Beautiful weather greeted the opening OCC 2s game of the season – Pierre Warner Oval looked stunning (a big thanks to the ground staff, who work tirelessly to make sure we have great facilities), and a crowd had pitched up to watch the newly promoted second team try to defy the odds against the typically robust Heritage XI.
Freshly minted skipper, Andries Venter, unfortunately lost the toss, but got his wish and we walked out to field first.
It’s an interesting thing – but the change in division had led to a change in focus for the second team – some have been worried that it might be slightly more ruthless in terms of selection and ensuring people get a game, but such issues were put to the side as the 11 players huddled together and vowed to work hard for each other and to take their chance to show they belong in the first division.
Leading from the front, Andries opened the bowling with club veteran Atif Kamal (4 overs, none for 35 runs). Both openers went at the batters, stifling the run rate and ensuring Heritage were feeling the pinch at 26 runs for 1 wicket after 4 - Andries getting his first wicket of the season - the always dangerous national team opener, Amit Halbhavi caught at mid-on by Ben Mcilroy.
It could have been two catches in two overs for Ben, but he shelled a simple one from the other Heritage opener, Rupesh Bingu, (sorry, Atif!) and OCC were left wondering what could have been.
The time seemed right to roll the dice and make a change, with Eliyas Jaber Khel returning to top division cricket, and bowling like he had never been away, hitting the deck hard and generally making Heritage batters play and miss – he finished with figures of 4 overs for 15 runs, and sadly no wickets, but he was the pick of the bowlers for OCC. First team skipper, Ed Packard (in attendance as a spectator today) was quick to try to poach him into the first team – but time will tell if the two OCC skippers arm wrestle to see who gets first dibs on the aggressive all-rounder.
At the other end, OCC 2s vice-captain, all around good guy, owner of the tightest haircut in Luxembourg cricket, Ben Mcilroy, stepped up to bowl. In what can only be described as a very average performance, the one highlight was removing Rupesh Bingu in his second over, he finished with figures of 3 overs, 1 wicket for 30 runs, and will be expecting a better turn next time.
More changes were made and Izhar Hussain came on for his first spell of the season, the tricky spinner had played some first division games the previous season, but was hoping his flighty delivers and cunning change of bounce might bring about some more wickets, sadly this wasn’t the case, and he finished with figures of 2 overs for no wickets and 22 runs.
At the other end, young fire cracker, Aman Khan came on as OCC tried to increase the over rate. Although he was able to get the dangerous Saransh Kulshrestha out (41 off 28 deliveries), he will likely think he can do better next time round, finishing with figures of 2 overs, 1 wicket for 31 runs.
At this stage, Heritage number 4 batter, Anoop Orsu had started to find more than just his rhythm, he was also finding the boundary with alarming regularity. The skipper tried one last attempt to bamboozle the batters with spin, bringing back past second team skipper, Mark Fitzgerald, who had a bit of a rough over (out of respect for Mark, his figures will not be printed here).
Deciding enough was enough, the skipper brought himself and Atif back on to finish the innings, and it proved to be the right move, managing to remove Anoop for 90 runs (off 44 balls, well batted Anoop), and getting opposition captain Vikram Vijh for 7 runs, to finish with figures of 4 overs, 3 wickets for 29 runs (interestingly, all of Andries’ wickets were caught by Ben, proving that a bromance can achieve great results).
After a promising start in the field, OCC 2s had let the middle overs slip, but finished well in the last 2 to drag the game back a little – Heritage finished with 186 for 5 wickets – and I am quite confident to write that there were easily 30 runs extra given in the field – something for us all to work on (especially the author).
So, we had a target for our first run chase in division 1 – 187 to win – daunting, but not insurmountable. Clear heads, steely eyes, determined attitudes were on show as the team set about preparing for the run chase.
The crowd had settled in, the drinks were flowing from the newly installed beer tap in the OCC clubhouse, and spirits were suitably…optimistic.
Openers Will Heath and Yama Abdiani were given the task of starting us off well. “Stay there, take your time, runs will come”, were the instructions.
Well, as Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face, or in this case they get a rank, back-of-a-length ball outside off that they cut beautifully, but unfortunately straight to Ankush Nanda at point – that saw the end of veteran batter Will, 2 runs off 4, not what he was expecting, but sure to be the springboard to a much improved performance next time round.
In walked left-hander Malith Gamage, a man with a point to prove after he was not selected for the extended squad of Luxembourg cricket. He and Yama produced some beautiful stroke play, showing that the bowlers could be targeted, Malith with a couple of glorious cover/extra-cover drives for boundaries. Things were looking good, but Yama was undone for 12 runs off 6 balls, walking around a very good ball from Raju Akulwar.
This started a 5 over spell that basically undid the OCC 2s – with a wicket falling in each of the next 5 overs. Aman played his first ball beautifully through extra-cover for 4, then received an absolute peach to be bowled next ball.
Reinhardt Heyns, newly reinstated into the national extended squad, did much the same, glorious boundary, and then caught not long after, 4 off 4.
Malith’s stand was up in the next over, caught by the reliable Ankush, 23 runs off 26 balls – it seemed like he might go on, everyone hoped he would - but if wishes were fishes, there would be no room in the oceans.
Atif got trapped LBW with the delivery of the day, going for a third ball duck. Eliyas followed 5 balls later, a quickfire 9 runs. Just like that, OCC 2 were 7 wickets down for 67 runs on the board, after 10 overs – as the skipper walked out to bat, there were real concerns that we would be embarrassed. Questions started to arise – were we really good enough? Had we talked a good game, but we couldn’t back it up? Damning thoughts, to be sure, but fair.
The skipper wasn’t for that thinking though – he was determined to score some runs, and he was partnered by Izhar, who was just beginning to score some runs (more on that later, as his innings would develop very nicely). Unfortunately for Andries, an untimely leg injury hindered his running between the wickets, and he never looked comfortable as he was caught for 7 runs.
They say cometh the hour, cometh the man. So, with the ideas of a miraculous sporting comeback in his mind, all-round top fella, humble gentleman, and amateur match reporter, Ben walked out to the crease.
Unfortunately, it turned out this was not the hour, and Ben was not the man – a…mobile (?), energetic (?), 27* runs off 22 balls (with no boundaries – please cricket gods, take my eyes if you must, but let me score a single boundary this season).
Despite the absolute dearth of his own power hitting, Ben was able to enjoy the big shots and continued efforts of Izhar, as he kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, scoring his first division 1 50 with a beautifully crafted slip drive on the very last ball of the innings! He finished the pick of the OCC 2 batters (with 52* off 36 balls) – he made a special mention that he appreciated all the extra running he had to do with Ben, saying it will help him with all of the national squad fitness tests (nb. there might be some creative license in this article).
OCC 2 finished with 161 runs, for 8 wickets off 20 overs – disappointed, in many ways, but also resolute – and perhaps finals believing that they can do some damage in the top division.
A big thanks to new OCC member, Billy Mirtschin, who turned out as 12th man, we look forward to welcoming you into the team very soon.
For closing thoughts – I would ask all the players to think to themselves – would I do it the same way, if I could do it again? I would be surprised if anyone said yes. We are all grown-ups, we know where we could have done better, but the true test of our character will be actually doing something about it – are we willing to step our efforts up? I, for one, will work on my catching, and my bowling…and my power hitting – to my colleagues, what will you work on this week, and the week after, and the rest of the season?
But, for sure, we’re a good side, a side that can win games in this division – now let’s get on and do it!
We go again, on 29th May, against Star CC – wouldn’t it be nice to cause an upset? I’ll keep thinking optimistically – after all, there is something in the name.