Anmolpreet, Sai Kishore share first day honours in Elite final

Trotters, which was led by wicketkeeper U Sushil in the absence of MS Washington Sundar who has been asked to report for training by his IPL franchise RCB, lost its opener K Mukunth off the first ball of the match after it won the toss. In the next over, Trotters received another jolt when S Aniruda was caught at gully off V Yo Mahesh for zero. 

Things looked bleak for Trotters at four for two but the third wicket pair of C Hari Nishaanth and Anmolpreet Singh stabilised the innings with an 80-run partnership. Yo Mahesh struck again before lunch when southpaw Nishaanth was caught by wicketkeeper N Jagadeesan for 38 (67b, 7x4). 

Trotters went into lunch at 118 for three. Anmolpreet played an exhilarating innings and scored at almost a run-a-ball 87 (88b, 14x4, 1x6) to deflect the pressure back on Grand Slam. He was involved in a 65run association for the fourth wicket with S Radhakrishnan. 

Just when Anmolpreet was looking on course to reaching a well-deserved hundred, off-spinner B Arun castled him with the team score on 149. Soon after that dismissal, Arun struck again removing left-hander K Shri Vasudeva Das in a similar fashion for five runs. At 156 for five, things looked a little bleak for Trotters, but the 18-year-old, Radhakrishnan held the innings together and reached half-century before getting out on 50 (95b, 6x4, 1x6) caught by Bhargav Merai off R Sai Kishore. 

That was the first of four wickets for Sai Kishore who finished with an impressive analysis of four for 39. Trotters’ last four wickets did a good job of adding close to 100 runs with captain U Sushil scoring 44 off 97 balls with six fours. 

Off-spinner Arun bowled well in tandem with Sai Kishore and took the key wickets of Anmolpreet and skipper Sushil to finish with three for 123.

BRIEF SCORES: Globe Trotters 293 in 80.5 overs (Anmolpreet Singh 87, S Radhakrishnan 50, R Sai Kishore 4/39, B Arun 3/123) vs Grand Slam 10 for no loss in five overs.