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Played at Southgate
Report by Steve Hamilton

This fixture against Global in Southgate was one of those games that reminds us why we play cricket. It was an enthralling encounter that had everything. Expectations were riding high after rain forced last year’s encounter to be abandoned before we had chance to bowl. This time it was a scorching summer's day with temperatures almost hitting 30°C.

We won the toss and elected to bat on a very erratic wicket.

We reached 114 for 2 off 22 overs, a run-rate of 5.2, which was adequate in the laborious conditions. Most of our batters had decent starts but never went on. Jakaria was our top scorer. He battled hard for his courageous 58 and once again held our innings together with his third half-century of the season.

Umair played a gallant innings scoring 35 continuing his recent good form and we reached a satisfactory total of 226 for 9 off 40 overs.

A traditional tea was served, with some players remaining in the cavernous clubhouse to watch the men's Wimbledon Final, while others enjoyed their food outside but sheltered in the shade from the blistering sun.

Then part two of this scintillating battle began.

Global got off to a quick start and had reached 86 for 2 by the drinks break after 15 overs.
Umair removed both openers. First Pranav Dave departed for 11 after he attempted a cross-bat shot that took a top edge and flew to deep fine leg where debutant Jay Rahman took a superb catch. In Umair’s next over Ali Zeb was cleaned bowled for 14.

However, Global were looking confident and we needed a plan to get back in control.
We brought on our premier bowlers Asad and Jakaria who didn't take long to change the direction of the game.

In just nine overs we had Global on the ropes. Asad removed the dangerous Tauseef Malik for 32 after he hit the ball straight to mid-off where Jakaria took the catch effortlessly. This was a major turning point of the game.

Jakaria clean-bowled captain Rizwan Shaukat for 20 and with his very next ball he delivered another unplayable delivery that knocked over the stumps of Nayan Navik for a golden duck. Jakaria was very unfortunate not to get his hat trick after his next delivery nicked the bat but was too low for Junaid behind the stumps.

The next wicket to fall was their big-hitting powerhouse Kashif Rehman who exited for 15. Junaid had placed me between mid-on and mid-wicket, demonstrating his confidence in my fielding ability (ahem!). Asad delivered a beauty that the batter mistimed and skied into the clouds. I knew I was the person nearest to the ball’s re-entry point from the stratosphere, so I moved into position. The ball had gone so high that I had time to compose myself and get under it as it came down. But the sun was shining directly into my face and I was blinded by the light for a few moments. What seemed like minutes later the ball eventually struck my grasping hands and, after a couple of juggling rebounds, I finally took the catch on my third attempt!

After this major breakthrough we had Global stuttering on 123 for 6 off 24 overs. Asad and Jakaria finished their breath-taking spells with figures of 4-1-16-2 and 5-0-26-2 respectively.

Umair came back and took the wicket of Hamza Malik for 12 who hit the ball to cover area where Jay ran forward to take a tremendous low catch close to the ground. Umair finished his faultless spell of swing bowling with figures of 8-2-14-3.

Raja Akhtar was run out for 13. Rashid wrapped up proceedings by taking the final two wickets, first bowling Maninder Singh for 15 and trapping Daani Nadeem plumb lbw in front of his stumps for four.
In the end we won comfortably by 44 runs.

It was a great all-round performance from the whole team. Special mentions to debutant Khaled Mohseeb who showed great agility in the field and also to Tim Castle who took one for the team on the shin as well as stepping up on the morning of the game to ensure we played with a full side.

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Sunny daze: Jakaria faces the opening ball of the match

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