Sharjah. The literal meaning of ‘Pandit’ is a person with specialized knowledge or a teacher. At the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, during the 49th edition of the Bukhatir League match between Gems Education and Lexington Shotguns, an opening batter named Usman Pandit cracked a breezy unbeaten 150 off just 103 balls with 15 boundaries and eight sixes to ensure Lexington successfully chases a target of 301 runs to win the match by six wickets in 36.3 overs. His innings revealed his knowledge about aggressive stroke play and produced a lesson on how to play a knock undeterred by the pressure of run rate.
So dominant was his knock that Pandit scored half of his team’s total after Gems Education, electing to bat first, had posted an impressive 300 all out in 49.2 overs For Gems, it was another Usman—Usman Raja—who top-scored with 76, while Ahmad Khalid contributed a quick 52. The total could have been even higher but for some tight bowling from Tahir Zaman (3 for 46) and Shoaib Khan (3 for 53), supported by Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan (2 for 45).
Link to cricketlovers.com youtube coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJmfxjyfa4
Skipper Pandit started the chase positively, hitting a boundary off the very first ball from Shahid Nawaz and followed it up with another in the same over. In the fifth over, he stamped his intent by smashing Nawaz for two consecutive sixes. His partnership with Ateeq Ur Rehman brought 50 runs in just 6.1 overs and was a visual treat for the spectators. Pandit reached his half-century in 35 balls.
By the 13th over, the pair had posted a 100-run partnership, with Pandit in full flow and Ateeq playing the supporting role. The stand was eventually broken in the 19th over when Faraazuddin dismissed Ateeq, caught and bowled for 46 (off 50 balls, six boundaries). At that stage, 155 runs were still needed from 30 overs—a manageable task given the platform laid.
Pandit reached his century in 71 balls and continued his onslaught. Usman Amin joined him at the crease and also played aggressively. By the halfway mark, Lexington were well placed at 192 for 1. Pandit began clearing the boundary with ease, making the chase look increasingly comfortable. Amin matched the tempo, bringing up his half-century in just 39 balls, which included a six and a four off Tariq Mahmood in the 30th over. He then punished Faraazuddin with two consecutive sixes in the 31st over before falling for a brisk 71 (off 47 balls, six boundaries and five sixes), caught by Tariq Mahmood off Muhammad Ali.
Sawai Choudhary quickly removed next batter Nasir Faraz, caught by Muhammad Ali for 1. Ali also clean bowled Faisal Baig for 9. Pandit reached his 150 in 103 balls through the winning run off the third ball of the 37th over.
Earlier in the day, Gems got off to a shaky start, losing opener Deepak for 4 to the fifth ball of the first over bowled by Muhammad Mohsin. Usman Raja and Muhammad Anwar steadied the innings, guiding the team past the 50-run mark in 10 overs. Raja reached his fifty in 57 balls, and the duo shared a 113-run partnership before Anwar was trapped leg-before by Tahir Zaman for 43 (off 57 balls, four boundaries).
After this partnership, despite Ahmad Khalid hitting 52 off 38 balls and skipper Muhammad Anwar scoring 43 off 57 balls with four boundaries there wasn’t a huge partnership. Lexington bowlers Tahir Zaman and Shoaib Khan with three wicket hauls and Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan with two wickets put the brakes on Gems’ run flow.
Brief scores:
Lexington Shotguns bt Gems Education by six wkts. Gems Education 300 in 49.2 overs (Usman Raja 76, Muhammad Anwar 43, Sajid Iqbal 24, Ahmad Khalid 52, Sawai Choudhary 23, Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan 2 for 45, Tahir Zaman 3 for 46, Shoaib Khan 3 for 53) Lexington Shotguns 301 for 4 in 36.3 overs (Usman Pandit 150, Ateeq Ur Rehman 46, Usaid Amin 71, Muhammad Ali 2 for 65)
Player of the Match: Usman Pandit
