High on confidence and determined to maintain the top position on table, on 12th of August the Optimists CC 2nd XI started their journey to play an important away game at Antwerpen. On a slightly breezy but clear day, skipper Girish won the toss and without any hesitations elected to bat first. As the strategy was, runs on the board and put oppositions under pressure. Against Antwerp CC 2's good bowling attack, Praveen Kuruvalli and Roshan Vishwanath went out to open the innings . Both the batsmen started their innings with caution and provided a good start for the team, making sure the new ball is well watched and tackled. The optimists lost their first wicket in the seventh over for 39 runs ( Praveen Kuruvalli on 15 runs). Together with Marcus , Roshan started to build another partnership. As he was looking to cut loose soon after the first drink break, Roshan got out on 33 runs trying to play a lofted shot to a left arm spinner. Suddenly the optimists CC saw a small middle order collapse from 73-2 to 138-6 from 30 Overs. As the captain was stranded at one end, his job was to make sure to reach compatible score and give a good platform for hard hitters like Shameek , Anshuman and Ankush in the death overs to smash the opposition. Continuing his great form, together with Vishy he put on 50 runs partnership in quick time for the seventh wicket. Captain Girish made a solid 70 runs in 69 deliveries with eight 4s and two massive 6s over square leg. As the platform was set for Anshuman and Shameek both started to hit the ball nice and long minting 50 runs in last 5 overs. Anshuman played a momentum changing knock with quick fire 30 runs from 17 deliveries with two 6s and one 4. Trying to get as much runs as possible in the last over Shameek got out on final delivery of the innings with well made 17 runs. Death overs hitting made sure that optimists reach the respectable score of 255 runs after 45 over.
As the job was half done , it was the time for the bowlers to contribute with the bowl and none of them disappointed. In the seventh over Mohit continued his bowling form by taking Antwerp CC's first wicket. Soon in the next over Pankaj took two wickets (catch by Praveen and Vishy) and Anstwerp CC 2 score stood 38 for 3 after 8 overs. Now Antwerp CC 2 tried to build their inning without taking too many risks and the fourth wicket stand saw a patient 70 run partnership in 17 overs. Ankush struck the 4th wicket in his first over forcing batsmen to give a catch to Mohit dixit at deep square leg. Soon wickets started to come from both ends, Vishy trapped the other batsman plumbed in front of the wicket. Again in next Ankush bowled the next batsmen and Antwerp were 116-6 after 26.1 overs. As Antwerp CC 2 captain tried to build the inning again, Marcus foxed him with excellent straight delivery. Advancing the bowl he was left stranded in the middle of the pitch with an quick stumping by Praveen. Three bowls later Marcus took another wicket in the same over. Eventually Antwerp CC were bowled out on 207 runs as Pankaj, Marcus, Ankush, and Vishy each took 2 wickets. Mohit and Skipper took 1 wicket each.
The optimists team won the match by 48 runs with good and well deserved all round performance.