Mhatre, Sarkar ensure Singams strike Bangalore hard

Mhatre,Sarkar ensure Singame strike Bangalore hard

Well begun is half done, it is said. The Chennai Singams openers began the Match 5 of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) Season 2 in such a scintillating manner that the duo of Ketan Mhatre and Jaxgat Sarkar not only set up the Singams maiden win of the season but also helped their team shatter a slew of records en route.

Riding on the right- and left-handed opening partnership of 62 runs off 35 balls between Mhatre and Sarkar at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium on Tuesday, Chennai Singams put on a mammoth 125 for four off its allotted quota of 10 overs. An all-round bowling effort then ensured that the Bangalore Strikers were restricted to just 66 for nine to complete a 59-run win for the Singams.

The facile win came as a soothing balm after an unfortunate defeat in the Singams’ season-opener on Monday. More importantly, the huge margin of victory will hold the team in good stead as it improved its Net Run Rate, which may prove to be the decisive factor in the race to the knockouts.

The shining stars for the Singams were undoubtedly Mhatre (53, 30b, 5x4, 3x6) and Sarkar (35, 20b, 1x4, 3x6). While retaining Mhatre through the RTM card – fondly known as the Biker Man in tennis-ball cricket circuit – and going big for Sarkar in the auction ahead of the season, the Singams had got their strategy to perfection.

And the opening partners repaid the faith that was shown in them with blistering knocks up front. While Sarkar got the team off to a flier opening up his arms to clear the boundaries, the best thing was neither of them lost their wicket in the two overs with the ISPL Ball – an improvement in the tape ball from the last season.

Despite losing Sarkar and Sumeet Dhekale off successive balls, Mhatre came into his elements as he earned five bonus points in the 50-50 over by completing the 10-run challenge. Rahul Sawant’s lusty blows ensured the Singams ended the innings on a high, complementing Ketan Mhatre’s outstanding performance. Mhatre’s half-century anchored the innings brilliantly, allowing Sawant to play freely and add crucial runs in the final overs, taking the team to an imposing total.

"Scoring this fifty means a lot to me and to my team, as it reflects the hard work and dedication we’ve all put in. The energy on the field was incredible, and I’m thrilled that my contribution helped set up a memorable win for the Singams. Having my mother in the stands cheering for me made this moment even more special, and I dedicate this performance to her, my father, and my entire team" Mhatre Said.

Mhatre’s score was the highest individual score of the season in what was only the second fifty of the season so far. Similarly, the Singams became the first team to cross the three-figure mark. And its total of 125 was the second-highest in the Singams’ history, falling short of its 128 registered in a losing cause against Majhi Mumbai in 2024.

This time around though, the total proved to be more than sufficient. Anurag Sarshar set the tone with a wicket off the first ball and Jignesh Patel’s left-arm pace then carried the momentum forward. The fact that all the six bowlers used by the Singams picked at least one wicket each meant the Singams coasted to a win to spark off celebrations.

Brief scores: Chennai Singams 125/4 in 10 overs (Ketan Mhatre 53, Jagat Sarkar 35) bt Bangalore Strikers 66/9 in 10 overs (Rahul Sawant 2/10, Jignesh Patel 2/13, Anurag Sarshar 2/19).