Samel Hayat tossed up a leg break on the
fourth stump, the ball was there to hit in the slot. Girish standing tall hit
the ball over extra cover and a joyful “Yesssssssssssss” from non-striker James
Barker watching the ball going to the boundary, who witnessed Girish scoring
his magnificent hundred probably from the best seat at Pierre Werner Cricket
Ground. After an unexpected loss against Hasselt CC at Home (Pierre Werner
Cricket Ground) last Saturday OCC 1st XI resumed their BCF 2nd Division
campaign against RBCC in extremely tough conditions. Surprising to all, the
opposition’s captain chose to bowl first after winning the toss.
James Barker and William Cope were supposed
to open the batting against RBCC. Unfortunately, William injured his knee
during the pre-match routine practice that forced the change in the batting
line up. Girish Venkatesh got promoted as an opener with James. The ball was moving
both ways at the start of the inning for OCC. Both the opening batsmen
respected the good balls but constantly hit the bad ones to bring up team’s 50
in the 12th over. The new ball was well seen offed, both kept rotating the strike
amazingly by tickling quick runs and scoring the boundaries as and when needed.
Girish brought up his fifty in the 17th over and helped the club to score 100
runs in the 20th over. Girish started looking surer and surer then shifted his
gears seamlessly. The pulls, hooks and cover drives made the jaw drop in the
hunt. In no time, Girish moved in the nineties. Meanwhile, James brought up his
fifty quietly from another end. Girish made sure to score his first hundred of
the season against the leg spinner in 27th over. Upon the hundred the
acceleration was acute, Girish and James perfectly paced of their inning
minting the runs all part of the ground to bring up the double hundred and the
highest opening wicket partnership for OCC 1st XI. While trying to accelerate
Girish got caught out in the deep scoring a flawless and effortless hundred
(127 runs of 112 balls) for OCC 1st XI.
In came Mohit Dixit. James continued to
attack the bowlers punishing them for fours and hitting a glorious six over
mid-wicket. However, after batting for almost 37 overs in the extremely hot
conditions and trying to accelerate the teams' score, he was also caught on the
square leg on 82 runs. A marvelous inning thoroughly enjoyed by the team and
the spectators at the Pierre Werner ground. Good and quick contribution from
middle order Mohit Dixit (23 runs of 15 balls), Vikram Vijh (15 Runs from 9
balls), Tony Whiteman (7 runs of 9 balls) made sure the stage is set for Aanand
and Pankaj. Aanand was in tremendous touch hitting 6 boundaries and also ran
excellently between the wickets. He ended up scoring 39*(Not Out) runs in mere
19 balls to help the OCC 1st XI to reach 321 runs after 45 overs.
In pursuit of a steep target, RBCC dawdled
to 15 for 2 during the Powerplay. Spearhead bowler Atif Kamal (A-Train)
providing a breakthrough on the last ball of the very first over forcing the
batsman to nick behind the wicket. Mohit Dixit who opened the bowling from the
pavilion end took his first wicket in the fourth over. In walked the opposition
captain to support the one down batsmen. The consolidation was needed for RBCC
and both batsmen exactly did the same. RBCC reached their 50 runs in the 11th
over. However, the required run rate was rising, and the pressure was mounting
on the batsmen. Ankush Nanda provided the 3rd breakthrough for OCC in the 14th
over. OCC captain introduced the spin attack to bring Vishwajeet Deshpande from
River End. Vishy grabbed RBCC’s 4th and his first wicket in his first over
itself and another one in his third over to reduced RBCC 73 for 5 after 20
overs.
After a small collapse, the threat was
still eminent as RBCC’s start player and former Zimbabwean test player Brighton
Watambwa walked in the crease. However, Mohit Dixit was in some form taking
double wickets in quick time. Firstly, forcing Brighton to hit the big shot to
long on, where Pankaj took an excellent catch and cleaning stumps of the
newcomer in very next over. The defeat for RBCC was so close enough. OCC
bowlers Atif, Vishak, and Vikram quickly chipped into all them out on 137 runs.
It was a superb display of batting, bowling
and fielding efforts by OCC 1st XI team in tough condition.
OCC 1st XI will feature against Hasselt in an
away game on 21st July 2019.
Summary:
OCC 1st XI Batting: 321/6 in 45 Overs
(Girish Venkatesh 127, James Barker 82, Aanand Pandey 39*)
RBCC Batting: 137 all out in 29.2 Overs
(Mohit Dixit 16/3, Vishwajeet Deshpande 19/2, Atif Kamal 42/2)
(Report by Vishwajeet Deshpande)