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JBB won by 36 runs

7:21 PM IST, 3:51 PM LOCAL TIME: What a response from JB Bruges after the weather interruption. Reduced to a 10-over contest, they posted a formidable 121/5 thanks largely to a breathtaking 66 from 30 balls by Rassie van der Dussen. In reply, the Liege Red Lions started fearlessly and looked capable of making a real contest of it. They were 35/1 after the three-over Powerplay and 50 up in just 5.1 overs. But once the key wickets fell, the chase unraveled quickly. Bruges tightened the screws brilliantly and eventually secured a convincing 36-run victory, restricting the Lions to 85/7 from their 10 overs.

Let's rewind a bit...

How did Bruges build that winning total? Through resilience first. Through destruction later. Their innings began disastrously when Shoaib Malik conceded just one run in the opening over and removed Colin Munro for a duck, courtesy of a stunning diving catch from Faf du Plessis. Yet Lahiru Milantha and Rassie van der Dussen counterattacked immediately, smashing a six each in a 14-run second over. Milantha's cameo ended on the final ball of the Powerplay when Shaaron Lewis deceived him with a slower delivery. At 22/2 after three overs, the Red Lions were firmly in control and sensing an opportunity.

What changed the course of the innings? Rassie van der Dussen happened. The experienced batter completely flipped the script after the Powerplay. Hayden Kerr's fourth over disappeared for 18 runs as Rassie hammered two sixes and a boundary. Then came a brutal fifth over from Murid Ekrami that leaked 24 runs. Gulshan Jha joined the assault with two sixes and a four, while Rassie added another maximum. The pair stitched together a game-changing 55-run partnership from just 23 deliveries. By the end of six overs, Bruges had rocketed to 74/2, scoring 52 runs in only three overs. Momentum had swung decisively.

Did the Red Lions manage to claw their way back? They tried. Shadley van Schalkwyk bowled Gulshan Jha for a rapid 20 from 10 balls at 77/3. A dropped chance at 7.1 overs then proved costly when Rassie survived and made the Lions pay. Nikhil Chaudhary chipped in with a brisk 13 from 7 deliveries, including two sixes, as Bruges brought up 100 in just 8.4 overs. Rassie then completed a magnificent fifty from only 25 balls before eventually departing for 66 from 30 deliveries, striking eight sixes and two fours. JB Bruges finished with 121/5, a total that looked imposing in a 10-over shootout.

Now.. THE CHASE!!

So how did the chase begin? With intent. Lots of it. Jack Wildermuth struck in the very first over, bowling Ben Dunk for 4 and reducing the Lions to an early setback. But that wicket barely slowed the charge. Shoaib Malik launched a six in the second over, while Faf du Plessis immediately looked in sublime touch. The Lions raced to 35/1 by the end of the three-over Powerplay, with Faf smashing two boundaries and a six on his way to 16 from just 9 balls. Malik was equally aggressive with 14 from 6. At that stage, the required rate was well under control, and the chase was alive.

When did Bruges begin turning the tide? The fifth over. Wayne Parnell struck a crucial blow when Shoaib Malik miscued a high full toss and was caught by Jack Wildermuth at long off. Only four runs came from that over. Then came an even bigger moment. Shortly after the team fifty arrived at 5.1 overs, Thomas Kaber dismissed Faf du Plessis with a flighted delivery that induced a mistimed shot to long on. The skipper departed after providing the perfect platform. Suddenly, the Lions had lost both their experienced anchors, and the chase looked very different.

What happened in the crucial final overs? The pressure arrived. Then the collapse. Hayden Kerr briefly reignited hopes with a six and a four during a 13-run seventh over against Nikhil Chaudhary. But Thomas Kaber returned to deliver a decisive double strike. First, Corey was caught at long off attempting to force the pace. Then Jasper Davidson was bowled trying an ambitious reverse sweep. Two wickets in the same over. Two massive blows. The equation spiraled out of control. Bruges sensed victory and never let go.

Who finished the job for Bruges? The spinners and the wicketkeeper. Lalit Rajbanshi entered the wickets column with a sharp stumping, removing Hayden Kerr after beating him in flight. Another stumping followed as Phiri also overbalanced against the turn, and Lahiru Milantha completed the dismissal smartly behind the stumps. The Lions stumbled to 85/7 from their 10 overs. Jack Wildermuth's all-round contribution stood out as well. He claimed the first wicket, held multiple catches, including key grabs off Malik and Faf, and played a major role in nearly every turning point of the chase.

Faf du Plessis (Liege Red Lions Captain): (On the shortened game and the conditions) "Look, I think first of all, credit to the guys who got it ready because I did not think that was going to happen this morning when we arrived. It looked really wet. So to get a game out of that is very pleasing for both teams. And then it played better than I thought. Obviously, the guys batted really well in the first innings. And probably 15-20 runs too many on a surface that, if you bowl it and take a bit of pace off and bowl to the stumps, it's not going to be easy.

(On adapting from a 20-over game to a 10-over game) Look, I think first of all it's nice because it's quite a heavy outfield. So with all the back-to-back games, you wouldn't mind preserving your body a little bit over the next few days because it's not natural for a competition to go three, four, five, six games in a row in T20 cricket. So I'm not complaining about the 10 overs. It was nice just to get out there and move the body a bit.

(On preparing for the next few days) Yeah, we had a nice day off yesterday, just exploring the city a little bit. But now it's a very busy time. The games are so thick and fast. You've got to make sure you take some lessons from the game and then try to pick the right guys in the right positions. So we'll do that for the next couple of days.

(On the key message to the team) The thing is, I think every day so far, the pitch has been different for us. The other day, we only bowled four or five overs on it. It was very low. Today it was different. So that's the nice thing. It feels like you're actually playing in different conditions. And what you have to do as a cricketer is make sure that you adjust, read the pitch, and then play accordingly. Today, I thought we were okay in that regard. That's the learning. It's the first time we've had a little bit of a hit-out here, so make the adjustments and hopefully improve."

What will both teams take away from this rain-shortened battle? JB Bruges will celebrate a complete performance. Rassie's 66 powered the innings. Gulshan and Nikhil provided valuable support. The bowlers struck at key moments. The fielders backed them up brilliantly. The Red Lions will reflect on a chase that promised plenty early but lost direction after the dismissals of Malik and Faf. In the end, 121 proved far bigger than it first appeared. In a 10-over sprint, momentum is everything. Bruges grabbed it, held it, and sprinted all the way to victory. 

Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with the scorer Paras Yadav. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesn’t sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!