ISPL 2: Majhi Mumbai, KVN Bangalore Strikers Register Contrasting Victories

Mumbai continued their victory march in the Indian Street Premier League, Season 2 by handing Falcon Risers Hyderabad a four-wicket defeat to extend their winning run to seven straight games. The win tasted even sweeter for Mumbai as they got over the line in the presence of team owner and Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan, who graced the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium here to celebrate the birthday of his son and Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan on Wednesday.

Earlier in the evening, KVN Bangalore Strikers rode a superb batting display by openers Ajaz Shaikhlal Bepari and Saroj Paramanik to humiliate Chennai Singams by nine wickets in a totally one-sided Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) encounter at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in between the matches, popular singer Akhil Sachdeva lit up the stage with his mesmerising voice and hit tracks, adding a musical charm to the cricketing extravaganza.

Chasing a stiff target of 88 runs, the Strikers swept past the victory post with ease, losing just one wicket along the way and 2.4 overs to spare.

Bepari was the top-scorer with 47 runs off just 28 balls. His innings included five boundaries and two sixes. Paramanik remained unbeaten on 26 runs off 16 balls, with 1 boundary and 2 sixes.
The duo made short work of the seemingly challenging target as they navigated the Chennai bowling with ease, putting together an opening stand of 83 runs. 

By the time, Bepari was caught near the boundary while going for another big shot, the issue was almost decided in the Strikers' favour.

Earlier, Sumeet Dhekale plundered 40 runs off 25 deliveries to propel Chennai Singams to a challenging total of 87/5. Dhekale's unbeaten stay at the crease was studded with four hits to the fence.

The Singams were off to a poor start as opener Jagannath Sarkar was sent back to the dugout by Farman Khan before even a single run had been scored. With Prashant Gharat also losing his wicket in the third over, Chennai were in trouble at 16-2. 

However,  Sumeet Dhekale joined Ketan Mhatre in the middle and the duo brought the innings back on track with a 28-run stand. Mhatre scored 20 runs off 18 balls and provided much needed stability at one end even as Dhekale tried to increase the run rate from the other.

Mumbai beat Hyderabad by 4 wickets

Put in to bat, Hyderabad failed to survive the full quota of 10 overs, and folded for a meagre 62, thanks to a disciplined bowling effort from the Mumbai attack, especially Vijay Pawle and Abhishek Dalhor, who shared five wickets between them. While Vijay returned with impressive figures of 3/8, Abhishek picked 2/16, and the rest of the bowlers also found themselves on the wicket-taker's list. For the Hyderabad side, Shreyash Kadam and Liton Sarkar were the only batters to reach double digits.

In response, Rajat Mundhe gave Mumbai a flying start, scoring a 12-ball 20 before Mansoor KL triggered a mini collapse with a four-wicket haul, to put the opposition in a spot of bother. However, the arrival of Abhishek Dalhor, turned the tide in favour of Mumbai, with the star all-rounder slamming a 5-ball 15 to take the side home with 2.2 overs to spare.

Abhishek celebrates 49th birthday

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan, who turned 49 on Wednesday, celebrated his birthday in style on the sidelines of the ISPL match between Majhi Mumbai and Falcon Risers Hyderabad. Flanked by his father, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who owns the Mumbai team, Abhishek celebrated his birthday with a special cake-cutting ceremony.

On Thursday, Majhi Mumbai will take on KVN Bangalore Strikers in the first match before Chennai Singams lock horns against Srinagar Ke Veer. All matches are LIVE on Star Sports 1 (TV) and Disney+ Hotstar (OTT).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)