The DLSW U15 Tigers have had a rollercoaster start to their league campaign, facing significant challenges in their initial matches but showing remarkable resilience and improvement as the season progressed.

Match 1: DLSWCC U15 Tigers vs. IC Capitals

The Tigers began their campaign against the IC Capitals. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Tigers posted a competitive total of 226/9 in their 30 overs, largely thanks to a stellar performance by captain Preet Mangukiya, who scored an impressive 139 runs off 51 balls. Despite this strong start, the IC Capitals chased down the target in the final over, capitalizing on the Tigers’ rusty start to the season and mismanagement of the bowlers’ roles under new team management. The Tigers’ bowlers struggled to find their rhythm, conceding numerous extras, which ultimately cost them the match.

Match 2: DLSWCC U15 Tigers vs. HKCC U15 Optimists

In their second match, the Tigers faced the HKCC U15 Optimists in a crucial game to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. The Optimists managed to score 194/8 in their 30 overs, with Preet Mangukiya being the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-31 in 6 overs. However, the chase heavily depended on Preet’s innings. Once he was given out LBW at 36 runs, the rest of the batters failed to show resistance, and the Tigers were all out for 77 runs, conceding a 117-run defeat.

Match 3: DLSWCC U15 Tigers vs. USRC U15 Hawks

The third match against the USRC U15 Hawks marked a turning point for the Tigers. The Hawks won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a total of 150 runs in 28.5 overs. The Tigers’ bowlers, led by Wahib Ahmed with 4 wickets and Jaival Patel with 2 wickets, put up a commendable performance to restrict the Hawks. In response, the Tigers chased down the target in 27.2 overs, with Pratham Maru scoring 72 runs and Pransh Vimal Kalathiya contributing 37 runs. The Tigers secured their first victory of the league by 5 wickets.

Match 4: DLSWCC U15 Tigers vs. PACC U15

In their fourth match, the Tigers faced the PACC U15 and delivered a comprehensive victory, winning by 9 wickets. The PACC U15 batted first and were bowled out for 117 runs in 28.4 overs. All the Tigers’ bowlers chipped in with wickets, with Pransh, Zain, Pratham, and Wahib Ahmed picking up 2 wickets each, while Aarya Savani took 1 wicket for 8 runs. In reply, the Tigers’ openers showed great maturity, with Jaival Patel scoring 35 and Pratham Maru remaining unbeaten on 33*, sealing a 9-wicket victory.

Match 5: DLSWCC U15 Tigers vs. KCC Typhoons

The Tigers continued their winning streak in their fifth match against the KCC Typhoons, securing another convincing victory by 9 wickets. The Typhoons batted first and were bowled out for 122 runs in 30 overs. The Tigers’ bowlers, led by Zain Amien with 3 wickets, Aarya Savani with 2 wickets, and Wahib Ahmed with an economical spell of 1 wicket for 17 runs in 6 overs, put up a strong performance. The Tigers chased down the target in 13.4 overs, with Jaival Patel scoring an unbeaten 67* runs and Aarya Savani contributing 21* runs. This victory set up an eliminator match against the HKCC U15 Optimists.

Eliminator Match: DLSWCC U15 Tigers vs. HKCC U15 Optimists

The eliminator match against the HKCC U15 Optimists was a high-stakes encounter, with both teams vying for a spot in the grand final. The Optimists batted first and were restricted to 178/5 in 30 overs, with Max Cornell scoring 72 and Otis Lee contributing 36 runs. Zain Amien was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 35 runs, including the crucial wicket of Veer Mathur. In response, the Tigers chased down the target in 24.2 overs, with Preet Mangukiya playing a captain’s knock of 79* not out. He was well supported by Jaival Patel (14), Pratham Maru (32), and Aarya Savani (20). Pransh provided the final touches alongside Preet to bring the Tigers home, winning the match by 6 wickets and securing their place in the grand final.

Grand Final: DLSWCC U15 Tigers vs. IC Capitals

The grand final was an exciting rematch, as the DLSWCC U15 Tigers faced the team they lost to in their first match of the season, the IC Capitals. Determined to showcase their improvement and talent, the Tigers were eager to claim the league title.

The IC Capitals won the toss and decided to bat first, but the decision quickly backfired as the Tigers’ bowlers displayed outstanding form. Pransh provided an early breakthrough, followed by a runout and Zain Amien removing Viraj Rao, leaving the Capitals at 35/3 in 5 overs. Captain Preet Mangukiya brought himself on and immediately succeeded by removing Ishan Pandey for a duck. Preet’s tight lines meant no easy runs for the Capitals. The introduction of Wahib Ahmed and Aarya Savani further worsened the situation for the Capitals, as they kept losing wickets. Zoyann Shaikh (23) and Ayan Godhankar (28) added some respectability to the total, with the Capitals reaching 127/9 in 30 overs.

In response, Tigers’ captain Preet Mangukiya and Jaival Patel opened the innings. The pair looked in great form, especially Preet, who scored runs freely and found the boundaries regularly. They brought the score to 94 in 11 overs, with Preet batting at 54* off 32 balls and Jaival on 27*. The 12th over, bowled by Anirudh Rambhatla, was disastrous for the Capitals as Preet finished the chase in style by hitting 5 sixes in the over, bringing the U15 Championship back to DLSWCC in spectacular fashion.