Optimists Cricket Club

The traditional season opening match - Chairman's XI vs Captain's XI - took place on a beautiful sunny afternoon in Walferdange. The captains agreed to play a time game with 'voluntary' retirement at 50 for any batsman.

The Chairman's XI got briskly under way, with Paul Monico and Tim Andrews willing to play shots, scoring at 5 runs per over in the first 10. Monico was retired on 51 after a solid knock, but not before being dropped a fair few times by the rusty fielding of Captain's XI. Newcommer Iqbal Murad impressed with a stylish 53 but wickets kept falling at the other end. Chairman's XI were dismissed for 198.

Captain's XI batting effort, by contrast, was rather pedestrian at the start, putting the run chase significantly behind the clock. However, Will Heath and Graham Cope slowly dragged the side back into the game, but with 103 to win off the last 20 overs and six wickets down, the advantage was still with the Chairman's XI. Taral Desai did his best to keep things going, combining sylish boundary shots with less than urgent running between the wickets. However the required rate kept creeping up.

50 runs off the last five overs seemed an impossible ask, when skipper Richard Neale sauntered to the crease. However, four overs later and 32 runs off 22 balls, Neale had taken his side to the brink of a memorable victory. Then came drama in the last over. With two to win off three balls, Neale then pushed a simple return catch into the grateful hands of bowler Iqbal Murad. The next batsman, newcomer Fahd Amjad was run out first ball, as Taral Desai pushed for a quick single. With one wicket left and two required off the last ball, the tables had turned once more and Desai was under intense pressure. Thankfully for him Murad pitched one short outside off-stump, which Desai gratefully flailed for four runs.

It was a tremendously exciting game and a wonderful way to start the season. May there be many more games like this.

Don't forget, if you wish to play some games for the Optimists, please log on to the website and update your availability (after having paid your subs, of course!). If you do not have a log in, please contact William Heath on williamheathlux@gmail.com

W.Heath

P.S. If you look at the scorecard and wonder why it looks so strange, this was the only way I found to enter everyone's statistics so that it will be reflected in the Club's averages.

P.P.S. Check out the photos in the Photo Gallery