As this tournament progresses our losing streak continues. This time we came close but not close enough.
The match was with a team which was a mixture of players from here and there both young and old especially their batting which can be labelled as the 'Daddy Army' i.e. old but fit.
It was good that Sameer Bhai and Amir Bhai had played with them and knew their capabilities and had advised our bowlers much earlier on where to keep the ball.
Our Bowling
This time Anees Bhai and Amad started the bowling but couldn't find a wicket mainly because of dropped catches some of which were simple enough for my grand mother. During the attack burst we saw 4 dropped chances, which could have turned the match in our favor. Good work from the bowlers though for creating those chances. Anees Bhai bowled 3 overs on the trot and gave away 35 runs at more than 11 runs per over. Amad bowled 4 overs on the trot and gave away 30 runs at more than 7 runs per over.
Wicky took over from Anees Bhai and bowled one over but couldn't find a wicket early on and therefore brought in the spinners Nisar and Abdullah. The openers seemed to play the spinners well and Nisar got hit off a HUGE six over long on as well. But he came back and got us the first wicket through a spectacular catch from Rizwan.
Abdullah got the second wicket from a good high catch off his own bowling. Bowling in the middle by Nisar and Abdullah was quite good but our opponents knew how to keep the scoreboard ticking. They took their chances knowing well that they would be succeeded by batsmen who were capable enough of maintaining the scoring rate. Overall they maintainaed a run rate of 10 runs in each over without botheration. This happened sometimes through their experience and sometimes due to misfieldings from Rizwan, Ahmed and Amir Bhai. Abdullah bowled 4 overs on the trot and gave away 36 runs at 9 runs per over with 2 wickets. whereas Nisar bowled 4 overs on the trot and gave away 37 runs at about 9 runs per over with 1 wicket.
For the last 4 overs Wicky brought himself back into the attack alongwith Bilal. He found a wicket on a bad ball but a wonderful catch from Abdullah. Overall he bowled 3 overs for 36 runs at 12 runs per over and took 1 wicket. The batsmen played Bilal's loopy spin quite well and got 22 runs from his 2 overs at 11 runs per over. A batsman got out in Bilal's over as well when Bilal foxed the batsman to charge out from his crease and missed it completely. Rizwan was quick enough to collect and throw the ball in the wicket. Although it looked like a run out to me, but I am sure that both the bowler and the keeper would disagree.
In the end we were given a target of 200 runs.
Fielding
Overall the ground fielding was good with very few lapses. Rizwan's wicket keeping was like Pakistan's international cricket team i.e. sometimes ordinary and sometimes exceptional. His catch off Nisar's bowling and a few takes down the leg side were quite good. Standing up on spinners and taking catches is never simple and requires technique and mental presence. But he wasn't able to continue the good work and missed a few straight forward takes and also some close stumping chances.
Rather than the ground fielding our catching was found wanting this time. During our first 6 overs there were a total of 4 dropped chances out of which two were the most simple. One was dropped by the usually reliable Abdullah at Long On and the other one from Wicky. Wicky, if my memory serves me right, has yet to open his catching account with this team. Anyways both the catches were so simple that one can wonder that how on earth can these be dropped.
But overall the ground fielding effort by all the 11 players was quite good and I didn't see the other team breaking free because of our misfielding. The dropped chances were disheartening though.
Batting
We were set a target of 200 runs in 20 overs and going by expert opinion we did well to restrict their batting to 200. But still for our batting the target was way beyond the comfort zone. And what was required was a good start and exceptional innings from at least 3 of our 8 main batsmen which was not to be today.
In order to get off to a good start and get maximum runs from both ends, Wicky sent in Adnan with Nisar. A target of 100 runs was given to them in the first 10 overs.
Although Nisar showed urgency in his batting and didn't waste time or balls, Adnan didn't manage to find his groove and his usual blocking the ball only resulted in increasing our blood pressures. Nisar was the first one to go when he, while trying to meet the 10 runs per over target, took a risk too many and got out. He made 9 runs from 10 balls.
