Main Umpire: Dhiren Leg Umpire: Unknown Leg Umpire
Report:
It was a great day for cricket at Richmond with the weather
being close to perfect but for the faint threat of rain during the first half
session of the day.
TWCC setting the precedent for punctuality, the elevens on the field at 9:30 AM.
PCC won the toss and decided to put the opposition to bat. TWCC got off to a
rather sedate start, thanks to some good bowling by opening and first change
bowlers.Imran in particular was very unlucky not to get wickets off of some
great bowling.
With 15 overs & 66 runs on board seemed like PCC had the game in check, must
have been the sandwiches from Subway that TWCC had for lunch, but they came out
swinging after lunch and it was a not a good day to be a red leather ball or a
bowler at that. Sanjay, Harry and Devin sent the ball to all corners of the
field; Devin in particular was going for the maximums more than a few times.
Harry made a very well made 50 odd playing the anchor role for his team. TWCC
was unlucky not to capitalize in the death when the last three overs of the game
saw a slew of wickets with a marked decrease in the run rate.
PCC was looking at a daunting 220 to win thanks to some lusty hitting and
generosity in the extras department.
PCC session started against a mixed bowling attack from TWCC bowlers, few extras
and some good running kept the scoreboard ticking. TWCC got a break in the sixth
over and PCC had lost an opener Abdul Hameed who had made a quick 12. PCC was
still among the runs at a steady 5+ an over; the 12th over saw Mani depart after
contributing 12.
Enter Irfan Hassan the man of the day, the captain, joined Solomon in the 13th
over looking at a daunting required run rate and Herculean task of reaching a
steep target. At break PCC were 15 overs 79 for 2.
To say the runs were scored in a hurry in the post break session would be an
understatement; it still wasn’t a great day to be 5 1/2 ounces and red with
seams. 24 were scored off the 25th over (including 3 sixers and a four) bowled
by Sanjay Kumar.
Irfan and Solomon put on a 138 run partnership to take PCC on the verge of
victory, Irfan playing a captains inning under duress scored 84 (10x6s & 2x4s) &
was unlucky not to see it all the way being caught in the 26th over. Solomon was
soon to follow after a patient 66 (2x6s & 6x4s) in the 27th over. Finally it
came down to the 29th over for PCC to wind up after a very good effort by PCC to
make the proceedings interesting in the process of making the required 2 runs.
A great match & a good win against a good side, as PCC start the season of on a
winning note.
Special note of thanks to quality umpiring by Dhiren from GRCC for a job well
done.