After all, not only did DPS pip PAK Hawks Sharjah for the last remaining knockout spot in the group on run-rate, the off-spinner produced one of the tournament’s best bowling displays this season with six wickets.
Before they even took to the field at Skyline University, Datta’s team knew exactly what was required to reach the quarter-finals. Anything but a huge victory would have ended their hopes, yet DPS delivered when it really mattered.
Having scored 185-6 in their 20 overs, Datta rose to the occasion and let the ball do the talking as he finished with superb figures of 6-10 in four overs.
It left his team-mates and the opposition in awe and it was no surprise that he rated his latest performance as one of his best.
“This has to be probably the best bowling spell by me ever,” said the off-spinner. “I got a four-wicket haul in the first NSL final but this is much better.”
His captain Devnath Menon had nothing but praise for his colleague, describing the 15-year-old as “special”.
“What a bowler he is,” he said. “He’s a special player for us in this team. He has been working hard and always gives his best. It’s encouraging to see that both the players and our coaches are impressed by him.”
While Datta was the main talking point, Menon reflected on the overall performance.
Hardik Nehra (40), Owais Sajid (34 and 2-13) and Hardik Pai (1-4) were among those to impress in the final group game and Menon insists it is the team’s all-round game that has been key.
“It was a good team performance by us and there’s a lot we can take from our game today” said Menon.
“We played to our strengths and we worked as a team. The bowling and batting was impressive but what I enjoyed the most was our fielding and also that we reduced the number of wides. Everyone stuck to their job.”
Menon and his team will next be in action when the tournament resumes with the last-eight rounds in January.
Although that is less than two months away, he insists there are still areas for improvement.
“It really means a lot to our team that we’re now in the quarter-finals. We’ve been working hard for the past month, waking up
at 05:00 for 06:00 training and we’ll continue to work hard in training and make it tough for the other teams,” added Menon.
The quarter-final draw will be made next Monday.