Ahmed went in next and started doing what he does best and that is to hit the ball hard. But this time there was a welcome change in his style. He did the hit the ball hard but kept it on the ground early on, which minimized the risk of him getting out. Another pleasant change was his shot selection and we got the pleasure of seeing some deft touches from him as well. Finally he has realized that long off and long on are not the only places in a cricket field. In the end he made 80 runs from 47 balls and was the only batsman who made more than 10 runs per over, which was our required run rate.
After Nisar Adnan was the next wicket to fall. He tried to hit and force his way and eventually got out bold. He made 22 runs from 26 balls.
Wicky came in next and tried to do what was required, but failed once again in his quest. He made 3 runs from 4 balls. His batting has yet to win a match for us. At that point in time around 12-13 runs per over were required and with tight line and length bowling from our opponents our batting was found wanting. Sameer Bhai, who went in after Wicky, made 29 off 19 and Abdullah 11 from 6. Both had too few balls to face and too many runs to make. Bilal came in the end but at that time around 40 runs were required from 2 overs. He made 7 off 5 balls.
At the end if we are to pinpoint the main reasons for our failure then it would be our poor start in the batting and our dropped catches. I think in the next match, Abdullah can be tried in the opening slot with Nisar. Sameer Bhai and Wicky can follow with Ahmed going in whenever some quick runs are required. My choice is based on the fact that these are the players who don't block un-necessarily, run fast between the wickets, hit boundaries if there is a bad ball and take calculated risks.
Non Cricketing Stuff
I had the pleasure of fielding near Sameer Bhai and had the chance of hearing his 'F*#$ Louise' statement whenever something didn't go to our benefit. My full sympathies to Louise while I wonder what she did to deserve such rememberance ;)
Also Bilal's bat was stolen today, but he seemed to bat well without it though. But this is a lesson for all of us to take care of our stuff ourselves.
Anees Bhai's tang, although a bit strong, is very refreshing and keeps all of us on our feet throughout the match. One day when we field second I am sure then we are going to realize its immense benefit.
But every rose has its thorn and Bilal can blame the tang for his bat being stolen, since the suspects came to drink Tang and went away with his bat.
The match was with a team which was a mixture of players from here and there both young and old especially their batting which can be labelled as the 'Daddy Army' i.e. old but fit.
It was good that Sameer Bhai and Amir Bhai had played with them and knew their capabilities and had advised our bowlers much earlier on where to keep the ball.
Our Bowling
This time Anees Bhai and Amad started the bowling but couldn't find a wicket mainly because of dropped catches some of which were simple enough for my grand mother. During the attack burst we saw 4 dropped chances, which could have turned the match in our favor. Good work from the bowlers though for creating those chances. Anees Bhai bowled 3 overs on the trot and gave away 35 runs at more than 11 runs per over. Amad bowled 4 overs on the trot and gave away 30 runs at more than 7 runs per over.
Wicky took over from Anees Bhai and bowled one over but couldn't find a wicket early on and therefore brought in the spinners Nisar and Abdullah. The openers seemed to play the spinners well and Nisar got hit off a HUGE six over long on as well. But he came back and got us the first wicket through a spectacular catch from Rizwan.
Abdullah got the second wicket from a good high catch off his own bowling. Bowling in the middle by Nisar and Abdullah was quite good but our opponents knew how to keep the scoreboard ticking. They took their chances knowing well that they would be succeeded by batsmen who were capable enough of maintaining the scoring rate. Overall they maintainaed a run rate of 10 runs in each over without botheration. This happened sometimes through their experience and sometimes due to misfieldings from Rizwan, Ahmed and Amir Bhai. Abdullah bowled 4 overs on the trot and gave away 36 runs at 9 runs per over with 2 wickets. whereas Nisar bowled 4 overs on the trot and gave away 37 runs at about 9 runs per over with 1 wicket.
For the last 4 overs Wicky brought himself back into the attack alongwith Bilal. He found a wicket on a bad ball but a wonderful catch from Abdullah. Overall he bowled 3 overs for 36 runs at 12 runs per over and took 1 wicket. The batsmen played Bilal's loopy spin quite well and got 22 runs from his 2 overs at 11 runs per over. A batsman got out in Bilal's over as well when Bilal foxed the batsman to charge out from his crease and missed it completely. Rizwan was quick enough to collect and throw the ball in the wicket. Although it looked like a run out to me, but I am sure that both the bowler and the keeper would disagree.
