The National Cricket League (NCL) Sixty Strikers tournament witnessed an enthralling high-scoring thriller on Sunday, as Dallas Lonestars chased down New York Lions’ total in a nail-biting finish.
New York Lions, batting first, got off to a solid start with Upul Tharanga (36) and Mohammad Hafeez (59) putting together a 74-run opening partnership. However, skipper Suresh Raina failed to continue his impressive form, and the Lions could only manage a total of 125/7. Hayden Walsh was the standout bowler for Dallas, claiming 4 wickets for 38 runs.
Chasing the target, Dallas Lonestars looked in trouble at one stage. But Sohaib Maqsood (39 off 15 balls) and Samit Patel (57 off 23 balls) forged a crucial partnership to keep their team in the hunt. Dinesh Karthik also contributed with a quickfire 13 off 8 balls.
With just one ball remaining, Chris Green and Matt Critchley hit the winning runs to secure a thrilling victory for Dallas. Mohammad Hafeez was the pick of the bowlers for New York, taking 2 wickets for 43 runs.
The Sixty Strikers tournament has provided a unique opportunity for fans to witness retired cricketers like Tharanga and Hafeez sharing the field with current stars. The high-scoring matches and close finishes have made it an entertaining spectacle for cricket enthusiasts.
