The T20 Asia Blaze is well underway. The initiative was set up by Capital Kids Cricket and London Tigers, with the support of The England and Wales Cricket Board, Middlesex Cricket Board and Essex Cricket Board, to inspire the next generation of South Asian communities in London. The teams involved are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan. Each team is made up of UK-based British Asian players, with one professional player allowed in each team. The Bangladesh team is being organised by London Tigers.
Two matches were held on Tuesday – providing very contrasting games for the spectators. The ball dominated proceedings in the Pakistan vs Afghanistan match, and the batting producing a decent score in the India vs Bangladesh game.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Sameem Shirzay (capt) of Afghanistan took three wickets and become the leading wicket taker in the competition with seven wickets in two matches. However, Sameem was outdone by Pakistani opening bowler Usman Sahar, who bowled a devastating opening double wicket maiden over that knocked the wind out of the Afghanistani sails. In blustery conditions aiding swing bowling, Pakistani bowlers never let the Afghani players settle and only two players, Bilal Khan and Tamim Wali, got into double figures, with 14 and 15 runs respectively. Pakistan had Tanvir Shah to thank for gluing the innings together and helping his team score a modest 123 runs.
India vs Bangladesh The Bangladesh vs India game was highly anticipated, particularly as some from the UK felt it was their dress rehearsal for the international series that will commence between the two national sides next week in Dhaka. The first innings saw Raihan Hussain score a quick 42 off 26 balls to get the Tigers off to a flyer. Mahbubul Alam score a brisk 34 that included two sixes and, with regular boundaries in every over, they posted a formidable total.
India centurion from round 1 Nikhil could not repeat his heroics from the last game as he was caught having mistimed a shot caught to Mahbubul at mid on. However Kris Ali came out and demonstrated what a good deck it was score a great 62 not out off 32 balls that included seven fours and four sixes. However, it was not enough, as the asking rate was too high India fell short of their target.
Match Date: Tuesday 2nd June 2015 Scores: Bangladesh 161/9 (Raihan 42, Mahbubul 34, Sandeep 4-0-3-28) beat India 119/7 (Kris 62*, Soyfur 4-0-2-19, Dipayan 4-0-2-22) by 42 runs Pakistan 123/9 (Tanvir Shah 44, Sameem 4-0-3-21, Ishaq 4-0-3-31) beat Afghanistan 86 all out off 17 overs (Usman Sahar 4-2-3-10) by 37 runs
Round 3, featuring Bangladesh vs Pakistan and Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, will take place on Tuesday 9th June at the Peter May Centre, E17.