Month: June 2022

vs Harris Park F, 18th June 2022 @ Moore Park 8

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On 18/06/2022

In Match Reports

Long awaited match report by Ajeet & Gazi [Delay was my fault -El Pres].

Before the start of the game we made up our minds to enjoy the day whether it’s a win or loss, where everyone will get to bat and bowl while still maintaining a competitive spirit. Unfortunately, we lost the toss and were asked to bowl first. Will, our previous secretary, came in to help us for early overs as few players showed up late, he bowled really tight lines and got an early breakthrough.

Through a bit too short bowling, and good number 3,4, and 5 batters from Harris park, they scored quickly. Bowling changes from both ends slowed down the run rate. Dinesh (2/18) bowled some really good out-swingers, but still at end of first break Harris Park made 123 runs. Captain Ajeet (2-17) bowled reasonably well [ this is way too humbly put. It should read, “…bowled with ruthless precision, consistently in a ten centimetre channel, stemming the flow of boundaries“ -El Pres] and got two wickets, but they ended up scoring a huge total of 223 runs. Harris Park number 3 and 4 both scored fifties. Dinesh, Gazi, and Ajeet got two wickets each.

We lost our first wicket on first ball of our chase, the opening bowler of Harris Park was seriously quick. Captain Ajeet had requested our young talented batsman Arjun (34) to open the innings. He was really solid in defence once again, and hit a few great shots taking advantage of some no-ball free hits. Batting at 3, Gazi Hosain was in sublime form, and he hit some great shots. We looked like we were in the chase as we maintained the run rate of 6+ an over, but Gazi fished at one and was caught behind on 36. We lost some quick wickets, and the run out of Dinesh especially set us back. Young Abhijeet came to bat at number 9, and batted out the entire overs. He was solid in defence and showed some good shots, ending up with 31*

We ended up around 45 runs short.

Considering the unavailability of our regular openers, Isaac and John, it was tough to chase that huge total, but we were never out of game, as we planned everybody got to bowl, bat, and field and still maintained competitive spirit. Hopefully we will bounce back next week and regain our winning streak.- From first time Captain Ajeet. Thanks to President Al and senior members of the club for giving me this opportunity.

Gazi added: Apache Nazgul assembled a team without a wicket keeper. Club president did not realise that he is only wicketkeeper for the match given Issac and Mal were not available. For the first time in many years Ajeet Kumar was given captaincy and as part of that role he decided he will keep, as he lost the toss and we were forced to bowl. Initially we were 7 playing against nine, until Will showed up and wanted to bowl few overs. It was one of the worst bowling performances by the Apaches with such a strong bowling lineup. Bowling either too short and full tosses helped the opposite side to pile on boundaries after boundaries. Only Ajeet bowled beautifully, probably from the added responsibility as Captain. He bowled beautiful line and length. He was so calm and cool with the help of late arrival our regular keeper club president Smokey. Anyway we finished the innings, the opposition all out for 223, [with a couple of good catches by the reliable hands of Chinmay, and a batters nightmare from Dinesh, which swung out from the hand, with both the batter and keeper moving across outside off stump, only for the ball to sharply swerve back in, and through the gap at ankle height to remove middle stump. Just unplayable. -Smokey] Every one was in the wickets but new captain Ajeet by far the best bowler.

Chasing 225 in 36 overs given the outfield was so fast, we may able to to win. We started the innings with Bryan and young gun Arjun. Bryan was bowled for a golden duck [very unlucky to get the only ball on the stumps for the first eight overs, judging by the extras conceded – Smokey]. Gazi was next. He started hitting the way he always does. Some boundaries and quick singles saw Apaches settling on run chase but one wide delivery which he never had to play, edged it behind and got out for 36. GG went to bat next. Hit his classy cut shot through point. A few balls after he hit one straight to the point fielder, which brought his downfall. Arjun, on the other hand, kept his calm and kept on batting. This guy always impress me with his passion of being at the wicket, looking for definite loose delivery and to cash in. He continued to bat well. Then he got one half tracker pulled straight up in the sky, and fell for 34. New captain Ajeet hammered one over the bowlers head. However, he could not stay around, as he tried to whack one low full toss, missed it, and lost his castle. Vipul, Chinmay, and Balaji, all tried their best but in the end it was not to be. We lost the game. If we bowled the way we bowled in other games, the opposition would not score that many. It is cricket the way it is. Hope to play next time better and back in the winning fold. Cheers.

