The win sets up an intriguing end to the winter season with just two points separating the top three teams going into the final two league games.

The Juniors captain, Karan Garg, won the toss and elected to bowl first, a tactic that has brought considerable success to the team this winter, if not necessarily maximising their bonus points. ArcelorMittal was soon in trouble at 4 runs for 3 wickets, opening bowler Charlie Ramsden taking a couple of early scalps. At 11 for 4, ArcelorMittal looked in serious danger of an unthinkable collapse. Sriram Venkatachalam and Anurag Tiwary started something of a recovery, putting on 25 for the fifth-wicket but it did not stop the reigning champions slumping to 52 all out, with The Junior’s leg-spinner Chris Evans taking a brace of wickets to end with figures of 2 wickets for 6 runs including one maiden. Charlie Ramsden ended the innings with two wickets for seven runs.

It seemed that ArcelorMittal would need early wickets to stand any chance of winning and those wickets were not forthcoming as The Junior’s opening pair saw their side carefully up to 21 for 0 wicket. However some improved bowling and poor running saw The Juniors slump to 36 for 5, still requiring a further 17 runs to win. ArcelorMittal could find no further breakthrough though and The Juniors crept up to the target of 53 in what turned out to be a nervier reply than most had anticipated. The Juniors did however secure a win and full bonus bowling points to propel them to the top of the table, leapfrogging both ArcelorMittal and The Allstars. ArcelorMittal’s two bowling bonus points weren’t enough to overhaul The Allstars, leaving the former outside the top-two for the first time this season.

However, ArcelorMittal hold the advantage in the race to the final, as it’s last game is against Star, who have yet to register a win this season, with four losses and tie. A win for ArcelorMittal plus at least 4 bonus points would guarantee a place in the final and even a win with fewer bonus points would probably be enough. The Allstars face The Juniors in the other game, which is essentially now a semi-final with the winner taking all. The loser can only hope that ArcelorMittal slip up against Star. It is a fantastic end to the season and a genuine three-horse race.

The league table looks like this: The Juniors 34 points, The Allstars 33, ArcelorMittal 32, Star 13.

Result:
ArcelorMittal 52 all out (Ramsden 2 for 7, C Evans 2 for 6)
The Juniors 53 for 5
The Juniors win by 2 wickets