The U15 Premier League’s opening match was a showcase of young talent and high spirits, with Preet Mangukiya of the LSW U15 Tigers delivering an outstanding performance. Despite his team’s loss to IC Capitals by four wickets, Preet’s innings was a highlight of the game.

Preet, who recently demonstrated his skills in the Sunday league for Tony Turners, continued his excellent form. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, he made his intentions clear from the outset, targeting the IC Capitals’ bowlers with aggressive play. His remarkable six off the fourth ball of the first over set the tone for his innings.

Throughout the match, Preet’s batting prowess was on full display. He hit consecutive sixes off Arjun Kapoor in the third over and added three more boundaries in the fourth. Achieving his fifty in just 26 balls, he dominated the bowlers, sending them to all parts of the ground.

Despite wickets falling at the other end, Preet maintained his aggressive stance. In the 11th over, bowled by Zoyaan Shaikh, he hit two sixes and a four, bringing his total to 79 runs. He reached his first century of the season in just 51 balls, marking the milestone with back-to-back sixes off Ihaan Dadlani. After reaching his hundred, Preet became even more assertive, hitting four sixes in the 15th over bowled by Anirudh Rambhatla.

Preet’s impressive innings ended at 139 runs when he was given out LBW on Parthiv Satheesh’s bowling in the 17th over. His innings included 15 sixes and nine fours, a testament to his striking ability.

Contributions from Zain Amien with a steady 20 runs and Aarya Savani with 17 helped the Tigers post a total of 226/9 in their 30 overs. For IC Capitals, Parthiv Satheesh took 4 wickets for 30 runs, and Itish Handa claimed 3 for 36, both delivering commendable bowling performances.

In their chase, IC Capitals lost an early wicket but were steadied by a solid third-wicket partnership between Atharva Bisht, who scored 71, and Ishaan Dadlani. This partnership set a strong foundation for their late-order batters.

The Tigers’ bowlers struggled to find their rhythm, proving costly as they conceded many extras. This allowed IC Capitals to take the game to the final over, where they secured victory.

Reflecting on the match, it’s clear that better utilization of the Tigers’ bowling lineup could have altered the outcome. However, the team must acknowledge their shortcomings in bowling, which ultimately led to their defeat by a narrow margin. The match was a thrilling encounter, highlighting the potential of these young cricketers and the competitive spirit of the U15 Premier League.