In an electrifying showdown, the New York Cowboys defied expectations and surged into the Finals after a stunning 30-run triumph over the New Jersey Titans in the Eliminator round.
The Cowboys, who had a slow start this season, silenced doubters with their all-around performance, booking a spot in the championship match against the Maryland Mavericks.
The Titans, who had dominated the league for most of the season, won the toss and opted to field. However, the Cowboys wasted no time in setting the stage ablaze. Opener Mukhtar Ahmed delivered a stellar performance, smashing 59 runs off 41 balls, including some sensational boundaries.
Dilpreet Bajwa added fuel to the fire with a quickfire 28 off just 18 balls, boasting the highest strike rate of 155.6. Parveen Kumar chipped in with a handy 19 runs off 13 balls before an unfortunate run-out ended his innings.
The Titans’ bowling attack tried to rein in the Cowboys, with Umer Khan leading the charge by claiming 3 wickets for 20 runs. Zia ul Haq, Saurabh Netravalkar, Manoj Acharya, Joshua James, and Aaron Jones all contributed with a wicket each. Wicketkeeper Arjun Mahesh was sharp behind the stumps, stumping out Matthew Tromp AND Jayden Roberts with finesse.
Despite the pressure, the Cowboys managed to post a competitive total of 152/9 in 20 overs, leaving the Titans a target of 153 runs. The Titans’ chase began with promise but faltered under the Cowboys’ relentless bowling attack.
Kunwarjeet Singh came close to a half-century with a gritty 46 off 27 balls, and Josh Cobb added a swift 30 off 18 balls. However, Arjun Mahesh’s 23 off 33 balls, culminating in a rare “retired out,” hampered their momentum. Joshua Tromp’s brilliant stumping of Aaron Jones added to the drama.
Cowboys’ skipper Jake Lintott led from the front, taking 3 wickets for 20 runs and turning the tide in his team’s favour. Parveen Kumar matched his brilliance with another 3-wicket haul, conceding just 24 runs. Dilpreet Bajwa showcased his all-rounder skills, grabbing 2 wickets for 17 runs, while Usman Shinwari picked up a crucial wicket to wrap up the Titans’ innings at 122 all out.
The star of the match was Dilpreet Bajwa, whose dual contributions with the bat and ball earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match honour.
Despite a sensational league performance that kept them consistently in the top two, the NJ Titans’ campaign concludes in third place, marking a bittersweet end to their season.
Meanwhile, all eyes turn to the highly anticipated showdown: the New York Cowboys in their second finals appearance, going head-to-head against the Maryland Mavericks.
