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NSW Blues started their Champions League campaign in a winning note defeating Diamond Eagles by a hefty margin of 53 runs. Skipper Simon Katich’s 53 was the highest score in the match played at New Delhi's Kotla Stadium.
The Blues opted to bat first winning the toss and the star-studded side featuring several Australia players scored 144-6 .The inexperienced side of Boetta Dippenaar was wrapped up in just 91-9. Stuart Clark took 3 wickets giving 12 runs.
The Eagles top-order was blown away cheaply as they lost 6 wickets scoring 36 runs in the tenth over.
Ryan McLaren batting at the seventh position lashed 40 while his cousin, opener Adrian McLaren, was the only other Eagles batsman in double figures.
Katich blazed away to a 37-ball fifty. After Blues had raced to 74/1 in 11 overs, Eagles tried to put a check on the run rate through seamers Victor Mpitsang and Ryan Bailey.
David Warner, the left-handed opener scored 23 from 26 and was bowled out by Bailey.Moises Henriques struck three sixes in his 26. Ryan McLaren was the best batsman for Eagles, smashing 40 off 37.
