistance, playing a few aggressive shots. However, the regular fall of wickets at the other end meant the required run rate skyrocketed, leading to a cascade of dismissals.
Shaheen’s bowling attack shared the spoils effectively. Asif Nana was the chief destroyer, claiming an impressive four for 32 with his four overs, while the all-round hero Kurup chipped in with two crucial wickets. Mustaqeem Jalal also contributed with two early scalps to break the back of MOI’s top order.
MOI were eventually bundled out for a mere 100 in just 15.1 overs, handing Shaheen a comprehensive victory and two crucial points in the league standings.
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