In a thrilling encounter in match 7 of the ECI T10 Romania 2024, the Austrian cricket team pulled off an extraordinary run chase against Romania on Sunday, July 14, in Bucharest. Chasing an improbable 61 runs from the final two overs, Austria emerged victorious by 7 wickets, leaving fans and commentators in awe.

Romania’s explosive start

Romania, batting first, put up a formidable total thanks to a sensational innings by their wicketkeeper Ariyan Mohammed, who scored an unbeaten 104 from 39 balls. His innings, complemented by opener Muhammad Moiz’s quickfire 42 from 14 balls, set a challenging target of 168 in 10 overs for Austria.

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Austria’s run-chase

Austria began their chase with a solid performance from opener Karanir Singh, who scored a quick 30 from 13 balls, giving them a good start. However, as the innings progressed, they found themselves at 107/3 after 8 overs, still needing 61 runs from the final two overs.

The turning point of the match

At 107/3, the match seemed to be slipping away from Austria. But the turning point came with Aqib Iqbal stepping up to the crease. With a clear strategy and an aggressive mindset, Iqbal prepared to turn the game around.

Manmeet Koli, tasked with bowling the penultimate over, had a nightmare spell, conceding 41 runs, including 9 extras. This over drastically shifted the momentum in Austria’s favor, reducing the required runs to a manageable target for the final over.

Final over heroics

Needing 20 runs from the final over, Imran Asif and Aqib Iqbal faced Chamika Fernando. The duo took Fernando to the cleaners, with Iqbal hitting four massive sixes to seal the victory with two balls to spare. The stadium erupted as Austria completed the chase, creating a historic moment in T10 cricket.

Aqib Iqbal’s match-winning performance

Aqib Iqbal’s unbeaten 72 from just 19 balls was the highlight of the match. His powerful hitting and composure under pressure were instrumental in Austria’s victory. Iqbal’s innings will be remembered as one of the greatest in T10 cricket history.

Imran Asif played a crucial supporting role, scoring 22* from 12 balls. His partnership with Iqbal was vital in keeping the chase alive and ensuring that Austria stayed in the game until the very end.