Kanpur Superstars beat Meerut Mavericks by 7 wkts

Kanpur: Sameer Rizvi’s fine century (122 runs) and 130 runs partnership with Ansh for second wicket helped Kanpur Superstars beat Meerut Mavericks by 7 wickets with an over to spare in UP T-20 league match held at the Green Park stadium on Friday. This was Kanpur’s second match. They opened their account in points table with a win and Meerut Maverick's first defeat in 2 matches. The match will be remembered for centuries in each innings.First, Swastik Chikara scored an unbeaten hundred and pushed his team score 3 for 204 in 20 overs. Chasing the target, Kanpur Superstars scored 210 runs in 19 overs with the help of Sameer's explosive 122 runs plundering 11 sixes and 6 boundaries in 59 balls. He was adjudged as man of the match.Chasing the target, Kanpur Superstars lost opener Rahul Rajpal when the score was just one run. Wicketkeeper Ubaid held him off Kunal Yadav.Ansh and Sameer took time to settle themselves and that put them under pressure as after ten overs they were 79 for 1. But they had something different in their game plan. After ten overs, they opened the face of their bats and were in full cry. After 15 overs, the score was 152 for 1. During the five overs, they added 73 runs. Sameer was more aggressive and completed his 50 in 28 balls. It was appearing now that they would finish the match. Ansh who had received two scars mistimed Vaibhav for a big shot and was held by Divyansh Joshi at short cover. Divyansh had earlier dropped him at long on in previous over. Ansh and Sameer's partnership yielded 130 runs in 74 balls.Captain Akshdeep came in the middle and allowed Sameer to charge and supported him from the other end. Sameer completed his century in his company with a single to Vaibhav in 50 balls hitting 5 boundaries and 9 sixes.He lost his cool in 19th over dropped by Akshay Saini in a bid to finish the match he smashed him for a six but in next ball mistimed the shot and P Tyagi held a high catch at short cover. Kanpur now needed just 5 runs and Sandeep Tomar finished the match with a six on the last ball of the 19th over.Earlier, Shoaib Siddiqui and Swastik Chikara gave a flying start to Meerut Mavericks scoring 52 runs in first five overs with more than 10 runs per over. Next incoming batsmen maintained the run rate and made Meerut as the first team which scored more than 200 runs in the ongoing league.Shoaib was aggressive and middling the ball beautifully. He smashed four successive boundaries to Ankit Rajput in his second over and forced Akshdeep Nath to replace him. However, he could not stick for a long time in the middle as P Saini held him off Prashant for 29 runs.Captain Madhav Kaushik began his innings with a six but soon he returned when he was caught by R Rajpal off Aquib Khan. He could contribute 12 runs.Swastik in the meantime continued his aggression and along with Rinku Singh executed a best 79 runs partnership for the third wicket. Both attacked Kanpur bowlers and scored runs with ease. Ankit Rajput got success in breaking their union when in his last over he beat Rinku Singh and bowled him. Rinku contributed 42 runs in 24 balls hitting 5 boundaries and a six. In the meantime Swastik completed his and league's first century in 57 balls plundering 13 boundaries and 3 sixes. He returned unbeaten on 100 runs. Divyansh returned unbeaten with him after scoring 17 runs on just four balls.The decision to field first proved damaging for Kanpur Superstars as after a couple of overs scorching heat and humid climatic conditions exhausted them and they were slow on their feets in the ground.Score board:Meerut Mavericks-Shoaib Siddiqui c P Saini b Prashant Choudhary 29, Swastik Chikara no 100, Madhav Kaushik c R Rajpal b Aquib Khan 12, Rinku Singh b Ankit Rajput 42, Divyansh Joshi no 17, Ext-4, total - 3 for 204 in 20 overs. Fall of wkts-1-58 (Shoaib), 2-106 (Madhav), 3-185 (Rinku Singh)Kanpur Superstars- Ansh Yadav c Divyansh b V Chaudhary 47 Rahul Rajpal c Owais Ahmad b Kunal Yadav 0, Sameer Rizvi c P Tyagi b A Sain 122, Akshdeep no 25,Sandeep Tomar no 7 Extras- 8 Total-3 for 210 (19 overs) Fall of Wkts. 1-1 (Rahul Rajpal), 2- 131 (Ansh Yadav), 3-200 (Sameer)