It was SoBo SuperSonics all the way in the second semi-final as they got a run victory over the Aakash Tigers to book a slot for themselves in the final. They shattered several records along the way, as well as becoming the first team to score above 200 for Season 2. The Tigers’ captain Dhawal Kulkarni scored a valiant fifty on the night, but it was the SoBo SuperSonics players who bagged all the plaudits in the second semi-final.

Here are our top performers of Saturday.

Jay Bista and Hersh Tank ‘open’ the record books

Both Jay Bista and Hersh Tank have had mediocre seasons so far, having never scored a knock beyond 40 until the semi-final. However, they seemed to be saving their best for last, as both batsmen put on a spectacular show at the Wankhede, with Jay Bista entering the record books for becoming the first player in T20 Mumbai history to score a century. They were relentless in their approach, targeting even the dangerous bowlers Dhawal Kulkarni and Shams Mulani, getting 94 runs off the eight overs between them.

The duo also got 21 runs off one Aakarshit Gomel over to get the best ever partnership of Season 2. Brilliantly complimenting each other, both played their natural, aggressive brand of cricket to score at an even pace and ensure they remained in close quarters of each other’s scores. Tank smashed seven fours and five sixes as he went on to score 93 off just 51 before being run-out. Captain Bista got to 110 runs with nine fours and five sixes, to ensure it is the SoBo SuperSonics who made the final.  

Five-star Dhrumil Matkar

With a steep hill to climb for the Aakash Tigers, left-arm spinner Dhrumil Matkar ensured that the opposition started their innings on the backfoot. In only the second over of the match, he got rid of Arjun Tendulkar with his first ball applying brakes on a potential early onslaught. By the end of that over, he even accounted for Bhavin Thakkar who had scored a brilliant fifty for the Tigers against the Shivaji Park Lions.

After the early strikes, the Tigers were trying to get back into game before a couple of wickets left them at 88/4 in the 10th over. But it was the dangerous Shams Mulani's scalp that perhaps sealed the match, as Matkar sent the fellow southpaw back for just four runs. He then snapped Yogesh Pawar and Nehal Katakdhond to seal the deal and his fifer, after which the Tigers crawled to their loss. It was the only the third fifer in the league and also the best ever bowling figures for Season 2.