Crusaders v LSWCC Warriors

Saturday February 3rd 2007 at the Kowloon Cricket Club

In a match that went all the way to the wire, this was an important match for both of the teams at the top of the Saturday League.

Crusaders won the toss and put themselves in to bat first. Getting off to an electric start Manoj Cheruarambil hit a very brisk 50 off the opening Warriors bowling. His dismissal on 52 to a ball from Zain Abbas slowed the Crusaders run rate as they started to lose wickets at regular intervals. Only Rob Taylor batting at number four for Crusaders put up any further resistance to the Warriors bowling, scoring an excellent 58. For the Warriors, Yasir Rana claimed three wickets in 8 overs for 50 runs, but it was Zain Abbas who excelled in his 10 overs giving away only 25 runs, getting 2 wickets and bowling 2 maiden overs. At the end of their 35 overs Crusaders were 199 for 8 meaning Warriors only needed to get a total of 200 to win the match.

Jawaid Iqbal  got the Warriors reply off to a solid start scoring a total of 35 despite losing fellow opener Azhar Allahi early on for only 18 runs. Tabarak Dar went quickly for only 8 runs but Ilyas Gul, batting at number four put on a batting display to revive the fortunes of Warriors. His 75 runs put Warriors well on the way to victory. However, in the last over Warriors found themselves needing 9 runs to win the match! The first ball of the over saw Illyas smash it over the fielder at the long-on boundary for six; all seemed to auger well until the next ball when Illyas was caught by Brewster off the bowling of Marzook. The next ball wasnâ��t a scoring opportunity then a hurried suicidal two resulted in a run-out, leaving the last pair of Warriors batsmen at the crease, Amir Bokhari and Jaswad Ashraf. With the last pair in and only three balls to get 2 runs everyoneâ��s nerves were on edge in the clubhouse. The first of the three balls was a leg-bye then off the next ball Amir scampered a single that brought victory to Warriors with one ball to spare.