Slow outfields force batsmen to go up and over
SAPS were put into bat first, and by lunch break, the team had put on an excellent score of 144/4 after 35 overs.
The pitch may be grassy and the outfield may be slow, but this did not stop the action at Paradise Sports Grounds last week.
On Sunday November 9, the first 50-over game was played, as Paradise and Lennoxton combined their sides to take on SAPS.
SAPS were put into bat first, and by lunch break, the team had put on an excellent score of 144/4 after 35 overs.
SAPS batsman, Suhail Chepa, was the leading force in driving his team forward with his brilliant batting scoring a half century, and eventually losing his wicket with a total of 76 runs.
Suhail is an extremely powerful batsman. Having realised the outfield was extremely slow due to the thick grass and weeds. The results of this observation? A number of big hits from the big man, that easily cleared the boundary.
Surprisingly, at the loss of Suhail’s wicket, SAPS sent in the lower order batsmen to show the true depth of their batting order.
Although it was the lower order batsmen who carried SAPS to the end, the team still managed an unassailable 301 run innings.
When the mixed Lennoxton and Paradise side went into bat, it seemed that the team’s batsmen had an impossible mountain to climb.
Coupled with the loss of early wickets, it resulted in the mixed side’s batsmen falling to unnecessary pressure.
Lennoxton/Paradise opener, Arshad Desai proved a powerful force to be reckoned with, but as the day progressed, Arshad succumbed and lost his wicket on a total of 36 runs.
Lennoxton/Paradise were worse for wear, but luckily the game was called off with the points being split due to the light and rain.
Last week Thursday Paradise made an impressive showing when the team took on Asians in the night league.
Paradise won by five wickets, as it chased down the 136 run total of Asians.
Paradise all-rounder, Hiresh Maharaj seemed to have his team’s opponents’ numbers down, as he provided an unbeaten knock of 60 runs. In the bowling attack he claimed two wickets, while conceding a total of 17 runs.
Having suffered defeat on Thursday, Asians were determined to make a comeback when they faced Phoenix on Saturday.
Phoenix were given the bat first and made a respectable 190 runs.
Asians batsmen Altaf Topia and Sabeer Babar Mafe both performed superbly, making 75 and 40 runs respectively. Asians managed to win the game with five wickets in hand, but serious contention from players regarding the umpiring of the game shadowed the loss.
Phoenix will face Asians again this week and Phoenix captain, Graham Sharp, said his team was determined to win this encounter.
“Asians play well, but we have potential to play even better,” he said.
