T10 League: Eoin Morgan Powers Kerala Kings to Title Win in Inaugural Edition

Riding on Paul Stirling and Eoin Morgan’s whirlwind fifties, Kerala Kings thrashed Punjabi Legends by eight wickets in the title-decider on Sunday (December 17).

Batting first, the Legends posted 120 for three in the allotted ten overs. After losing Umar Akmal cheaply, the legends were set on the way for a big total courtesy of a big stand between Luke Ronchi and Shoaib Malik. The duo added 83 runs off just 38 balls for the second wicket before Rayad Emrit sent Malik for 26 which came off 14 deliveries. Six runs later, Ronchi was run-out but before he had helped his team score a huge total in the final by scoring 70 off just 34 balls which were studded with five fours and as many sixes.

But Ronchi’s efforts went in vain in the end, as Stirling continued his red-hot form with the bat, scoring his second fifty of the tournament and was well-supported by captain Morgan. The chase began poorly for the Kings, as Chadwick Walton got dismissed for a first-ball, but Morgan and Stirling sealed the fate of the game in their team’s favour by sharing a 113-run stand off just 40 balls. Morgan scored 63 off mere 21 balls including five fours and six sixes before being dismissed by Hasan Ali. Stirling and Pollard then took the Kings home by the end of the eighth over without much of a fuss. Stirling remained unbeaten on 52 off 23 balls, an innings that was studded with three fours and five sixes.

Kerala Kings storm to final:

Kerala Kings crushed Maratha Arabians by five wickets in the first semifinal to storm into the final of the inaugural T10 League. Captain Eoin Morgan led the Kings from the front, scoring a brilliant fifty to help his side chase down the 98-run target with considerable ease in the end.

Morgan’s decision to bowl first in the crucial clash was proved spot on by his bowlers, as they never allowed the Arabians to settle down by taking wickets at regular intervals. Sohail Tanvir drew the first blood when he castled the dangerous Alex Hales for a first ball duck before putting his team firmly in the driver’s seat by accounting for the in-form Rilee Rossouw. Wickets kept on tumbling, as half of the side was back in the hut when the scoreboard was reading just 29. Two runs later, the Arabians lost another wicket when Wahab Riaz dismissed Kamran Akmal before Dwayne Bravo, and Imad Wasim steadied the ship by adding 45 runs for the seventh wicket.

The stand was broken when Tanvir struck again to remove Wasim and dash the Arabians’ hope of putting up a hundred-plus total. Wasim scored 18 off eight with the help of two fours and a six. Bravo also returned to the pavilion soon for a 19-ball 27 before Mohammad Sami, and Mohammad Amir’s handy knocks helped the Arabians to post a competitive 97 for nine in the allotted ten overs. Tanvir starred with the ball, taking three for 12 off his two overs while Riaz (1 off 8) and Rayad Emrit (2 off 16) also did well.

The 97-run target, nonetheless, did not pose much of a challenge for the Kings, as they reached the target with five balls remaining. Chadwick Walton gave them a flying start by slamming 16 runs off the first four balls before being castled by Imad Wasim.

Paul Stirling and Eoin Morgan then took their side within touching distance of a place in the final by adding 77 runs for the second wicket. The stand was broken when Stirling was run out for 17. But just when it seemed the Kings would get home with utmost ease, they lost three wickets for one run with captain Morgan being one of them.

But Nicholas Pooran and Rohan Mustafa steadied the ship and completed the proceedings to help their side qualify for the title-decider. Morgan bagged the Man of the Match award for his 32-ball 53 runs knock which was studded with four fours and as many sixes.

Punjabi Legends Make Light Work Of Pakhtoons To Set Up Title Clash With Kerala Kings

Meanwhile, in the second semifinal, Punjabi Legends crushed Pakhtoons by nine-wickets in a high-scoring game to set up a clash with Kerala Kings in the title-decider. Batting first, Pakhtoons had scored a huge 129, but it proved to be quite less in the end, as Luke Ronchi and Shoaib Malik’s whirlwind knock helped the Legends chase down the total with five balls remaining.

Pakhtoons’ skipper Shahid Afridi’s decision to bat first turned out to be a good one as the openers – Tamim Iqbal and Ahmed Shehzad gave the team a flying start. The duo shared 58 runs off just 26 balls before Ravi Bopara accounted for Tamim Iqbal (17).

Afridi and Shehzad then guided the team to a big total by adding 54 runs for the second wicket. The former Pakistan skipper slammed 41 off just 17 balls with the help of one four and five sixes while Shehzad scored 58.

In reply, the Legends came out all guns blazing with their openers Luke Ronchi and Umar Akmal adding 32 runs in just 14 balls before the latter was sent back by Umar Gul for 17. It was the only wicket that fell during the entire innings, as Ronchi and Shoaib Malik stitched together an unbeaten partnership of exact runs to help their team cross the target with five balls remaining.

Ronchi top-scored for the Legends, scoring 60 off 34 including seven fours and three sixes, while Malik, who bagged the Man of the Match award, scored 48 off just 17 with the help of six fours and three sixes.