Dominant Chennai Singams thrash Ahmedabad Lions, enter first-ever ISPL final

Chennai Singams scored a dominant five-wicket victory over Ahmedabad Lions to enter the final of the ISPL Season 3 at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat on Tuesday.

In the most anticipated game of ISPL Season 3, Chennai Singams faced Ahmedabad Lions in the first Qualifier on Tuesday. Bowling first, the pace attack of Chennai Singams dismantled the batting lineup of Ahmedabad Lions for just 57 runs with Ashish Pal taking 3 scalps. Chennai Singams chased down the target of 58 in 8 overs with 5 wickets in hand and became the first team to qualify for the final of ISPL Season 3.

After being asked to bowl first, Chennai Singams’ roared in the first over itself of Qualifier 1. Ashish Pal dismissed both the openers Sikandarbhai Bhatti and Prathamesh Thakare for golden ducks. Ahmedabad Lions’ batter Birendra Ram counter attacked with 2 sixes, but Chennai Singams’ ‘Golden Arm’ Jagannath Sarkar got rid of Birendra Ram and Sanjay Kanojiya in his ISPL Swing Ball Overs Spell. Ashish Pal dismissed Pradeep Patil for just 3 runs. The bowling department took wickets on a regular interval restricting Ahmedabad Lions for 24/5 at the halfway mark.

Captain Ankur Singh joined the party as Ketan Mhatre took a fantastic one-handed catch to dismiss Ashiq Ali Shamsu on the very first ball of his spell. Ahmedabad Lions chose Sunil Kumar to bowl the 50-50 Challenge Over, but the raw pace of Sunil Kumar got the better of Jignesh Patel, the Captain of Ahmedabad Lions, and conceded just 3 runs in the 50-50 Challenge Over.

Chennai Singams’ Ashish Pal was the best bowler on display as he picked up three wickets

Ahmedabad Lions were all out for 57 in 9.4 overs with Anurag Sarshar dismissed their last batter Amit Naik for 20(15). Ashish Pal was the best bowler in display picking up 3 wickets, Jagannath Sarkar and Anurag Sarshar picking 2 wickets each, Captain Ankur Singh and Sunil Kumar picked 1 wicket each.

Chasing the target of 58, vice-captain Ketan Mhatre lead the charge by hitting 2 boundaries and 2 sixes in the first over of the 2 nd innings. Ahmedabad Lions bounced back by picking 5 wickets but, Aman Yadav finished the match with an unbeaten knock of 22 runs from 11 balls. Chennai Singams chased down 58 runs in 8 overs and defeated Ahmedabad Lions by 5 wickets.

With this win, Chennai Singams became the first team to qualify for the final of ISPL Season 3, making it their first ever final appearance in ISPL. Chennai Singams will play the Final of ISPL Season 3 on February 6 at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.

Brief scores: Ahmedabad Lions 57 in 9.4 overs (Amit Naik 20; Ashish Pal 3/11, Jagannath Sarkar 2/5, Anurag Sarshar 2/14) lost to Chennai Singams 58/5 in 8 overs (Ketan Mhatre 23; Zaid Khan 2/5).