It seems that the only thing that we learn from history is that we don't learn anything. After the 36 all out, our entire top order blew up once again and we would be having a similar score sheet if it weren't for Bilal and some resistance from the lower order.
Our batting line up seems to be stuck in the glory days of cement pitches where they just had to hit through the line as the ball never did much off the seam and came at a comfortable height. Batting on turf is a bit different. Good batsmen (especially the top order) take into account pace, swing, seam and bounce of the pitch, before going for their shots. This is a lesson which we should learn immediately.
The bowling was exceptional as the pitch offered variable bounce and swing. Each bowler contributed with wickets and/or maidens. Akmal bowled with lethal accuracy and often extracted venomous bounce from the pitch. He finished with 4 wickets from 5.2 overs giving 15 runs. Basharat playing his first game after a long break, took sometime settling in, but found his rhythym and bowled well towards the end. He took 3 wickets from 8 overs giving 15 runs. Zeeshan bowled well initially, but had no answer when the batsmen started attacking him. His last 2 overs went for around 26 runs, spoiling his over all figures. He ended up with 36 runs in 8 overs. Anees (3 overs 11 runs), Waqar (3 overs 4 runs), Faraz (1 over 4 runs) and Amad (4 overs 3 wickets and 15 runs), maintained the pressure and bowled Al Bahar out for 119 runs.
Fielding was very good as we held on to our catches. Both Faraz and Bilal took some good catches. Rizwan was alert as ever behind the wickets with some good saves and a stumping off Basharat's bowling. Except for the sitter dropped by Asif the fielding was good overall, more so, because the bastmen rarely got a chance to go for their shots.
Chasing a very easy target of 120 runs in 40 overs, all that was required was to apply some common sense. But as they say, common sense is not very common. Rizwan and Asif opened the innings. Disaster stuck on the very first ball, as there was no calling and hence resulted in confusion and a run out. Akmal went in next and failed to read the pitch correctly as he played a cut shot way too early in his innings. He ended up giving a easy catch to the fielder he was trying to clear.
Samir Bhai was in next and played his famous flick shot, which has given him many tonnes of runs before, but this time, he failed to spot the fielder, who took a good catch.
Waqar was in next, and he too perished quickly as he snicked one to the keeper.
Rizwan's was the unlucky next wicket, as a bat/pad was given as LBW. Bilal went in next and together with Zeeshan formed the first resistance of our innings. But Zeeshan lost the plot in the middle and gifted his wicket by playing a half hearted cut shot straight into the hands of the fielder.
Basharat and Faraz were in next and resisted for 12 and 16 deliveries respectively, but eventually couldn't last long and came out empty handed.
In the end Bilal was stuck with the tail and managed to take the score to 93. The more famous top order, can take an example from his innings as he put a high price on his wicket, read the pitch correctly, batted with patience and as the situation demanded. He faced 70 deliveries for 26 runs. He swung his bat on full tosses and solidly defended his wicket whenever the ball pitched.
Conclusion: Come on Guys! Everyone knows that we are way better than this. Turf or Cement, we are capable of beating any side. We just have to concentrate and adjust according to the pitch and situation. We are a team and we can only win as a team. Scoring a 100 or taking 10 wickets looks good in the scorebook, but sucks if the team has lost the match. Remember this hurt and do everything and anything to avoid this in the future. Keep on learning and improving, no matter how good you already are. I feel that we need just one win and then sky is the limit for us.
Match Pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/amad.uddin/KCA40OverVSAlBahar#
Score Sheet
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Asif --> 0(0)
Rizwan --> 3(20)
Akmal --> 2(7)
Samir --> 2(4)
Waqar --> 4(4)
Zeeshan --> 3(20)
Bilal --> 26(70)
Faraz --> 3(12)
Basharat --> 6(16)
Amad --> 2(17)
Anees --> 1(4)
Bower - O-R-W
Anees - 3-11-0
Amad - 4-15-3
Akmal - 5.2-10-4
Basharat - 8-15-3
Faraz - 1-4-0
Waqar - 3-4-0
Zeeshan - 8-36-0
Please note that wides are not included in the bowling figures.
2 comments:
Just want everyone to know that there was a chance of Stumping for the same batsman who later hitted me 2 sixes! Also the batsman who got out with the last wicket of their innings was out on my bowl, unfortunately the catch was dropped!!!!! Over all, i didn't just spoiled my bowling figures but yes our fielding contibuted 90%!
Thanks,
Zeeshan
There needs to be a different strategy for both forms of game..on turf and on cement..we initially did make one strategy whcih unforntunately is not getting applied during batting..our bowling is also really good and needs to be best utilized..we had this match in our grip as chasing 120 runs shoudl have been easy for us but loosing to many early wicket and major wickets took into problems..though there was a fight back and it was not enough that we could have won the match..hope everyone learns from there last 2 mistakes while playing on turf..
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