Chennai Singams start ISPL 3 campaign with dominating win

Surat (Gujarat) [India], January 11 (ANI): Chennai Singams roared loud as they opened their Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) season 3 campaign with a comprehensive 44-run victory over Tiigers of Kolkata

at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat. A blistering knock from Sarfraz Khan, combined with incisive bowling spells from Jagannath Sarkar and debutant Ashish Pal, powered the Singams to a commanding opening win. After losing early wickets and slipping to 10/2 inside the first two overs, Chennai regrouped through a commanding, match-defining knock from Sarfraz Khan, according to a release. Batting with authority and control, Sarfraz anchored the innings with a superb 45 off 24 deliveries, counter-attacking the bowlers and firmly swinging momentum in Chennai’s favour. He found valuable support in Jagannath Sarkar (16 off 19), with the duo stitching together a crucial middle-overs partnership. The defining passage of the innings came in the seventh over, the 50-50 Challenge over, where Chennai amassed 40 runs, shifting the momentum and pushing the total beyond the 80-run mark. Despite a late fightback from Tiigers of Kolkata through disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, the Singams continued to press for runs. A quick late flourish from Sambhaji Patil (14 off 6), introduced as the Googly Sub, ensured Chennai crossed the landmark, closing their innings at 102/8. The effort made Chennai Singams the first side in ISPL Season 3 to breach the 100-run mark. Defending the total, the Chennai Singams bowlers asserted complete control. Jagannath Sarkar led the attack with an outstanding spell of 2/7, dismissing Kiran Pawar and Krushna Gawali in his tape-ball overs. Debutant Ashish Pal backed him up with a confident spell of 2/15, sealing a dominant 44-run win for Chennai Singams in their opening match of the third edition at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat. Match Summary: Chennai Singams: 102/8 (10 overs) Sarfraz Khan 45 (24) Vivek Shelar 3/15 (2 overs) Tiigers of Kolkata: 58/5 (10 overs) Saif Ali 26 (23) Jagannath Sarkar 2/7 (2 overs) Result: Chennai Singams beat Tiigers of Kolkata by 44 runs. (ANI)