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