The Stars and Crescents went head to head on the 19th of February at IA in the third fixture of the EPS T20 Series with both teams hoping to notch up their first wins of the campaign. The Crescents batted first and opened with Uganda’s Roger Mukasa and Aritra Dutta. Dutta found himself back in the pavilion first ball LBW and Crescents skipper Manpreet Singh settled the innings with Mukasa. Mukasa went on the offensive as Manpreet rotated the strike and even as the latter was dismissed for 19 (21), the heavy scoring continued as Mukasa was ruthless against a collection of Stars bowlers notching up 75 off 55 balls which consisted of 4 sixes, one of them possibly the biggest ever hit at the Indian Association ground as it landed on Balestier Road after grazing the top of a tree. The SG Crescents amassing a hefty 184/4 after their 20 overs.
The SG Stars had a big chase on their hands and 2 wickets lost with the score on 38 in the 5th over did not help their cause. SG Stars captain, Rezza Gaznavi looked to provide the spark that was needed to give momentum to the chase but his dismissal for 24 (33) once again put the brakes on their chase and as the 16 year old left arm spinner, Ishaan Sawney and leg spinner, Anantha Krishna went on to claim five Stars wickets between themselves, took the fight out of the SG Stars as they were wrapped up for 104 in 18.5 overs. Crescents winning by a whopping 80 runs and Roger Mukasa rightfully named player of the match for his brutal knock which put Crescents on top from the start.
The SG Crimsons will play the SG Stars next in the 21st of February 2019 as the Crimsons will look to extend their unbeaten run in the T20 series while Stars will want to return to winning ways.
