Main Umpire: Amal CCVT Leg Umpire: Batting Side
Report
HPCC ends it's Regular Season with Grace!!!
Like some one once said, "There is no "I" in a TEAM."
This regular season HPCC has proved that everyone in the team is very important
no matter what he does.
Images of all doing their best will linger in everyone’s mind for a long time:
Shami red hot while Mushi is taking catches, Manzoor bowling quickly while his
brother Bilal is making a century, Qaiser Zaman impressing us with his
experienced inning; Mark Hobson reminding us of Alec Stewart, Akbar making lots
of runs while Faisal is doing great catches that translate in one of a kind
fielding; Fhadi volunteering for scoring while Malik was hitting Sixes. The list
of great moments is endless… In our team all the members play with heart, pride
and sportsmanship! Way to go gentlemen.
Like I said everyone left a great impression in this 2004 regular season. I
congratulate HPCC for a well deserving top spot on the league Now, I would like
to highlight the game between ROCC and HPCC played in Roanoke, VA.
HPCC still have the grudges from last game played and lost against COCC. It's
not that HPCC would mind to lose once in a while but not in such an undeserving
way. It seemed like the umpires were determined to make us lose. Even now, I am
still wondering why? Naturally all the HPCC players were upset, and rightly so,
not because we lost the game, but because it appeared that the umpires were out
to get us. Anyway, it became apparent that in the game against ROCC the boys
gathered their strength and will to be the best and, once again HPCC came
through.
Early Sunday morning HPCC traveled to Roanoke, VA. It cost Shami a speeding
ticket to get us to the ground on time. We reached the ground at about 10:25 AM.
The ROCC team was already there and ready for the action. It came as no surprise
for HPCC. The ROCC players were awaiting revenge since that loss they had
against us two years ago.
ROCC won the toss and decided to bat first. ROCC open the inning with great
determination. Although Manzoor claimed not to be at his best, he managed to
beat the batsmen with his quick deliveries; on the other hand, ROCC tried to
make a bunch of singles and doubles to keep the score ticking. Ghias also did an
impressive job beating the batsmen; though, Lady Luck was not by his side, he
did not get any wickets. After seven overs ROCC had 37 runs with no outs. The
HPCC Captain decided to change the bowler and brought Qaiser Zaman on board.
Qaiser started his bowling on a nice line and length, which broke the
partnership, which was becoming dangerous. Both ends were changed Hafeez came
back with a big bang after about 1 1/2 month without playing a single game,
first over and clean bowled wicket.
Bilal did not want to be left behind and took his first wicket in his first over
got Vishal.
After fifteen overs, ROCC 61 for 2, they still had wickets and could have made a
lot of damage if they had kept adding to the score.
The third wicket fell when the score was 83. HPCC could have been in big trouble
if Hafeez and Akbar bowling had not being so great. Atul (Old man) try to show
his youth talent with a huge six and a four in an over but HPCC was not in the
mood to make that happen, and his own old man (Qaiser) went on a quest to show
his talent by taking Atul’s Wicket.
Needles to say, ROCC wickets started falling at regular intervals and making a
total of 155 runs for 8 in 30 overs.
ROCC may have thought that a 155 run score was enough to beat HPCC on that
ground. The HPCC players wanted to finish the game as quick as possible.
(Nothing personal against ROCC, the hurry was due to the deadline return the
rental van on time so we would not get a penalty payment). Manzoor and Hafeez
started the inning. Manzoor really wanted the game to end as early as possible.
Sadly he got out by the ninth over at the score of 37 runs included three huge
sixes. On the other hand, Hafiz, after a long absence from cricket was little
shaky. But as soon as he got his eyes set, the ball was rolling all over the
field. HPCC lost their first wicket in the 9th over at the score of 73 when
Manzoor was caught behind bye Saurin. Mushtaq was the next man on line, Mushi
had been struggling a little this season, and still, in this game people
witnessed his huge come back! Specialty Mushi’s shots were coming and the ball
was flying over the fence. The HPCC players were very happy to!
see him back in form before the play offs. Mushi made 39 runs in about 18 balls.
Takshin stumped Mushi at the bowling of Pinkish. Akbar took Mushi’s place and
joined Hafeez who was enjoying his strokes. Finally, HPCC finished the game in
19.3 when Hafeez completed his 50 runs with two huge sixes.
HPCC is once again at the top spot of the league after a very brief interval (a
week). Now, we end the regular season with 68 points and about 2.87 NRR and a
little wiser.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm thank you to all my
teammates who made of this regular season one of the best! Bravo HPCC
cricketers! You all did Dandy!
Thanks to VTCC for umpiring our game and an especial thanks to the ROCC for the
excellent rice, gravy and a pleasant game.
Ghias-ur-Rehman
Captain