The Bohra Sports Club made an unbelievable fight back at Shalika grounds last Wednesday, (18th) to book a place in the finals of the Annual Quadruple 20-20 Cricket Tournament 2008. Hurting after two consecutive defeats in the opening round of the tournament, the Bohra’s not only needed a win against the hosts, Windsor S.C, but also needed to win by a huge margin in order to qualify, based on net run rate.
Winning a crucial toss, the Bohra’s captain did not hesitate in electing to bowl first as it was vital to know how much they would need to chase so that they could work with the required rate. The Windsor openers got off to a decent start putting on 28 in the first power play of 6 overs without losing a single wicket. They continued in the same fashion and reached a moderate total of 80 in 15 overs losing only 3 wickets, which the Bohra’s too would have been content with at the given time.
With the rains persisting in patches, it was a stop-start match through out the day but it was after the 15 over mark that the game began to slip away from the Bohra’s. The last 5 over slot conceded 61 runs with the 19th over giving away 17 runs by Juzar Noordeen. A brilliant run out by Shabbir Abbas sent the dangerous skipper of Windsor Sports Club, Zulki Hameed, back to the pavilion early, but that was not enough to prevent a required target of 141 for B.S.C, which was the highest total of the tournament so far!
It was a do-or-die situation as the Bohra’s needed to chase this daunting total in 15 overs to improve their net run-rate to stand a chance of going through to the finals. Hussain Mustansir re-instated as opener, once again was adjudged LBW which seemed a highly dubious decision as replays clearly showed the ball pitching well outside leg stump. Then finally, Hussain Mansoor, who had not yet made an impact in this tournament, started to fire on all cylinders scoring 28 off jus 18 balls with 4 boundaries and 1 huge six that sailed into Apollo Hospital.
His dismissal in the 5th over brought on the what was later believed to be the lethal combo of Shabbir (Doctor) Hazari and Murtaza (Austin) Hassanally. From the onset it was aggression and pure carnage as these two power hitters slammed the Windsor bowlers to every possible corner of the beautiful Shalika Grounds. Shabbir Hazari smashed 63 with 7 boundaries & 3 sixes, including one over extra cover, and Murtaza powered 42 not out with five boundaries and 2 monsterous Sixes, one which once again troubled Apollo Hospital furniture.
The target was achieved in unbelievably quick time as the match was wrapped up in only 15.1 overs with 8 wickets to spare. Celebration began in the Bohra’s camp but only after some nervous moments while the net run rate of all 3 teams, apart from Glamorgan C.C, were being calculated. It was later announced that the Bohra’s would play the ever consistent Glamorgan’s, who are yet to lose a match, in the finals of the 20-20 Tournament.
The Malay grounds, Slave Island, will hold the finals on the 22nd of June 2008 where it is expected to be a thrilling finish to a well fought out tournament so far. Both teams will be geared up, and hopefully if the rains do stay away, the crowds will witness a great battle between two well deserving teams.
Summary:
Windsor S.C – 140 for 7 wickets in 20 overs.
M. Risfan – 33
Zakir kanaga – 22
M Rumy – 21
S Mohamedhussain – 4 overs. 2 for 23
H Mansoor – 4 overs. 2 for 24
A Abdeali – 4 overs. 2 for 29
Bohra S.C – 143 for 2 in 15.1 overs
S Hazari – 63*
M Hassanally – 42*
H Mansoor – 28
Shiroz Ali – 3 overs. 1 for 21
Z Hameed – 3.1 overs. 1 for 26