Game Report - August 2nd, 2008
MCC verses BCC
Match Details
It was an overcast day, but still a good one for a game of cricket. MCC was all pumped up to have a good game against the leaders of OCL league. Once BCC won the toss and elected to field, it came very clear why every team, winning the toss, elects to field first. For MCC, Khan Barech and Zafar Khan opened the innings. It was with in the first over, Khan got a ball that was hugging the pitch, before hitting him on ankle in front of off stump. The ball probably hit a gopher hole underneath the matt....no kidding. In came Chris, but he also lasted only two balls before losing his middle stump. Shuaib also had a similar luck popping a catch at cover, with out troubling the score. MCC was in deep trouble losing 3 wickets for only 29 runs, but Zafar Khan on the other end was in no mood to have a mercy on Beaverton bowlers. He continued his dominance from the very first over. In fact, the opening bowler (BCC captain) only bowled one over, as Zafar creamed him for two sixes and a four. He immediately took himself off, knowing well that Zafar will change the game in a matter of couple overs. For MCC all the hopes were for some one to stay with Zafar and build a partnership. Lokesh was able to give some support to Zafar, but he also became a victim of impatience and gave an easy catch to long off. So was Roshan, losing his middle stump for a wild shot. BCC, knew they had to get Zafar, before he could run away with the game, and they did when he was closing in on another 50. There was a wild celebration by BCC for his wicket ... as it also vanished the hopes MCC for providing a decent target.
Though, Roberto and Paresh were looking good, connecting the ball well. As they were settling down, a misunderstanding caused both the batsman to end up on one end, and of course one had to go ... it was Roberto. Paresh, was left to play with the tail enders, but he did really well to form an invaluable partnership with Jay, who came as a last batsman. Jay played a great knock, supporting Paresh for a valuable partnership of 26 runs for the last wicket. In the end, it was too late for MCC to recover the early loses, and were bundled up for only 116 runs. In MCC's abysmal batting performance, only two batsman crossed the double figures Zafar 48, and Paresh 25. There were 4 golden ducks, and 4 were out under 5 runs.
Even though, the score was about 40 runs below par for this pitch, MCC was hopping to have an early break through, when BCC started there innings. Shuaib bowled really well, and would have put BCC on the back foot, if an edge was not dropped by the keeper in his 2nd over. Knowing their pitch really well the BCC openers started to attack the opening bowlers and hitting over the ring. It was with in 18 overs, when BCC hauled the score for loss of only one wicket. Lets not make this lost a reason to doubt ourselves, but rather learn from our mistakes, re-group, focus and win the next game against PCC.