Main Umpire: Ron Knight Leg Umpire: Ajay Patel
Report:
Semi Final Report
HPCC “Out-Classed” the defending champion with a wide margin.
Sunday, Sept 26th 2004. It was a beautiful day at the Hobson Cricket ground, the
perfect day to play a Semifinal game and why not? To have two cricket Titans
clash. We are talking about the defending champion of the 2003 MACC tournament,
CLCC and the two times MACC champion, HPCC. The weather could not have been
nicer or the grass condition better. The only advantage for HPCC if any, was the
home ground advantage other than that, both teams appeared balance and equipped
with technique and heart.
The CLCC team reached the ground on time, so did the Umpires Ron Knight & Ajay
Patel (COCC) after discussing logistics, the umpires and the captains of both
teams proceeded to perform the traditional coin toss. CLCC won the toss and
surprisingly they offer HPCC to bat first. HPCC could not have asked for a
better start, a great day, a fast out field and almost no dew on the grass. The
openers for HPCC were Hafeez and Manzoor they walked to their positions with
specific instructions, not to lose any singles and not to waste any loose balls.
Manzoor was in the mood of thrashing any pace attack the opposite team had. It
was so, that the very first over, he scored 7 runs. Once CLCC saw what Manzoor
was capable of, they brought Mayur, their star spinner, in the very second over.
Unfortunately for CLCC it was not enough to stop the firing spirit of Manzoor
and his thirst to go for big hits. That over cost CLCC almost 15 runs. CLCC
changed bowler again but Manzoor did not have any regard for any of the CLCC
bowlers and all of the sudden, HPCC had scored 55 runs in the 6th over. But as
it is said, good things hardly ever last; Gopal bowled out Manzoor. Manzoor made
41 runs in only 20 balls. Shami’s turn came, he was also in a highly offensive
mood, and made 28 runs in record time. Shami was out at the bowling of Saurabh
in the hands of Gopal. HPCC score read 91 runs by the 11th over with two wickets
down. The spirit of the HPCC guys was lifted high with that comfortable dream
score. It could be felt in the air; it was going to be a good day for HPCC. CLCC
realized the danger of such a big total on the board and tried to regroup; and
they really did try hard, after the 12 over break, they took the wicket of
Hafeez. Hafeez was LBW by Primal at the score of 30 invaluable runs. HPCC had
110 runs 3 wickets down in the 15th over. The new pair went to take the position
Akbar and Qaiser (last week MoM). HPCC knew that if the guys stuck out there the
team would be able to achieve a big total on the board. Saurabh did not let it
happen; he bowled out Akbar when he had only scored 5 runs. HPCC lost their
fourth wicket in the 16th over with a total of just 116 runs. CLCC started
narrowing all the possibilities for HPCC to make a big total. Qaiser on the
other hand, kept trying to get the score ticking by scoring singles and doubles.
It was then, Qaiser Bhaia ‘s turn at the bat. He tried to accelerate the run
rate but ran out of luck and got caught by Abhi when he had scored only his 11th
run. HPCC saw the incoming trouble now that they had lost 5 batsmen at the score
of 157runs and 21 overs were gone. Qaiser knew that to beat the defending
champion HPCC had to make more than 250 runs and to do that it was necessary to
start hitting the ball. And he did, only he was not just hitting the ball he was
hitting big time! HPCC and CLCC witnessed huge sixes, whenever the ball came in
contact with Qaiser’s bat.
Mushtaq tried to give Qaiser a hand but got stumped by Shashi at the bowling of
Primal. HPPC lost his 6th wicket at the score of 182 in the 23rd over. Bilal was
the next man to bat before the break. After the break Bilal got out at the
bowling of primal in the safe hands of Kiran. CLCC players were managing to
control the HPCC run rate and also took very valuable wickets. HPCC had scored
187 runs for seven wickets in the 25th over when the Captain of HPCC stepped in.
He knew that to Qualify for the final they had to add to the total on the board.
It was a difficult task, but experience has taught HPCC that in Cricket
miraculous things happen.
After a brief meeting between Qaiser and Ghias (HPCC Captain) they got ready to
face the next five overs. Qaiser started bombarding and the ball was flying all
over the fences. Both players made 77 runs in the next 3 overs. Ghias was out of
the very first ball in the 29th over, at the bowling of Abhi, caught by Mayur.
The HPCC Captain made 21 quick runs. Nonetheless, the day belonged to Qasier
Mahmood whose remarkable hitting made him a score of well over a century.
