In a powerful display of batting, Chicago Cricket Club secured a dominant victory over the Atlanta Kings to claim their maiden National Cricket League Sixty Strikes title on Monday. Batting first, Chicago posted an imposing total of 160/4 in their allotted 10 overs, setting the tone from the very first over under the leadership of captain Robin Uthappa.
Leonardo Julien and Mikyle Louis were the standout performers for Chicago, delivering crucial knocks that ensured their team put up a challenging score. Uthappa contributed with a brisk 35 off just 15 balls, while Julien’s blistering 61 off 22 balls, combined with Louis’ 43 off 17, helped Chicago put Atlanta under immense pressure.
Ben Russell was the only bright spot in Atlanta’s bowling lineup, claiming three wickets for 28 runs in his 2 overs. However, his efforts were not enough to stem the flow of runs as Chicago’s batters relentlessly attacked. Danish Aziz struggled the most for Atlanta, giving away a staggering 53 runs in just 2 overs.
In response, Atlanta Kings struggled to maintain the required run rate. Although James Neesham (29 off 16) and Tom Bruce (61 off 21) played aggressive knocks, it wasn’t enough to keep Atlanta in the game. Chicago’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Sohail Tanvir with figures of 2 for 13 in his 2 overs, kept Atlanta’s batters in check.
In the end, Atlanta fell short by 43 runs, sealing Chicago’s comprehensive victory. Leonardo Julien’s outstanding innings earned him the Player of the Match award for his decisive 61 runs.
