DB vs VG

So, Dusseldorf Blackcaps maintain their unbeaten run and stay at the top of the table. As for VFB Gelsenkirchen, they don't have much to cheer about with only a solitary win so far, meaning it could the end of the road for them if they lose their next match against the same opposition. You can catch all the live action from that one by switching tabs. That's all from myself, Pratyush Rohra, and my partner, Bidipto Datta, who will be around the for the next contest as well. Do tune into for the next game. Bye bye for now!

Dusseldorf Blackcaps win by 26 runs

Oascoroni Ahamed 50 (21) | Kashif Shahab - 2/5
Swapnil Varhade - 36 (18) | Shrutarv Awasthi - 2/20

Well, there was a reason why Dusseldorf started off as favourites in this contest and they've shown exactly why. They were down and struggling in the first innings before Oascoroni Ahamed's half-century helped them post an excellent total on the board.

In reply, VFB Gelsenkirchen started off decently with Swapnil Varhade leading the way with a brisk 36. However, he barely had any support from the other end as Naresh Pavaluru was the only other batter to register a double-digit score. The two fought with all their might but they needed much more support from the rest of the lot.

It was a comfortable bowling performance for the Blackcaps bowlers. The part-timers got a go with seven bowlers used in the innings. Shahab proved to be the most successful of the lot with two wickets in one over. Jamshed, Ahmadzai, Ahamed and Ganesan bagged one each to keep in check the rest of the VFB batters and seal a comfortable victory.

9.6 Jamshed Khan to Naresh Pavaluru, DUSSELDORF BLACKCAPS WIN! RUN OUT! Full on middle, the batter does a lot of moving around and finally, stroked it back to the bowler, who collects, turns around and throws the stumps down at the non-striker's end to catch the non-striker napping! 

Kashif Shahab bags a couple of wickets in that over. That'll delight him! VfB Gelsenkirchen need 31 runs in 6 balls. Basically, they need a miracle.

8.6 Kashif Shahab to Shrutarv Awasthi, WICKET! Good length ball on off, hit hard but off the slice to long-off's right and then, the fielder comes around to take a good high CATCH, safely!
Shrutarv Awasthi c Venkatraman Ganesan b Kashif Shahab 4 (4b 1x4 0x6)

8.4 Kashif Shahab to Shrutarv Awasthi, fuller outside off, a swing and a miss through off, on the back foot, the keeper takes it and they appeal, but then, the batters run through for a BYE! 

8.2 Kashif Shahab to Shrutarv Awasthi, short on middle, cutting back in and cramping the batter, he gets up on his toes to get the ball down and almost ends up chopping it back on! No run. 

Well, if the previous over banged the door shut on VFB's hopes, this over ensured it's safely locked to avoid any breach. Pavuluru has had to watch all this unfold from the other end as wickets tumble around him.

8.1 Kashif Shahab to Kamran Khan, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Short outside off, an attempted short-arm pull off the back foot, it takes the outside edge and goes through to the keeper!
Kamran Khan c Niraj Patel b Kashif Shahab 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Kashif Shahab, right-arm medium fast, comes into the attack