Optimists Cricket Club News story


OCC start division 4 campaign with a win

10 Jun 2019

On a bright sunny day optimists 2nd XI team travelled to Hasselt to play their first game in the Belgium cricket division IV season against the Masroor Cricket Club of Belgium. After winning the toss without any hesitations optimists' captain Girish decided to bat 1st. Last year seasoned campaigner Praveen K opened the inning with James Barker. Both the batsmen started their inning cautiously and slowly but kept rotating the strike and also hitting the boundaries as and when required. Soon they scored 50 runs in the 12th over. Praveen was in great touch and looked to make the big score but unfortunately while trying to increase the run rate, got out on a beautiful delivery in the 18th over on well-made 27 runs. Next to come in the middle was Amit Halbhavi, unfortunately, got out on 6 runs while making his debut for 2nd XI team. As the score stood 92 for 2 after 19 overs the skipper came to bat. This venue has been very productive for the skipper, last year raking 100 runs against Brussels Green 2nd XI in very quick time , looked like he won’t disappoint this time either and started to play confident shots. However, at the other end wickets OCC kept losing wickets. After making patient 35 runs James was caught and bowled by Wasim at the other end. In came Pankaj Malav to join Girish in the middle. Again, both players did the consolidation and brought 50 runs partnership for the 5th wicket. Pankaj was dismissed on well-made 11 runs. Optimists were 163-4 after 31.3 overs and walked in Anshuman.

Runs started to come thick and fast for optimists from both ends. Both the batsmen rotated the strike hitting the big shots at their will to raise 50 run partnership in no time. Girish was inching towards another hundred, however got hold out at cow corner against the leg spinner on impressive and sizzling 88 runs. But that was not going stop Anshuman who was battling flawlessly other end. He continued to play big shots to bring his 50 runs in 34 balls. The lower order batsmen contributed with the bat to help optimists to reach 277 runs in 45 overs. 

Another debutant Mazeebur Rehman opened the bowling attack for the optimists cricket club. He gave the first breakthrough in the 3rd over cleaning the middle stump of the opening batsman on a peach of a delivery.  Pankaj joined the party from other end to bag his first wicket of the match dismissing the one down batsmen for just 4 runs. In cricket there is saying one brings two and two brings three, MCCB wickets were tumbling like house of cards, in no time MCCB was reduced to 6 wickets down for 47 runs after 8 overs. Both Pankaj and Mazeebur bagged three wickets each. A special mentioned of Praveen who took a flying catch behind the stumps to dismiss the dangerous number four batsman on duck. 

Raju Akulwar was not too behind as the second change bowler. He bowled beautifully kept his line and length. He was awarded with 3 wickets and well supported by Akhilesh Kumar from other end who bagged 1 wicket to fold down MCCB on 105 runs in 16.4 overs.    

Overall OCC 2nd XI was nearly perfect in every department to win the match clinically. A great win to start the campaign. Next match is scheduled on Sat 29 Jun 2019 against Exiles CC at home. 

Summary : OCC 2nd XI Batting : 277 all out in 45 Overs (Girish V 88 , Anshuman B 51, James B 35 , Praveen K 27)

MCCB Batting : 105 all out in 16.4 Overs (Raju 10/3 , Maz R 30/3 , Pankaj 32/3, Akhilesh K 31/1)

Match Report by : Vishy