Game 3 : T20 Pokal 2021

Köln Kings played their third game of the t-20 season on the 11th of July against the Dormstadt Daredevils. The Daredevils won the toss and elected to field first. Irfan and Tejas again got the team off to a good start, scoring at 6 runs per over, though they were helped by plenty of wides from the erratic Daredevils bowlers. The heavy outfield also meant boundaries were difficult to come by. Irfan lost his wicket just after the powerplay, bringing skipper Dhruv to the crease. Both batsmen batted cautiously, nudging the ball around and running hard. Tejas fell with the score at 77, chipping the ball back to the bowler, which brought the in-form Satya to the crease. He did not disappoint, scoring a quickfire 31 off 21 balls, while Dhruv, Sandheep and Lokesh all fell to the loopy leg-spinner Marwaha due to some poor shot selection. Some superb attacking batting from Ameya, who scored three sixes in one over, meant the Kings ended their innings at a good total of 165 in their 20 overs.

The Daredevils started off very cautiously, clearly unable to handle the pace and swing of Appu and Prateek. Appu picked up the first wicket, opener Guntur chipping the ball to Irfan at cover. Prateek then bowled a beauty that rattled the new batsman’s stumps, leaving the Daredevils in big trouble. The required run rate continued to mount as Appu and Prateek both finished their quota of 4 overs each. Left-arm spinner Sandheep and medium pacer Sateesh replaced the new ball bowlers and continued the good work, bowling in good areas and giving nothing away. Sandheep was eventually rewarded for his persistence, picking up three wickets that included an excellent catch by Lokesh at deep mid-wicket. Sateesh and Ameya picked up a wicket each and Grinesh mopped up the tail to end the Daredevils’ innings at 43 runs in 18.2 overs. It was a clinical performance from the Kings, who look in ominous form as the business end of the tournament approaches.