Scorecard

Optimists Cricket Club Optimists (Club side) v 12 Stars Cricket Club on Sat 02 May 2015 at 13:00
Optimists Cricket Club Lost by 1 wicket

Match report On Saturday the Optimists played their first friendly match against 12 Stars CC from Brussels. 12 Stars have had a recent meteoric rise and are currently the Belgian Cricket League 1st Division Champions.

However, 11 hardy Optimists valiantly took them on under cloudy conditions at the Pierre Werner Ground.

Skipper Richard Neale lost the toss and the Optimists were put into bat. Peter Winchester opened with Ananth Srisailapathy. They were restricted early on by some good 12 Stars bowling from the openers. After an opening stand of 24, Winchester departed for a solid 7 which brought Arvind Pandey to the crease. Both Pandey and Srisailapathy batted well, hitting the bad balls with some fine scoring shots and increasing the run-rate just when was needed. Pandey was eventually bowled for a fine 23 and Srisailaphathy quickly followed for 36.

This brought Lawrence Arokiyaraj and Richard Neale to the crease. Both kept the run-rate up with Arokiyaraj hitting two superb sixes in one over before finally being caught for 25. Towards the end of the innings, Sameer Rege, Praveen Kuruvalli and Mohit Dixit all provided support to Neale but ultimately fell cheaply in the quest for quick runs. Tamil joined Neale at the end for a quickfire 10 not out and Neale ended on 38 not out. A target of 173 was set off 40 overs. Due to the longish grass on the outfield and the wet pitch, the Optimists were confident they had posted a decent score to defend.

After a sumptuous tea, umpires Mark Smith and David Godin strode out to start the second innings. Immediately the Optimists found themselves on top with some excellent bowling and catching. Tamil and Dixit opened (both left arm over seamers – certainly a rarity for the Optimists!) with precision and bowled a very good line and length. Dixit struck first with a good sharp catch from Neale at short cover and after a great run-out dismissed the other opener, confidence was building. Tamil bowled the next guy neck and crop and when Jason Winchester joined the attack, he took a wicket in his first over as well. 12 Stars were suddenly 23/4 off 10 overs.

Mike West came on to provide some variation with his left arm spin and also quickly made in-roads with a wicket which was well caught by Sameer Rege.

The lower-middle order gave some resistance and started fighting back, there was a very good 6th and 7th wicket partnership which saw the run-rate increase to above the required rate and put 12 Stars back on track. Sameer Rege collected two wickets to halt the charge with some good leg-spin before Dixit and Tamil came back on in a last push from the Optimists.

Unfortunately it was not to be and 12 Stars managed to get the final run in the 29th over with 1 wicket left. Some excellent bowling saw all bowlers amongst the wickets with Winchester and Rege picking up 2 and Tami, Dixit and West with a wicket each.

The highlight of the match though had to be a fine catch at a deep second slip position from Peter Winchester off the bowling of his son, Jason. How many times will we see “caught Winchester, bowled Winchester” this season?

It was a great way to start the season for the Optimists in a match that was exciting and played in a very good spirit. We will be hoping for similar matches in the future but hopefully with alternative outcomes!

Optimists Cricket Club Optimists (Club side) Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 7 wickets
0
173		        
Richard Neale Not Out  38 2
Arvind Pandey Bowled  23
Mike West  
Lawrance Arokiyaraj Caught  25
Ananth Srisailapathy Caught  36
Sameer Rege Caught  0 1
Jason Ashley Winchester  
Peter Winchester Caught  7 1
Praveen Kuruvalli Lbw  3
Tamilselvan Mani Not Out  10 1
Mohit Dixit Caught  2

12 Stars Cricket Club Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

12 Stars Cricket Club Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
174 (28.1 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Optimists Cricket Club Optimists (Club side) Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mike West7.0062162.008.86
Sameer Rege2.0024212.0012.00
Jason Ashley Winchester7.0049224.507.00
Tamilselvan Mani5.1112112.002.32
Mohit Dixit7.0225125.003.57

  • Umpire :
    TBC
  • Scorer :
    TBC