Match Report: Friday 25th May 2007
Took some time coming but Nisar and Ahmed's hurricane innings were too much for our opponents to take and got us our 3rd win. A good solid batting display by Sameer Bhai and Rizwan handled the foundation of the innings well and finally Bilal took us to the finish line.
Earlier we started our bowling with Anees Bhai and Waqar and both maintained pressure with occasional boundaries being hit on them. Rizwan let go off a few difficult chances otherwise the pressure would have been on them from start. We were playing with 10 fielders on the small ground and wanted wickets from start, to prevent the batsmen from settling in.
Although there were some close calls but we didn't find wickets till the 10th over, when Sameer Bhai came and got our first wicket. The opener mis hit the ball and it went up in the air and Rizwan took a nice high catch. He took a wicket in the same over when he bold the batsmen. First time in the match our bowling took the initiative.
Wicky make good and quick bowling changes never allowing the batsmen to settle in. He brought himself and Anees Bhai back and took a wicket as well with a clean bold.
Nisar couldn't find his magic touch with his tight spin bowling today and was hit out of the ground on more than one occassions. Guess he was saving his magic for later.
Our last 5 overs saw 77 runs as the batsmen especially their opener who batted till the end made the most of the small ground and took his chances.
We required 221 runs in 20 overs. And with the small ground we always backed ourselves to get them. The captain's strategy worked when he sent in Nisar and Rizwan as opener. And as they say the best strategy is the one that works out. And work it did since Nisar cut lose and Rizwan played his usual anchor sheet role. The opener partnership got us 74 runs in 6.3 overs.
Rizwan got out caught behind while trying to run the ball to fine leg, didn't look comfortable against spin but still managed to score 15 off 17 balls with 1 boundary. Just what was required from him. In came Sameer Bhai next and anchored the innings from the 6th over till the 17th over. It was an exceptional innings from him since he played exactly as the situation required. Initially he worked with Nisar, then Ahmed and then took charge when Bilal arrived at the crease. At all times he played as the situation required and when he left, he left the scoring rate from 11 runs per over to 7 runs per over. Making it very easy for the remaining batsmen to take us to the finish line. For me his innings was the best.
Nisar's magic clearly put us on the front foot and because of his innings the match never looked out of reach for us. He scored 62 off 29 balls with 4 sixes and 5 boundaries. A good thing about his innings was that he didn't play foolish or false shots and when he did hit he hit it with full heart and timing. He battled not the bowling but also heat and never looked like tiring. This kind of energy was required from both the openers and has brought fresh air in the camp.
Ahmed came in when Nisar went and played a beautiful innings which was a mix of restraint, energy, stamina and powerful hitting. It was a lethal combination and it kept the required run rate fixed at 11 runs per over.
In first 10 overs we finally broke the 100 runs in mark and did that in style. We made 110 runs in the first 10 overs and therefore required 11 runs per over in the remaining 10. Ahmed finally hit out and was caught on the boundary with the score on 140 runs.
Wicky came in next hit a boundary on the leg side, but was out trying to hit the ball out of the planet. At that time due to falling of almost back to back wickets of Ahmed and Wicky, pressure was tilted on us. Bilal came in next. And reversed the role with Sameer Bhai. Bilal tried to operate in singles and didn't try to hit the ball in the air. Sameer Bhai then took the attack to the other team. They got a good partnership of 50 runs and Sameer Bhai also hit 20 runs in a single over. Finally with 25 runs required of around 3 overs he hit out and was out caught on the boundary. At that time sensible batting was required which was provided by Bilal who didn't take any risk and dealt in chiefly singles and doubles. Finally in the last over 4 runs were required. With the field in and hitting out a sensible shot, Bilal hit a six when 2 runs were required from 4 balls. We won the match in style with 3 balls and 5 wickets to spare.
Great work guys especially our batting which came good and held their nerves together and played according to the situation.
My Performance
This week I tried to bowl with a new action for more speed. The first over went good and the batsmen didn't look in a mood to punish. Bowled a few balls on the leg as well and they were not able to connect. At that time both the openers were playing and seemed to set. I got the speed, but wasn't able to jerk my wrist that much so the bounce was not there.
The second over was a little way ward since my first ball was hit for a boundary and I bowled a full toss as well, which got the inside edge and Rizwan missed to stop it as well and it went straight to the boundary. I changed my action back to the old and immediately got some bounce. I feel that I am able to use my wrist with the old action and get more speed with the new action. So in a dilemma now on what to do.
My last over was unlucky so I am not worrying about it that much. The opener was well set and was trying to hit out on every delivery. I didn't try to bowl any full delivery since it would have been easily dispatched by him without any risk. I decided to mix it up and bowl a little shot. An easy catch was dropped by Nisar and went for boundary as well. After that I was hit for a six and a boundary. I gave 15 runs in that over, and that too after bowling 3 good deliveries in the start.
I think I should work out how and where to bowl when the batsman is in the violent mode. In the last match in this ground I bowled full but was easily dispatched. I think I should work out on fast yorkers. Its a very difficult thing to do especially when you are bowling at the death and shouldn't rely at all on the fielders. Anyways, dear blog, lets see what happens, will try to keep you updated.