At the end of 30th over HPCC had 280 runs on board with the great help of Qaiser
Mahmood who scored a total of 116 runs (not out) HPCC finally achieved a
fighting total on the board because they knew CLCC had the players (such as
Primal who hits big) and the will to win.
After the 20 Minute lunch break CLCC started their inning with Primal and
Sourabh.
HPCC opened their bowling with one of their best, Manzoor. Manzoor was really
pumped up and gave a break in the very first over by taking a wicket off Sourabh
caught by Mark Hobson (Who by the way, played the match like a Champ, regardless
of a fracture rib. We all commend mark’s team spirit and exceptional performance
in the game, Mark you are a real Trooper!). On the other end Primal a very
dangerous man gave no respect to the HPCC captain and hit him with two huge
sixes. The Captain knew he had to change his bowling strategy to contain Primal.
Primal wanted to put pressure on the bowlers to keep the run rate up. Chetan was
the next man in, Manzoor who was still pumped up and bowling very quick got
another wicket that belonged to Chetan and got caught by Shami, what a catch! It
really reminded us of Shami ‘s good old days, back when he was young. CLCC lost
their two wickets in the 5th over and with 30 runs on the board HPCC was looking
for a chance to get the wicket of Primal. The HPCC team knew Primal’s wicket had
to be taken before switching strategies. Primal was really hitting hard every
ball the HPCC Captain delivered, but to the HPCC relief and to the CLCC dismay,
when he tried to do a big hit again the ball went straight in the hands of
Qaiser Bhaia rather than over the fence. Still, Primal made 28 very quick runs.
The entire HPCC team was jubilant after Primal was out of the picture. Primal
was a decisive wicket, but the game was not over yet. CLCC still had well
skilled players awaiting the chance to turn things around. Bharat and Ashish
went on to take position at the wicket; both are well-seasoned batsmen who knew
all depended on their ability to pull the game. Manzoor struck again! Wow! With
an in-swinging Yorker took the off stump of Ashish. CLCC was in trouble, they
had lost 4 wickets and they only had 36 runs on board by the 7th over. Shashi,
the CLCC Captain was the next man to join Bharat who had been playing his shorts
comfortably. Shashi and Bharat built a partnership to try to carry the CLCC to
the MACC Final. The HPCC Captain brought Hafeez on to ball. For a while it
looked like Hafiz had given all he could give, when out of nowhere he went and
took another important wicket, Bharat’s wicket was caught by Ghias (about time!)
at backward point. From then on, HPCC was on a roll, five wickets were taken and
only 67 runs had been given at the 12 over break.
Gopal left the deck to become the next batsman, another great player of a team
with an outstanding batting lineup. Gopal started by hitting a big six when
Hafeez tried to give him a little flight ball. At that point the required run
rate was then, getting higher and higher (almost 12 runs per over) The HPCC
Captain brought Akbar on to ball. Akbar started his bowling with excellent line
and length that did put more pressure on CLCC. The Captain of CLCC while being
on the crease, tried to keep the required run rate achievable and hit some very
beautiful strokes but at the other end, his batsmen were falling like flies.
Gopal tried to continue hitting hard though, he fell short and the ball was
caught by Manzoor at long on, at the bowling of Hafeez. The total was 101 runs
and six wickets down.
HPCC started feeling the unique sensation that can only be provided by victory
but the game was far from over. Anil, another good batsman was on the crease,
but he could not stick for long and got bowled out by Hafeez. He made 14 good
runs, though. Abhi was the next man in and soon became the victim of Akbar’s
fastball when he intended to pull him to square leg and the ball ended up in the
safe hands of Qaiser Mahmood. Kiran was bowled bye Akbar with a great swinging
ball. Akbar had taken two wickets on two consecutive deliveries. Akbar tried to
pull a hat trick but Mayur trashed Akbar’s dream. CLCC had 119 runs in the 18th
over and 9 wickets were already down.
Shashi the Captain and Mayur played all the remaining 12 overs just to have some
practice and scored almost 60 more runs. The decision of completing the game was
a mere formality since CLCC could not have gotten enough runs or wickets to get
back on the game.
Many thank to the wives of Bilal, Akbar and Shami for providing us with such a
nice meal.
The day belonged to Qaiser Mahmod for his marvelous performance with a score of
116 runs. HPCC would also like to extend its most sincere thanks to Ron Knight &
the COCC umpire (Ajay Patel) for umpiring the game in a very professional
fashion. Every play on the game was judged with consistency and fairness.
Awesome game gentlemen!
Ghias ur Rehman
Captain