Swabhanu Khosla struck a brilliant half-century as GEMS Modern Academy booked their place in the U-13 Sport360° National School League (NSL) semi-finals with a 19-run win over DC Sixers on Friday.
Put in to bat at Dubai’s ICC Academy, Khosla’s 63-run knock off 32 balls helped GEMS post 152-5.
In reply, DC Sixers, who had four run-outs in their innings, managed 133-3 with opener Wajih Zaman top-scoring (51). Hayden D’Souza was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 1-16, while Siddarth Tugnait took one wicket.
GEMS got off to a strong start as openers Khosla and Ronak Sudesh (9) put on 30 for the first wicket before the latter was run-out.
Shivam Ghosh (32) maintained the run-rate with a 67-run partnership for the second wicket before retiring hurt. Khosla was then caught by Ross Vintcent off Eisa Hussain.
From 142-3, GEMS ended their innings on 152-5.
The DC Sixers began the reply well, with Zaman and Pranav Nanda (11) putting on 40 runs for the first wicket.
While the openers were dismissed with the scoreboard reading 99-2, there was hope for the Sixers to pull off another remarkable win as they did last week, with Vintcent (43) still at the crease. However, needing 25 runs off the last over, it proved to be too much of an uphill task after GEMS tightened their fielding to eventually seal victory.
Aryan Lakra starred with the bat and ball to continue his impressive form as DPS Falcons (Dubai) beat Winchester Cobras by 66 runs to reach the U-13 Sport360° National School League (NSL) semi-finals.
The all-rounder struck 66 off 43 balls, which included eight boundaries. He was supported by Vivek Aditya, who also hit a half-century – 60 off 44 balls – as DPS Falcons posted 142-0 in 15 overs.
In reply, the Cobras struggled for runs in the face of some tight bowling. Hassan Murad, one of three players to reach double figures, top-scored with 20 as Cobras were restricted to 76-7.
Mohit Gupta (2-23) and Lakra (2-8) shared two wickets each, while Milind Dogre and Harishankar R claimed one wicket each.
Lakra was adjudged the man-of-the-match, his fourth in the U-13 category so far, and is now also the leading scorer in his category with 257 runs from five matches, with four half-centuries to his name.
Lakra said: “It was an important game for us and our coach told me to stick to the basics and play shots according to the ball and the runs will come; that is what I did.
“I’m very happy to be named man-of-the-match. My partner Vivek also did very well and I hope our form continues in the semi-finals.”
