UEL Men's Cricket Team Qualify for South of England Finals
Wednesday 30 January 2013
The scenario was very simple, previous to Sunday’s fixtures, UEL were sitting handsomely at the top of the group with a 100% record of 5 wins from 5 matches. However, UEL faced Imperial University and University of Hertfordshire, who were both joint second, having lost one game each, therefore a slip up could be very costly.
The first match was against Imperial University. Having won the toss, UEL Captain Haroon Qadoos decided to chase. It was a mixed performance with the ball, some very good and some very bad, having conceded 30 runs in extras, however Imperial ended with 90 for 5 in their allotted 10 overs. UEL’s chase was steady progress, Haroon Qadoos and Ali Wood both rotating the strike early on, before Haroon lost his wicket playing a sweep shot. Ali Wood was joined by Sam Foster, both looked in no trouble until a very tight over from Imperial's Vignesh ended with Sam Foster being run out. Vignesh then bowled exceptionally well, needing 32 from the last 3 overs, UEL got themselves in a tangle and Usman Sahar (18*) and Ali Wood (28*) were left stranded with 83 runs on the board. Imperial now were in the driving seat and UEL were more or less out.
UEL had played 6, won 5, lost 1 with 15 points . Imperial had played 5, won 4, lost 1 with 12 points (2 matches to play). Herts had played 4, won 3, lost 1 with 9 points(3 matches to play one v UEL). Imperial and Herts had a much greater Net Run Rate than UEL.
To win the league UEL needed Middlesex University to beat Imperial and UEL to beat University of Hertfordshire. Middlesex duly obliged, beating Imperial 91-90, leaving UEL only needing a win over Hertfordshire to guarantee qualification for the South of England Finals.
In their final game UEL needed to focus and after Haroon Qadoos won the toss and once again elected to field first things looked liek going UEL's way. However, the enthusiastic energy seemed to have affected the bowling and fielding. Similar to the first game UEL gave away too many extra's and the fielding unlike all previous matches was extremely sloppy and below par. Herts scored a mammoth 116 for 4 in their 10 overs. With UEL needing over 11 runs an over, Sam Foster (step-son of ex-England & Essex CCC fast bowler Neil Foster) stepped for to open the batting.Foster (28*) and Haroon Qadoos (30*) gave UEL the positive start they required, after 6 overs UEL were 82 without loss. Usman Sahar and Ali Wood both contributed in the middle order and Fraser Watson sacrificed his wicket so one of the set batsmen (Haroon) could come back. Haroon who was supported by wicket keeper Scott Silver saw UEL over the line with 3 balls to spare. The impossible became the possible.
UEL will now play in the South of England Finals at Edgbaston on Saturday 9th March. Two finalists will then qualify for the final at Trent Bridge on Wednesday 20th March.
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