Lucknow: Kanpur Superstars’ Adarsh Singh scored the first century of UPT20 League Season 4, but his knock could not change his team’s fortunes as the Superstars continued to struggle at the bottom of the points table, with just one win from seven matches and two points.The hard-hitting Adarsh dominated the Gorakhpur bowling attack and went on to score a brilliant unbeaten 101 off just 54 deliveries, with the help of three boundaries and nine towering sixes. The Gaur Gorakhpur Lions held their nerve in a final-over thriller to secure a three-wicket victory over the Kanpur Superstars via the DLS method in the rain-affected encounter at Ekana International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.Adarsh has been Kanpur’s standout performer this season and currently leads the run-scoring chart with 275 runs in seven matches, including one century and one half-century. It was Adarsh’s third overall century in the history of the UP T20 League, having struck two hundreds last season, both against the Kashi Rudras.Speaking to TOI, Adarsh said scoring the first century of the season was a special feeling, though he admitted it would have meant more had it come in a winning cause. “Scoring the first century of the season feels really good, but it would have felt even better if it had come in a winning cause. I think the rain-shortened game gave them a better opportunity. They took their chances well, and we ended up losing,” he said.Asked about the Kanpur Superstars’ poor position in the points table and what has been lacking, Adarsh pointed to the need for better team bonding and consistency. “I feel the team is missing bonding and cohesion. If we play together as a unit, we can do well, because sometimes the batting performs and sometimes the bowling does. We need to bring both together in the same game to win, and that’s what has been missing,” he said. “I think it will be much better if the boys just play their natural game,” he added. On leading the run-scoring chart in the current season, Adarsh said his focus remained on continuing his form in the remaining matches.“My job is simply to keep performing. My next target is to maintain the same level in the remaining three matches and finish the season strongly. Before the UPT20 League season, I practised a lot and focused on physical and on-field preparation,” he said.Speaking about the second phase of the UPT20 League, which will be held in Kanpur, Adarsh said the team still had a chance to finish on a positive note. “Three matches are still left, and I’ve told the boys to play their natural game. We should do well in these last three games and finish strongly. Winning the next three matches is very important because if we do that, hope will remain alive and it can make a difference,” he said.In another match, Noida Kings handed Kashi Rudras a five wickets defeat. This was defending champions’ fourth consecutive loss of the season.
