Played at Bromley Common Cricket Club
Report by Steve Hamilton
This match against our South London enemies Cincinnati was played on a
scorching summer's day with temperatures hitting 32C in Bromley.
I decided to chill and observe the match from the club hut in
the shade with the occasional liquid refreshment.
There was some
early tension out on the wicket as emotions rode high, not
helped by the fiery heat, but eventually it all cooled down (a case
of handbags at dawn) and play was resumed.
We took immediate
control, reaching 144-0 off 20 overs, before Azaz retired on 102! A
truly masterful display in the blistering heat hitting nineteen
fours!
It was an innings full of destruction, fearlessness,
patience and finesse. Azaz reached his hundred with a delightful cut
for four, then unselfishly came off to give the rest of the team an
opportunity to take advantage of the magnificent batting
conditions.
Asad continued his good form at this venue where
he scored 106 last season, again against Cincinnati. See
last year's match report here ...
This time Asad scored 52. It was a much more a reserved
innings and combined beautifully to support Azaz for an opening
stand of 144.
Asad hit one six and five fours, scoring in his
usual elegant manner with his trademark classic high-elbow drives,
together with one devastating blow hit for six over deep point … which almost
hit a horse!
Umair scored rapidly in his typical nonchalant
manner for a scintillating knock of 39, hitting one six and six
fours.
We then loss a cluster of wickets, collapsing going from 234-1 to
261-9 (34.5 overs)
This meant John Shaw was given a sudden wake-up call! He
had been lying down, taking in the sun's rays, and not expecting
to be needed. But then he was urgently summoned to the crease.
He gently got up
and headed towards the crease, before realising halfway he didn't
have his pads on. So he returned to put on the pads on, creating
in all probably a 10-minute delay. He eventually arrived at the wicket,
only to be clean bowled for a golden duck. The Grim Reaper was
Cincinnati’s Faisal, who bowled a spectacular spell and finished
6.5-1-31-6.
Nevertheless at the halfway stage we were fully
in control and confident of defending our total.
Yippee!!
Finally, there was tea for first time this season. We were treated to a lavish
buffet full of samosas, pasta dishes, sandwiches, cakes and
watermelon.
I was extremely disciplined and avoided any
temptations of such foodstuffs. In the other hand, I was on my 4th
pint by now and I think I got the balance right 🤔.
Our
bowlers totally dominated early proceedings. Waseem was fearsome
with his fast and furious pace and took two early wickets, clean
bowling Malik for a duck. He followed that up with a caught and
bowled to remove his next victim Kashif for nine. And then he
rattled Hingraph with a short delivery that had the batsman in a
heap on the floor after avoiding the ball!
Waseem bowled straight through his
overs and finished with immaculate figures of 7-2-15-2.
Young
Sri (Goddalla Srinivasrao) also showed plenty of aggression with his
hostile pace. First Baker feathered one behind for keeper Junaid to
take superb catch that came to him like a missile to dismiss him for
five.
Next on Sri’s hit list was Hingraph, who was a nervous wreak
from Waseem’s previous delivery. Hingraph mistimed his shot and edge
it straight into the safe hands of Waseem at gully for a duck. Sri
finished with outstanding figures of 6-2-25-2.
Cincinnati
reached 38-4 after 13 overs. We took our foot off the pedal and shared
our bowling around. The home side showed some resilience and after
26 overs reached 168-6.
There was run out by Fahad to
dismiss Porter for 43. Umair bowled Ryan for 32. To protect a dodgy
back Umair was just bowling gentle spin instead of usual medium
pace, but was still tidy and finished with impressive figures of
3-0-7-1.
Saiteja was a little expensive but took the vital wicket of
Cincinnati’s most dangerous batsman Faisal for 74, clean bowled with
a ball that hit off stump. Saiteja also removed Kazim for 13 caught
at mid on by Asad.
Cincinnati put up great fight and made it
a quite competitive towards the end, and by the end of their 35
overs had made 232-8. We won by 29 runs in a game full entertaining
incidents, runs and some highly charged emotions at times.
Handshakes all round and good spirits afterwards.
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