Seattle Thunderbolts showcased a commanding display to overcome Golden State Grizzlies by 29 runs in a crucial T20 encounter at Woodley Park on Sept. 16th. Batting first, Seattle amassed an impressive total of 179/3, highlighted by a remarkable innings from Man of the Match Ruben Clinton, who excelled with 92 runs off 60 balls.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Seattle began strongly, with Clinton serving as the backbone of the innings through his aggressive stroke play. Clinton’s performance featured 9 boundaries and 4 sixes, as he established vital partnerships with Ian Chauhan (33 off 22) and Sujit Nayak (28* off 20). Clinton’s wicket in the 18th over concluded his stunning innings, but by that point, Seattle had already secured a solid foundation for a competitive score. Nayak and Rishab Mohan (10* off 8) maintained the momentum, ensuring the Thunderbolts arrived at 179/3 by the end of 20 overs, achieving a run rate of 8.95.
The bowling unit of the Golden State Grizzlies faced challenges making a significant impact, with only Adnesh Tondale (4-0-31-1), Dev Thadani (4-0-31-1), and Sohan Bhat (3-0-28-1) managing to earn wickets. Despite their attempts, the Grizzlies were unable to curtail Seattle’s batting strength.
In pursuit of 180 runs, the Golden State Grizzlies had a rocky beginning, with opener Tarun Adada dismissed for a duck in the second over. Nevertheless, Rahul Jariwala stood out for his side, striking a commendable 90 off 56 balls, which included 8 fours and 4 sixes. Jariwala appeared to be in excellent form as he took on the Seattle bowlers but received inadequate support from his teammates.
Kranthi Kumar (26 off 29) attempted to stabilize the innings, but following his dismissal in the 12th over, the Grizzlies’ middle order crumbled. Sujit Nayak (1/26) and Cinci Siegertsz (3/19) applied relentless pressure, with Siegertsz’s economical bowling spell proving vital. The Grizzlies lost crucial wickets in quick succession, including Sahil Garg (8 off 11) and Mohit Nataraj (0), leaving Jariwala to fend for himself. He ultimately fell in the 19th over, caught by Shivam Sharma off Atif Attarwala (1/29), and with this dismissal, the Grizzlies’ hopes of recovery diminished.
Despite a late burst from Sohan Bhat (17 off 14), the Grizzlies could only manage 150/7 in their allotted 20 overs, falling short by 29 runs. Seattle’s bowlers, particularly Siegertsz, Attarwala, and Mansingh (2/33), executed their strategies effectively, keeping the Grizzlies’ scoring rate under control.
Ruben Clinton’s authoritative innings of 92, coupled with Seattle Thunderbolts’ disciplined bowling display, was pivotal in their 29-run triumph. Clinton’s contributions with the bat set the match’s tone, earning him the accolade of Man of the Match.
Image Source: Seattle Thunderbolts @ Instagram