In the end we were given a target of 200 runs.
Fielding
Overall the ground fielding was good with very few lapses. Rizwan's wicket keeping was like Pakistan's international cricket team i.e. sometimes ordinary and sometimes exceptional. His catch off Nisar's bowling and a few takes down the leg side were quite good. Standing up on spinners and taking catches is never simple and requires technique and mental presence. But he wasn't able to continue the good work and missed a few straight forward takes and also some close stumping chances.
Rather than the ground fielding our catching was found wanting this time. During our first 6 overs there were a total of 4 dropped chances out of which two were the most simple. One was dropped by the usually reliable Abdullah at Long On and the other one from Wicky. Wicky, if my memory serves me right, has yet to open his catching account with this team. Anyways both the catches were so simple that one can wonder that how on earth can these be dropped.
But overall the ground fielding effort by all the 11 players was quite good and I didn't see the other team breaking free because of our misfielding. The dropped chances were disheartening though.
Batting
We were set a target of 200 runs in 20 overs and going by expert opinion we did well to restrict their batting to 200. But still for our batting the target was way beyond the comfort zone. And what was required was a good start and exceptional innings from at least 3 of our 8 main batsmen which was not to be today.
In order to get off to a good start and get maximum runs from both ends, Wicky sent in Adnan with Nisar. A target of 100 runs was given to them in the first 10 overs.
Although Nisar showed urgency in his batting and didn't waste time or balls, Adnan didn't manage to find his groove and his usual blocking the ball only resulted in increasing our blood pressures. Nisar was the first one to go when he, while trying to meet the 10 runs per over target, took a risk too many and got out. He made 9 runs from 10 balls.
Ahmed went in next and started doing what he does best and that is to hit the ball hard. But this time there was a welcome change in his style. He did the hit the ball hard but kept it on the ground early on, which minimized the risk of him getting out. Another pleasant change was his shot selection and we got the pleasure of seeing some deft touches from him as well. Finally he has realized that long off and long on are not the only places in a cricket field. In the end he made 80 runs from 47 balls and was the only batsman who made more than 10 runs per over, which was our required run rate.
After Nisar Adnan was the next wicket to fall. He tried to hit and force his way and eventually got out bold. He made 22 runs from 26 balls.
Wicky came in next and tried to do what was required, but failed once again in his quest. He made 3 runs from 4 balls. His batting has yet to win a match for us. At that point in time around 12-13 runs per over were required and with tight line and length bowling from our opponents our batting was found wanting. Sameer Bhai, who went in after Wicky, made 29 off 19 and Abdullah 11 from 6. Both had too few balls to face and too many runs to make. Bilal came in the end but at that time around 40 runs were required from 2 overs. He made 7 off 5 balls.
At the end if we are to pinpoint the main reasons for our failure then it would be our poor start in the batting and our dropped catches. I think in the next match, Abdullah can be tried in the opening slot with Nisar. Sameer Bhai and Wicky can follow with Ahmed going in whenever some quick runs are required. My choice is based on the fact that these are the players who don't block un-necessarily, run fast between the wickets, hit boundaries if there is a bad ball and take calculated risks.
Non Cricketing Stuff
I had the pleasure of fielding near Sameer Bhai and had the chance of hearing his 'F*#$ Louise' statement whenever something didn't go to our benefit. My full sympathies to Louise while I wonder what she did to deserve such rememberance ;)
Also Bilal's bat was stolen today, but he seemed to bat well without it though. But this is a lesson for all of us to take care of our stuff ourselves.
Anees Bhai's tang, although a bit strong, is very refreshing and keeps all of us on our feet throughout the match. One day when we field second I am sure then we are going to realize its immense benefit.
But every rose has its thorn and Bilal can blame the tang for his bat being stolen, since the suspects came to drink Tang and went away with his bat.
2 comments:
Guys I dropped a very very simple catch and I do need practice as well:)... once again we are not in any competition of who has caught and who hasnt but in my very first match I caught one off Ahmeds bowling.. and InshAllah as i try my best to make my team win I cannot do it single handedly and need the support I have confidence in my circket skills but cricket is not a game of one player its 11 players who need to support each other...
Amaad bhai....what about the catch u dropped on the very first ball....u havent mentioned it anywhere!!!
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