HWC Lions vs HWC Tigers on 02 Jul 2017 - 35 Overs Match.
HWC Lions won by 35 runs
Match Highlights
HWC TIGERS unable to derail HWC LIONS in an exciting internal game
HWC Lions 251-5 (35 ov.)
HWC Tigers 216 -10 (34 ov.)
Venue: Parkfield & Headstone Cricket Club | Toss: Tigers won the toss and elected to bat
A glorious day (Bit overcast) and baying crowds at the fabled Parkfield & Headstone Cricket Club awaited Harrow Tigers team who played their 8th game of competitive cricket against a fearless harrow Lions side. The odds were stacked heavily against Lions in that they started with 10 played who were later joined by Rakesh, who continued his consistency in coming late to the games owing to his laziness, family commitments and crucially senior player attitude issues ;). Despite this Lions were in good spirits and looked to cause the biggest upset in Harrow sporting history.
The Lions skipper, Sanjay showed he was an excellent tosser – winning the flick of a coin on the strength of ‘tails never fails’. As the 50 pence piece hit the very green and damp uncovered wicket, he bizarrely declared that his team would bat first in less than favorable conditions. Opposition Captain Sameer reported back with mild optimism that the upset may just be on the cards. Ajit Yeole took ownership of the new pill and bowled an excellent first over, a La Glen McGrath of the team.
Saurabh Sharma shared the new bowl and bowled decently until Javed took out all his frustrating of waking up early in the morning to open his innings for Lions. Saurab Ended on figures of 36-1 in his 5 overs.
Sameer Kulkarni opened up from the other end and bowled tidily, he could and probably should have taken a catch off his own bowling which was like watching a scene from Billy Smart’s circus – 3 lions players converged on the ball only for everyone to leave it to each other and the ball to plant itself safe from danger in the middle of all 3. From that point onward the Lions innings was reasonably chanceless – Nitin, Karthik and Satya all bowled admirably, but the cautious Lions batting meant it was in vain.
It wasn’t until Omar Khan was brought in for his second change from Pavilion end duly delivered a second ball that was deserving of Lords, not Parkfield, starting on Middle it nipped off the surface and castled Sharad to loft it over to Karthik who took amazing catch. Joyous mood around of getting back into the game, 125-1 and a feeling of ‘we might just do this’. Lovely stuff.
Delivering another blow in his next of to get the talented Dhruv with outswinger that took a leading edge and caught by Sameer.
And that was where GS left their aspirations for the match behind.
Lions ending on 251 with brilliant knock of 75 from Javed and old win in new bottle Narayan finding form of his life and smashing a quick 33 with 2 huge shots on off side clearing boundary by a mile. Shouting T20 Captain Kathik to include him in his side from next game on.
Tigers’s turn with the bat and the innings was off to a perfect start with 17 in first over, 29-0 off two overs with Karthik (32) and Ravi (2) opening up. The latter then tried to slog sweep a short ball which duly landed on off stump. A batting collapse ensued with Praful (0), Puneet (14), Satya (4 ) and Sameer (4) all falling in quick succession leaving Tigers 97-5 when Saurabh strode out to meet Karthik at the crease. Karthik strode on his amazing timings with effortless off drives. Saurabh absorbed an over and a half of Lions railroading / distinctly average bowling before eventually firing his cylinders to smash few boundaries after Karthik was bowled by Narayan for toe crunching Yorker. . Omar Khan joined Suarab in the middle, both accelerated the innings with Saurabh’s 33 coming off around 23 balls (he is offering ball by ball commentary for those interested or not) and Omar smiting a quick fire 8 before sacrificing himself for the cause and getting out LBW with his poor technique This left Saurab to fend off the last 3over, proficiently remaining “not out” whilst fending off some handy bowling for a total of 5 runs through the wide “third man” region.
The innings closed on 216, which was a mini-win considering the lack of experience in the team and the standard of opposition.
Javed was adjudged man of the match for his brilliant and crafty 75 along with his 3 wickets.
Thank you and well done everyone who played this week! The next game is likely to be a grudge match against MEC Lions – details to follow
Player of the Match