The KCC T20 Challengers A League witnessed another thrilling encounter on February 28, 2025, at the Sulaibiya Cricket Ground in Kuwait City, where the ACE KRM Panthers emerged victorious over the MEC Study Group by 7 wickets.
Starting at 1:15 AM, the match saw the MEC Study Group set a challenging target of 190 runs for the ACE KRM Panthers. The batting order of the MEC Study Group included noteworthy performances but fell short of providing enough runs to secure victory. The team's final score was 189 runs, with their innings concluding after 20 overs.
Key performers for the MEC Study Group included Ummer Abbas, who took two wickets, and Nabeel Javed, who added to the bowling tally with one wicket. Despite their efforts, the team struggled to contain the run flow from the Panthers, particularly during the latter overs of the innings.
When it came to the ACE KRM Panthers’ chase, Sankar Varathappan solidified his position as the star player of the match, finishing not out with 105 runs off just 43 deliveries. His explosive innings was embellished with 7 fours and 9 sixes, leading his team to victory with authority.
Delishous John also contributed significantly with the bat, making 28 runs from just 14 balls, providing the necessary momentum early on in the innings. With such standout performances, the Panthers retracting the target was just a matter of time, as they scored 195 runs with 7 wickets remaining.
Another notable name on the roster was Ansal V Nazzar, who added 49 runs off 36 balls without being dismissed. His ability to rotate the strike helped maintain the pace required to chase down MEC’s decent total.
Bowling-wise, MEC Study Group’s Ummer Abbas delivered remarkable figures with 2 wickets for 38 runs over 4 overs, providing his team with breakthroughs, but it was not sufficient to curb the Panthers’ advance.
The fall of wickets for the ACE KRM Panthers came early when Mathan Kumar was dismissed for just 5 runs. Bijo Philip, after hitting just 1 run, was also dismissed shortly after. During this, the Panthers maintained their composure, largely thanks to Varathappan and Nazzar.
The win marks an impressive outing for the ACE KRM Panthers, who demonstrated resilience and exceptional skill, particularly evident from Varathappan’s exceptional performance, which, according to match reports, “showed the true spirit and potential of the Panthers.”
This victory places the ACE KRM Panthers strategically favorable as they continue to push for top rankings within the KCC T20 Challengers A League, highlighting their prowess as formidable competitors. Their next matches will certainly be ones for fans to watch closely, eagerly anticipating how they will capitalize on this momentum.
Overall, the encounter was not just about runs and wickets, but also about showcasing skills, teamwork, and the essence of competitive spirit within the cricketing community of Kuwait, as part of this important league.