After winning the toss and electing to bat, captain Andrew Jackson was looking to immediately implement his ‘red ball reset’. Unlike Ben Stokes, however, his tenure didn’t get off to the best of starts with Standard Athletic soon four wickets down with only 32 runs on the board. With Dilip at the crease, however, runs started to flow and after a quick-fire 21 from Sachin and some stoic defence from Andrew Mac, SAC finished proceedings on 135 for the loss of 9 wickets. Dilip’s 42 red inker was, without doubt, the highlight amidst an impressive bowling display from the Tuskers.

After a tasty tea provided by fast bowler Shaunak, Standard were back out on the field and feeling fired up after captain Jackson’s bullish team talk. In a change to normal proceedings, it was off-break bowler Money Singh to open the bowling from the forest end and he immediately repaid his captain’s faith by claiming 3 quick-fire wickets! With Shaunak striking twice and Sachin once from the tennis court end, the visitors were soon rocking at 39 for 6. A partnership of 60 runs, however, steadied the ship and left Tuskers with only 35 runs required for victory. With SAC desperately needing a breakthrough, captain Jackson threw trialist Abi the ball who duly took 3 quick wickets! With Standard now requiring only 1 wicket for victory, Jackson ordered his bowlers to go for the kill. Unfortunately, however, a last-wicket stand saw the Tuskers to victory for the loss of 9 wickets. 

The result – a 1 wicket victory for The Kerala Tuskers

After this close defeat, SAC will be looking to bounce back with a win this Sunday, 10 July as they welcome Lille CC to Paris.