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WOCC 1st XI v Heritage 1st XI 4 August 2024 match report: Hitman shoots the lights out

04 Aug 2024

WOCC 1st XI v Heritage 1st XI 4 August 2024 match report: Hitman shoots the lights out

Having watched the second team secure their first win of the season over Communities, WOCC rallied round for a top of the table clash with Heritage. The skipper won the toss and decided to insert Heritage on a pitch that was looking bowler friendly, and outfield that had been slowed down by typical Luxembourg weekend drizzle. There was a good crowd in attendance on the grassy knoll and they were about to witness some history.

For WOCC, Ben E had passed a fitness test, and a late drop out meant that Malith got to play his third game of the weekend. Hashmat also made his first team debut following a successful T10 campaign, and being crowned top bowler at the Star tape-ball tournament. However, the new white ball was a different proposition for Hashmat, and he struggled to control it as Heritage got away to a blistering start. Amit H piled into Hashmat, Atif and then the skipper (who managed to pick up Rupesh in between) with a classy array of strokes that are his trademark. He had not counted on a Mohit full toss though, and was well caught by Atif in the deep for 50. Heritage were going at well over 10 an over at this point but this gave WOCC a way back into the match.

Pankaj then produced an example of his top class fielding, which we have all become used to, pouncing on an Anoop drive and running him out with a direct hit. This started the Pankaj show; he was the only bowler able to control the Heritage batsmen, returning figures of 1 – 16 off four, including his second maiden of the season and a tidy caught and bowled. All the other WOCC bowlers struggled to contain Girish (68 not out) and extras (too many), as Heritage posted a mighty 200 from their 20 overs. The pitch had actually played very nicely, and the Heritage batsmen more often than not did not need to worry about the outfield!

WOCC brushed themselves down and sent out Ed and Ben E to begin their reply. They found some rhythm early and settled into a steady partnership that left WOCC just behind the required run-rate. Ben (24 from 22) fell to a decent nut from Gaurav but runs continued to flow from Oves’ (27 from 18) blade. The skipper eventually fell for a well-made 59 from 35 balls at the start of the 13th over, with the score on 111. Malith wasted no time and made a quick fire 15 from 6 balls before being run out after he thought the throw was going to the other end. This moved the score to 136 for 3 at the end of the 14th, and the game was once again in the balance as WOCC’s number six finished his preparations.

Mohit quietly unsheathed his bat and adjusted his sights. His breathing slowed as his spotter Yama whispered instructions … “fire, fire, fire”. The quiet assassin did not hesitate and launched a volley of shots through mid-wicket and the off-side, one of which travelled so far that it may have grazed Donald Trump’s ear. His actions on the pitch had repercussions more important than any US election, as he amassed 54 not out in just 17 balls and sealed the win that will keep WOCC top of the table. Like all good hitmen, Mohit kept the celebrations to a minimum; a simple Battin and a smile.

In truth, it was a great chase, with only 18 dot balls throughout the innings, hard running between the wickets, and some consistent ball striking. There was never any panic and the top order laid an excellent platform for the middle order to finish with overs to spare.