Glenmore Cricket Club News story


Match Report: 1st XI vs Chinar Patriots, June 29th

30 Jun 2013

Rarely in Glenmore's history has a game been over so quickly. It took just 27.2 overs for the ever improving 1st XI to put away Chinar Patriots III. The win by 10 wickets was set up by a fantastic bowling display, which destroyed Chinar and left Anjan Singh and Alex Storey to knock off a meagre total.

It was an unusually hot and sunny day at Inland so the pre-match routine consisted of no more than a few gentle catches and listening to Nathan's tales from the previous night ("Did anyone else see the northern lights last night?". "No mate, what time was that?". "Ah, about 3.30 this morning!".) Given the conditions most captains would have batted first but Storey, filling in for the injured Jon Bray, opted to bowl first.

That decision was looking a little ill-advised when Chinar sped off to an express start. Nathan's second ball was hooked for four, while Ruwan's first over cost 15 runs! After four overs the total was 38-1 (Nathan having picked up Attique for 4 with a magnificent swinging yorker which crashed into leg stump) and a long afternoon in the hot sunshine looked on the cards. However, Nathan was still on the right side of his hangover and was bowling better and better. He produced some threatening short balls and some fantastic yorkers, three of which the batsmen were just about able to keep out. But, the dangerous Umair (who made a quick fire 24) had no response when Parr sent another full pitched delivery down and took out middle stump. 

Reinhardt was introduced into the attack for just the fifth over of the innings and made an immediate impression. Straight away he found his typical nagging line and length, and extracted just enough bounce and movement to keep the batsmen guessing. In his first over he lured Vivek into a drive outside off and the ball lobbed into the grateful hands of Jenkinson at cover. 

Glenmore's catching has been pretty good this season and in the very next over Bijju pulled off a stunning grab at backward square leg. Affan flicked Parr's delivery off his hip, the ball flew to Bijju who instinctively took the ball to his right. What followed would have graced any dance floor. Bijju turned his back on his teammates, faced the imaginary grandstand and started busting some serious moves!

Having made a good start Chinar's innings was crumbling. And things only got worse for them. In Reinhardt's third over he struck twice. The first wicket was clean bowled as the batsman tried an ungainly heave to cow corner. The second came from an equally unimpressive shot which sent the ball soaring skywards and Storey completed the catch. Both Reinhardt (3-12) and Nathan (3-23) had bowled fantastically well, never giving anything away and always looking threatening. But, it was Ali 'Lulu' Memon who ended up with the best figures of the day. In just 1.2 overs he blew away the Chinar tail to end with incredible figures of 1.2-0-3-4! And those three runs were all wides! 

Ali's first wicket was caught at cover by Ruwan and his second was a healthy edge through to the keeper. By now Ali was fired up and looking for more successes. He upped his speed and targeted the stumps, to which the shell shocked batsmen had no response. Number 10 Ali Khan tried leaving a delivery which he thought was angling down leg side, but the ball swung back late to clatter into the top of leg stump! It was a remarkable delivery from Lulu and he followed it up with another searing, straight one which knocked over middle to end the innings! 

Having been 38-1 Chinar Patriots had been blown away for just 65! A sensational effort from the Glenmore bowlers!

The run chase was handled in exemplary fashion by Storey and Anjan Singh, promoted to the 1st XI following a good start to the season for the 2nds. The pair knocked off the runs in just 13 overs to seal a comfortable 10 wicket win. Storey (19 not out) set the tone when he hooked the first ball of the innings for four in imperious fashion. He also produced a stylish flick off his toes which sent the ball into the long grass at deep mid-wicket. But it was Anjan who was the star of the show, batting beautifully to make 41 not out from just 42 balls. It was a wonderfully mature innings from Anjan who had to contend with some lively, accurate bowling from Parteek and plenty of sledging from the close in fielders. Anjan took it all in his stride though and never for one moment looked in any trouble. He defended resolutely when necessary but was quickly onto anything slightly off line. He consistently hit the ball well down the ground, hitting a six and three fours over mid-off. As the target got within touching distance he took a likely to the spin of Ahsan, slog sweeping him for two boundaries. 

All in all it was a dominant, heavyweight performance from Glenmore, which sends them to the top of the league. They now enter a mid-season break with a record of played five, won four and lost one. If they can maintain that form in August and September then surely promotion awaits!