Fifties from Samson, Abhishek and Kishan take India to 255/5 in T20 World Cup final
Ahmedabad (PTI): Led by Sanju Samson (89), defending champions India put on a show to post a massive 255 for five in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand here on Sunday.
The New Zealand bowlers were all at sea after inviting India to bat in the winners-take-all contest with Samson and Abhishek Sharma (52) going berserk from the word go, lashing the ground with sixes and fours.
They raised a quick-fire 98-run stand in just 7.1 overs to provide a great platform to the following batters. Ishan Kishan carried forward the good work with a 25-ball 54.
Batting with sheer authority and least respect for the Kiwi bowlers, India crossed the 200-run mark in 15 overs.
However, New Zealand succeeded in putting the brake on the run flow by dismissing Samson, Kishan and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (0) in a space of six balls. Pacer James Neesham took all three wickets in the 16th over to somehow stop the game from slipping away.
Hardik Pandya (18) did not last long but Shivam Dube (26 not out) provided a flourishing finish, creaming off 24 runs in the final over from Neesham.
India managed 52 in last five overs, thanks to Dube's fiery knock. It was the highest ever total in a final of T20 World Cup.
Brief Scores:
India: 255 for 5 in 20 overs. (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52; James Neesham 3/46).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
