The second day of eCricket Matches 2020 saw five games being played on Thursday, May 14. There were some memorable performances in the simulated reality league cricket tournament, and we look at what transpired through the day and bring you the summary of each game.
KINGSPIN (NZ) v REAPERSSLAM (PAK), Match 6: KINGSPIN won by seven wickets
Kingspin's NZ won the toss and chose to bat. However, all but two of their batsmen struggled to score more than a single run - Waqar Riaz, who put together eight runs off five balls, and Shahid Shah Afredi, who managed a six off the lone ball he faced, as ReapersSlam's PAK bowlers restricted PAK to just 28 runs in their five overs.
Despite some exceptional bowling, PAK's bowlers failed to return the favour. While NZ did employ a cautious approach, it paid off in the end. Opener Callum Munro starred for his side, with a seven-ball 17, and his effort was backed up nicely by Michael Sentner.
RAGEHAV (AFG) v WHITESHADOW (SL), Match 7: WHITESHADOW won by 10 wickets
Once again, opting to bat first failed to pay off, as this time, it was Ragehav's AFG who made the call. Carrying on from their first game, SL put up another stellar bowling performance, restricting AFG to just 24 in five overs.
With their task having been made simpler thanks to their bowlers, SL cruised to the win with more than an over to spare, as Kushal Perera and Laher Thirimanne put up an unbeaten 25-run stand.
KINGSPIN (IND) v MAVERICK (SA), Match 8: KINGSPIN won by seven wickets
For the third match in a row on the day, opting to bat first resulted in a bitter result, as Maverick's SA side came up short to Kingspin's IND. A brutal bowling attack from IND saw the SA side all out for a meagre 32 runs, with Rajesh Pant scalping three of SA's finest.
Not satisfied with being the star of the bowling effort, Rajesh Pant led the way with the bat as well and finished in style for IND with the most runs scored (11) among the experimental batting order.
WHITESHADOW (BAN) v LAUGHINGBUDDHA (WI), Match 9: LAUGHINGBUDDHA won by nine wickets
While Whiteshadow's BAN opted to bat first, LaughingBuddha's WI had the last laugh, as they effortlessly chased down BAN to win by nine wickets.
BAN never really got going, and they suffered particularly hard during the third over bowled by Andy Russel, when they lost four wickets. They somehow scraped together 39 runs, anchored by Shabbir Rahmen's seven-ball 12 contribution. It gave their bowlers had something to bowl toward.
All hopes were soon dashed as WI's top order got into action, with Shy Hope whacking off a hat-trick of sixes, including the finisher, and ending with an unbeaten 21 from seven and WI having nine balls and nine wickets to spare.
MAVERICK (AUS) v REAPERSSLAM (ENG) - Match 10: REAPERSSLAM won by seven wickets
It took until the final match of the day for a team to realise it was wiser to field first, and that's what ReaperSlam's ENG did in Match 10.
AUS's innings barely managed to pick up any steam, getting derailed constantly by wickets, with a particularly economic over from Moin Alee sealing up AUS' tally at 41/5.
However, it wasn't all plain sailing for ENG, as AUS fought back with the ball. Their effort went to heck in a handbasket during a horrible penultimate over by Glen Maxwall that saw AUS give away 21 runs and seal their fate. That set up a close finish, which went ENG's way thanks to an LBW from Pete Cummins to Ian Morgan on the final ball of the match, netting them the crucial 42-run target.
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