Optimists Cricket Club

WOCC 1st XI v Warriors 1st XI 7 September 2024 match report: Cope-ing with pressure

Some tough selection decisions were required in the build up to this crucial game at the business end of the season. As a result, a very strong WOCC side squared up against the talented but enigmatic Warriors. The skipper reminded his side that Warriors had reduced them to 54 for 8 in their first game earlier in the season and that this was a must win game for both sides. Moreover, the margin of any victory could yet prove crucial for both sides’ net run rates at the top and bottom of the table. 

WOCC won the toss and inserted Warriors on a pitch that had seen a fair bit of rain in the build up to the game. Conditions for batting were still good as Asgar Barkat threatened to get the Warriors off to a flying start. However, effective field placing saw him caught at long leg by Pankaj before he could get fully into his stride. Kamal perished shortly afterwards to an excellent reaction catch from the skipper at short extra cover. Warriors continued to attack during the powerplay but Mohit (1 – 18 from 3 overs) and Atif (3 – 21 from 3.4) completed tidy opening spells. Atif bent his back in his final game of the season and was able to extract a lot of bounce from the surface.

The skipper shuffled his strong bowling attack ruthlessly and it was the extra pace of Hashmat (3 – 12 from 4) that proved too much for the Warriors middle order. In only his second T20 game in the first team Hashmat has shown a match-winning combination of pace and control, along with the ability to bowl a vicious short ball. He is also excellent in the field and managed to effect a run out with a direct hit. Only Shameek (18 from 21 balls) offered resistance, with a couple of classy cover drives. With the keeper up, Pankaj (1 – 23 from 3) drew him into one drive too many and had him bowled. Ed and Will combined for another tidy run out and Atif picked up the last wicket as WOCC bowled out Warriors for 101 in 16.4 overs. This was likely our best bowling performance of the season, although the fielding was not so clinical at times. 

Will and Ed opened the batting with one eye on how quickly the target could be achieved. Will struck his first ball for four and never looked back. He hit all the Warriors bowlers off their lengths with a broad array of shots, scoring runs all around the ground. He timed the ball superbly on his way to 78 from only 31 balls. Not for the first time this season, Ed (13 from 12 balls) was content to play second fiddle as Will demolished the opposition bowling attack. WOCC scored 91 runs in the powerplay, which has to be a record, and it was left to Oves to hit his first ball for four to seal the win in just 7.1 overs. 

The win leaves WOCC undefeated at the top of the table, with one game left to play. The possibility of achieving the league and cup double, and going undefeated in the league remains achievable and one strong performance away. All eyes will no doubt be on the PWCG on 22 September as WOCC take on Star CC.