Men's Basketball continue unbeaten
Sunday 9 December 2012
Things started badly for the students as Haroon Qadoos (7), Sam Foster (3) and Scott Silver (3) were all out with the score on 49. At this stage UEL CC had collected zero points (first batting point is 70 runs) and W&SCC had collected the 1st of their four points (taking 3 wickets) required. A good partnership between Ali Wood & Usman Sahar helped UEL CC to their 1st point before Wood was run out for 29 and the total on 74, the significance of the wicket was important as W&SCC picked up their second point (only 2 more points required). Fraser Watson (9) helped Usman Sahar before he was clean bowled by Adnan Akram with the total at 87. The students knew they didn’t have enough on the scoreboard and Usman Sahar as last man standing also knew he had to bat the remaining overs with caution because if he got out W&SCC would have taken 3 off the 4 points to the league title. Usman Sahar batted beautifully, with minimum risk, yet maximum outcome. He batted the remaining overs out but ticked the scoreboard along nicely, ending the innings on 49 not out, but more importantly UEL CC scored 120 for the loss of 5 wickets.
At the interval, Wanstead & Snaresbrook had collected 2 points, therefore required 1 more point to tie (70 runs) and 2 more points (100 runs) to win the league. UEL CC knew they had to restrict W&SCC to less than 70 runs.
UEL CC intensity from ball was very high. A majestic piece of fielding by Sam Foster ran out in-form Rehan Hassan (0) in the second ball of the innings. Captain Haroon Qadoos then produced a beauty to trap Joe Palmer (0) in front all three stumps, after four balls of the innings W&SCC were 2 for 2. A great start by UEL CC, but the lads knew they had to keep the intensity up as the task ahead was still very difficult, W&SCC only required 70 to tie and have equal points to W&SCC. In the fourth over of the innings batting hero, Usman Sahar produced an absolute peach of a delivery to clean bowl England Under 19's and Essex County Cricket Club star Kishen Velani (8), W&SCC were 24-3. Another in-from batsmen Pieter Hattingh failed to pick Sam Foster's slower ball, Hattingh failed to stop himself from going through an aggressive drive, ending up hitting the ball above the blue wall and being retired out (local rule), the title was near. Ali Wood in his 1st ball bowled a very lose wide delivery and Ibtesham chased it, only to get an edge to the safe hands of Scott Silver, W&SCC were now 39 for 5.
One man stood in the way between UEL CC & the Piri-Piri Cricket title W&SCC captain Adnan Akram. Adnan showed composure by manipulating the ball to all parts of the arena, the score was getting closer to that 70 mark. Only a magic ball or a poor piece of concentration would prevent W&SCC from tying or winning the league. It was in fact a brilliant piece of fielding by Sam Foster (who else) who managed to pick the ball up one handed and knock the stumps down to run out Ibtesham (running with Adnan) with W&SCC score on 65 and leaving Adnan Akram on 25. The lads had done it. A very tense match played between two very competitive teams and played in the right spirit.
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