The T10 League 2018 started with Afghanistani batsman Mohammad Shahzad’s blistering knock of 74 runs off just 16 balls. Anyone who thought this was just a one-off display of such powerful hitting, was proven wrong in the matches to come. In a format like this, anywhere near 100 and 150 is an expected score but who could have thought 183 runs in just 10 overs was even a possibility? A truly jaw-dropping performance.
Four Windies batsmen turned out to be weapons of destruction in this tournament. They did not hold back and decided to take an attacking approach like never seen before. It was not just one batsman’s lucky day, but all four of them contributed to the mammoth total in 10 overs.
Windies opener Lendl Simmons was the slowest with 36 runs off 21 balls which is considered outstanding in T20 cricket. Wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran scored 77 runs off just 25 deliveries. He got out on the first ball of the 10th over, otherwise at the rate he was going, the first century in the T10 format was not far away.
The Punjabi Legends bowlers would have breathe a sigh of relief after Pooran’s wicket but it did not just end there. Andre Russell and Rovman Powell combined forces to take Northern Warriors to a record total. In last 10 balls they scored 53 balls. Both the batsmen had strike rate in excess to 400, humiliating the bowling lineup even further.
The bowling lineup of 6 had four fast bowlers who represent their respective countries in T20I matches. New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan, Pakistan’s Anwar Ali and England’s Chris Jordan and Liam Plunkett. Their economy rates were far from economical.
At one point it seemed like these are not bowlers but mere bowling machines just installed there for batting practice in the nets.
Twitter couldn’t stop raving about the match either:
– 183 Runs in 10 Overs.
– 19 Sixes.That’s what Happens when 4 West Indian players bats for 10 Overs
–
36 in 21 balls Simmons
77 in 25 b…— IND vs AUS (@Live_PTV2) November 24, 2018
FFS this T10 Format should be banned
183 runs in 10 overs pic.twitter.com/QqQWPPzgK7
— NTR Fan #ASVR (@Mohankrish9999) November 24, 2018
A funny one indeed
Firstly, I think the @T10League is a joke as the ground is too small with the boundaries in Sharjah brought in to bring more entertainment. Next, I see this and I can definitely confirm that the league is a joke. 183 runs in 10 overs. Are you fucking kidding me? #T10League pic.twitter.com/iainQatmLK
— Sharath Bala (@ShadyBala) November 24, 2018
How times have changed
In 1983 wc, 183 was a winning total & yesterday in T10 league Northern Warriors scored 183 runs in ten overs.
Time & cricket has changed a lot.
— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) November 24, 2018
That’s 114 runs through sixes
183 runs in 10 overs! Highest total in T10s. 19 sixes in the innings. Ridiculous hitting by Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell. #T10League.
— Sachin Padwal (@sachin140778) November 23, 2018
Paradise for batsmen
10 overs me 183 runs.
This t10 cricket is nightmare for bowlers— Sheikh Hassan (@umairhassanoo01) November 23, 2018
Almost like they were punished by the teacher to raise hands
The scoreboard reads 183/2 in 10 overs. We’re no longer feeling sorry for the bowlers, we’re rather worried about the umpires and their ever increasing work load. Today, even they’ll need a good body massage.#T10League
— North Stand-Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) November 23, 2018
Oh, we almost forgot. The Northern Warriors won the match by 99 runs. Even in gully cricket, a 10-over match is usually not won by a margin like this one.
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