In a gripping third match of the Champion League Corporate tournament, Special Warriors secured a hard-fought 17-run win over Kanpur Smasher. Kanpur’s captain Ankit Mishra won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that seemed to pay off early on. He dismissed Special Warriors captain Deepak Kumar Singh for an LBW, and by the end of the second over, Kanpur Smasher had reduced the opposition to a shaky start, taking key wickets.
However, Special Warriors regrouped as Nikhil Mishra anchored the innings with a composed 51 off 50 balls, aided by Anshu Raj Bhalla, who contributed 23 runs in 25 balls. Deepak Trivedi chipped in with 19 not out, as Special Warriors managed a competitive total of 130/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Kanpur Smasher’s bowling attack was led by captain Ankit Mishra and Suraj, who both picked up 3 wickets each, while Prakhar Pandey grabbed 2.
Kanpur Smasher began their chase with openers Ajeet Pandey and Yash Mishra, but they struggled early. Ajeet fell for just 3 runs, and Gaurav Nigam couldn’t build momentum, managing only 7 off 16 balls. Yash Mishra kept the innings alive with a solid 37 off 28 balls, and Prakhar Pandey contributed 24 from 21 deliveries, but the rest of the lineup faltered. Only a few batsmen, including Suraj, who made 11 runs, could get into double digits as Kanpur Smasher were bowled out for 113 in 19 overs.
Shailendra Shukla was the star with the ball for Special Warriors, putting in an exceptional performance by claiming 4 wickets for just 10 runs. Upendra Tiwari supported him brilliantly, taking 3 wickets for 16 runs. Abhay Dwivedi and Abhishek Nigam also took a wicket each to close out Kanpur Smasher’s innings.
Special Warriors emerged victorious by 17 runs, with Nikhil Mishra’s half-century earning him the Player of the Match award. Yash Mishra’s strike rate of 132 made him the Striker of the Match, while Shailendra Shukla claimed the Golden Arm for his outstanding bowling figures. Prakhar Pandey was named Fighter of the Match for his all-round contribution.
Match Highlights:
Result: Special Warriors won by 17 runs
Player of the Match: Nikhil Mishra
Striker of the Match: Yash Mishra (SR 132)
Golden Arm of the Match: Shailendra Shukla (4/10)
Fighter of the Match: Prakhar Pandey (10 MVP Points)
This win was a testament to Special Warriors’ strong bowling performance, especially by Shukla and Tiwari, who kept Kanpur Smasher under pressure throughout the innings, securing a vital victory in the tournament.