Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in King City witnessed an exhilarating encounter between Centurions CC and JB Masters on June 18, 2023. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, JB Masters aimed to restrict the Centurions’ batting lineup. However, it was Kamileen Shihan’s magnificent all-round display, including four wickets, that powered the Centurions to a comprehensive victory.
The Centurions got off to a slightly shaky start, losing opener Rayyan Khan Pathan early as he was caught by Harsh Thaker off Jeremy Gordon’s bowling for 5 runs. Jash Shah and Arsalan Khan tried to stabilize the innings, contributing 27 and 9 runs respectively. Naresh Bahadur Budhayer’s patient knock of 23 runs came to an end when he was caught by Meet Patel off Saad Bin Zafar’s bowling.
The standout performers for the Centurions were Mohammed Imraz Mohammed Rafi and skipper Kamileen Shihan. Mohammed Rafi played an unbeaten innings of 70 runs from 89 deliveries, including six boundaries. Kamileen Shihan showcased his power-hitting abilities, smashing 89 runs off just 76 balls, which included seven fours and six towering sixes.
Thanks to their heroics, the Centurions posted a formidable total of 270 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
JB Masters’ bowling attack faced a daunting challenge against the strong Centurions’ batting lineup. Despite their best efforts, JB masters struggled to contain the Centurions’ scoring rate, while Meet Patel & Jeremy Gordon finding moderate success with their bowling.
Chasing a target of 271 runs, JB Masters endured a disastrous start, losing their opening batsmen Nicholas Manohar and Justin Guilllen cheaply to Kamileen Shihan’s accurate bowling. Harsh Thaker provided some resistance with a solid knock of 44 runs off 74 balls, including four boundaries. However, wickets fell at regular intervals, hampering JB Masters’ progress.
Sahib Malhotra starred with the ball for the Centurions, claiming four crucial wickets and causing havoc in JB Masters’ batting lineup. Kamileen Shihan, leading from the front, also made a significant impact with his four-wicket haul. Raymond Bynoe, Thuva Pathmes, Tintokeenen Elvin, and Nikhil Dutta chipped in with a wicket each to support the bowling effort.
In the end, JB Masters could only manage 131 runs before being bowled out in the 37th over, falling well short of their target.
The Centurions’ victory over JB Masters was a result of their dominant batting performance and disciplined bowling display. Kamileen Shihan’s outstanding all-round show, including his four-wicket haul, proved to be the defining factor in the match. Sahib Malhotra’s exceptional bowling also played a crucial role in the Centurions’ triumph. The Centurions showcased their strength as a formidable team capable of excelling in the Super 9 format. Fans can look forward to more exciting encounters as the tournament progresses.