“The self-robbery”

By

On 04/06/2022

In Match Reports

vs Harris Park E, Saturday 4th June 2022 @Vale of Ah Reserve


by El Presidente

Round 4
A shortened game, 28 overs a side and a 0900h start, and because of a shortage of grounds, at Vale Of Ah Reserve. It was ridiculously early and bloody cold, and one of those days where the first team to take their hands out of their pockets should have been declared the winner so everyone could go back to a warm bed. Ignoring the cold the Harris Park captain correctly called HEADS and asked us to bat first. Isaac and Bryan opened, and immediately took on the bowling, although Bryan ( 8 ) was bowled in the third over with the score 1/19. Isaac, Gazi, and Arjun sent the ball to all corners of the park, with a number of 10 run overs, and more than a few minutes lost while the opposition searched the long grass for the ball. Arjun hit one of the most remarkable shots of the day with a flick over fine leg for six from a full toss. Isaac and Gazi both retired, and Arjun was unlucky not to join them, caught on 38. We lost a couple of quick wickets on 124 and Dinesh survived the hat-trick ball with ease, but a good partnership between Arjun and Dinesh (14) got us to 160 after 20 overs. Vipul added 13, Gazi was unable to add much to his score and was given out LBW for 43, and Isaac took 17 from the last 4 balls of the innings, ending on 70 not out, with a total of 210. (7.5 runs / over)

Dinesh’s (1/15) first ball of the innings would have smashed into the stumps, but the batter cleverly put his pad in the way, which didn’t save him as the umpire raised the finger of doom. With one wicket down and scoreboard pressure already an issue, the Harris Park batters attacked our openers and made it to 31 after the first six overs. A change of bowling brought the experience of Bryan (2/22) and Smokey (4/24) to weave their magic. Despite a couple of shocking drag downs, Smokey was 2-8 (also missing the hat trick) after getting one right and trapping another Harris Park batter using his pads instead of his bat, and Vipul took an excellent catch at mid-on from another smashed drag-down.

The attacking batting continued, and while Bryan tangled them up at one end, Smoke claimed a third with an edge to Isaac behind the stumps. In their 4th overs, both Smoke and Bryan claimed two wickets each. Smokey’s wickets thanks to Bryan taking a sharp catch at slip after a deflection off the keepers glove, and a wild crossbat swipe hit straight up for Isaac to pouch, while Bryan’s accuracy brought about an LBW, and the following batter saw his stumps scattered after he’d chosen to keep his pads out of the way. Unfortunately, Bryan missed what would have been his 12th(?) hat-trick.

However, there was some controversy. Of course. At the end of Bryan’s over the Harris Park captain ambled out to the pitch with the score at 8/92, to discuss Smoke’s 5th wicket as the batter had returned to his team mates presumably complaining about his “unfair” dismissal. His claim was that he heard a call of “no ball” which he said was the reason for his terrible crossbat swipe. There was some discussion among the players and umpire, with varying recollections of exactly what had happened and when. It turned out that one of the fielders had complimented the delivery, around the time the poor shot was played. Despite it being his first 5/ since 2014, and because he *never* learns that doing the right and sporting thing is very rarely reciprocated, Captain Smokey relinquished his long awaited 5/ and called the batter back.

On his return the young batter assured us he “was shit” then proceeded to slog three boundaries, before a fielding change brought zero change in his plan (or shot selection), and he was well caught by Abhijeet on the mid-wicket boundary for Chinmaya’s (2-10) first wicket. A beautifully timed catch by Arjun moving forward at mid-on ended the innings on 104 in the 19th over, with Chinmays second wicket.

An excellent batting performance in the chilly morning, backed up by some good bowling and some excellent catching. No game this weekend. Next match Saturday 18th June v Harris Park F, venue TBA. Someone else can have the joy of writing the match report. Any volunteers?

Some comments:
Govind: Match report can’t be better than this!
Declan: Outstanding match report and bad luck on the Fivefor
– Smokey: story of my life…. never been called back to the crease in 30+ years of cricket. Maybe the A-team captain will now finally recognise the strike power hidden in this right arm
Ed: So it seems that contrary to his own claims of it being and I quote “f*cking ridiculous”, Smokey really is a morning cricket specialist looking at his performance from this game !

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