Took some time coming but Nisar and Ahmed's hurricane innings were too much for our opponents to take and got us our 3rd win. A good solid batting display by Sameer Bhai and Rizwan handled the foundation of the innings well and finally Bilal took us to the finish line.
Earlier we started our bowling with Anees Bhai and Waqar and both maintained pressure with occasional boundaries being hit on them. Rizwan let go off a few difficult chances otherwise the pressure would have been on them from start. We were playing with 10 fielders on the small ground and wanted wickets from start, to prevent the batsmen from settling in.
Although there were some close calls but we didn't find wickets till the 10th over, when Sameer Bhai came and got our first wicket. The opener mis hit the ball and it went up in the air and Rizwan took a nice high catch. He took a wicket in the same over when he bold the batsmen. First time in the match our bowling took the initiative.
Wicky make good and quick bowling changes never allowing the batsmen to settle in. He brought himself and Anees Bhai back and took a wicket as well with a clean bold.
Nisar couldn't find his magic touch with his tight spin bowling today and was hit out of the ground on more than one occassions. Guess he was saving his magic for later.
Our last 5 overs saw 77 runs as the batsmen especially their opener who batted till the end made the most of the small ground and took his chances.
We required 221 runs in 20 overs. And with the small ground we always backed ourselves to get them. The captain's strategy worked when he sent in Nisar and Rizwan as opener. And as they say the best strategy is the one that works out. And work it did since Nisar cut lose and Rizwan played his usual anchor sheet role. The opener partnership got us 74 runs in 6.3 overs.
Rizwan got out caught behind while trying to run the ball to fine leg, didn't look comfortable against spin but still managed to score 15 off 17 balls with 1 boundary. Just what was required from him. In came Sameer Bhai next and anchored the innings from the 6th over till the 17th over. It was an exceptional innings from him since he played exactly as the situation required. Initially he worked with Nisar, then Ahmed and then took charge when Bilal arrived at the crease. At all times he played as the situation required and when he left, he left the scoring rate from 11 runs per over to 7 runs per over. Making it very easy for the remaining batsmen to take us to the finish line. For me his innings was the best.
Nisar's magic clearly put us on the front foot and because of his innings the match never looked out of reach for us. He scored 62 off 29 balls with 4 sixes and 5 boundaries. A good thing about his innings was that he didn't play foolish or false shots and when he did hit he hit it with full heart and timing. He battled not the bowling but also heat and never looked like tiring. This kind of energy was required from both the openers and has brought fresh air in the camp.
Ahmed came in when Nisar went and played a beautiful innings which was a mix of restraint, energy, stamina and powerful hitting. It was a lethal combination and it kept the required run rate fixed at 11 runs per over.
In first 10 overs we finally broke the 100 runs in mark and did that in style. We made 110 runs in the first 10 overs and therefore required 11 runs per over in the remaining 10. Ahmed finally hit out and was caught on the boundary with the score on 140 runs.
Wicky came in next hit a boundary on the leg side, but was out trying to hit the ball out of the planet. At that time due to falling of almost back to back wickets of Ahmed and Wicky, pressure was tilted on us. Bilal came in next. And reversed the role with Sameer Bhai. Bilal tried to operate in singles and didn't try to hit the ball in the air. Sameer Bhai then took the attack to the other team. They got a good partnership of 50 runs and Sameer Bhai also hit 20 runs in a single over. Finally with 25 runs required of around 3 overs he hit out and was out caught on the boundary. At that time sensible batting was required which was provided by Bilal who didn't take any risk and dealt in chiefly singles and doubles. Finally in the last over 4 runs were required. With the field in and hitting out a sensible shot, Bilal hit a six when 2 runs were required from 4 balls. We won the match in style with 3 balls and 5 wickets to spare.
Great work guys especially our batting which came good and held their nerves together and played according to the situation.
My Performance
This week I tried to bowl with a new action for more speed. The first over went good and the batsmen didn't look in a mood to punish. Bowled a few balls on the leg as well and they were not able to connect. At that time both the openers were playing and seemed to set. I got the speed, but wasn't able to jerk my wrist that much so the bounce was not there.
The second over was a little way ward since my first ball was hit for a boundary and I bowled a full toss as well, which got the inside edge and Rizwan missed to stop it as well and it went straight to the boundary. I changed my action back to the old and immediately got some bounce. I feel that I am able to use my wrist with the old action and get more speed with the new action. So in a dilemma now on what to do.
My last over was unlucky so I am not worrying about it that much. The opener was well set and was trying to hit out on every delivery. I didn't try to bowl any full delivery since it would have been easily dispatched by him without any risk. I decided to mix it up and bowl a little shot. An easy catch was dropped by Nisar and went for boundary as well. After that I was hit for a six and a boundary. I gave 15 runs in that over, and that too after bowling 3 good deliveries in the start.
I think I should work out how and where to bowl when the batsman is in the violent mode. In the last match in this ground I bowled full but was easily dispatched. I think I should work out on fast yorkers. Its a very difficult thing to do especially when you are bowling at the death and shouldn't rely at all on the fielders. Anyways, dear blog, lets see what happens, will try to keep you updated.
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