Glenmore Cricket Club News story


Match Report: Glenmore T20 vs Cavaliers III, July 14th

16 Jul 2013

Glenmore's T20 side were back to winning ways against Cavaliers III thanks to a fantastic run chase. Waseem Altaf was the hero, chipping with three wickets and making a composed 50 not out to see his side past the winning post.

For the first time this season Glenmore bowled first, but before they went out they were treated to some beautiful homemade lemonade, courtesy of the Robertson clan! Iqbal didn't have a cup of the delicious beverage and perhaps that's why he was only able to bowl one delivery before injuring his shoulder. Iqbal has been consistently good with the ball in recent weeks so this was not a good start. However, Ruwan (playing his first T20 game this season) took over and was soon celebrating the first wicket. He produced a perfect inswinger to the left-handed Tariq and knocked over his leg stump.

Although runs weren't coming too quickly for Cavaliers during the first 10 overs, they were able to keep some wickets in hand. Pasha's first three overs only went for 10 runs, Ruwan's first three for 12. Nabeel and Sandeep were brought into the attack and were equally miserly. As so often happens, the pressure brought about false shots but Glenmore struggled to hold onto their catches...perhaps the lemonade had been spiked. Time after time the ball went high into the air, a Glenmore fielder got under it and the ball ended up hitting the turf. And so it was a great relief when Ruwan clung onto a chance offered up by Phani off Sandy's bowling. Sandy also managed to hold a good catch out at deep square leg, despite having to contend with the sun staring him in the eye. That particular dismissal came off Waseem Altaf's bowling.

Waseem had been brought on to bowl four of the last seven overs, and although he was hit for a few runs he also grabbed three valuable wickets. Storey picked up a rare stumping as Qamar skipped down the track, and a quicker ball from Waseem knocked over Sanjay's off-stump. Pasha came back on to clean up Arwind and finished with 1 for 15 from four tight overs.

In the end both teams walked off the field reasonably happy. Having made a slow start Cavs would have been happy to reach 118-6, while Glenmore would surely have taken such a total before the start of the innings.

Glenmore got off to a lively start thanks to some big hitting by Ruwan. First he smashed a big, booming shot high over long-on and then cut powerfully to the cover point boundary. Having made 20 from 9 balls he then tried one shot too many and was caught at cow corner. This sparked an epic collapse that made Cavaliers firm favourites. Storey was next to go, clean bowled for 9. Anjan and Iqbal went in the same over to leave Glenmore 36-4 in the 7th over.

With the game in the balance Glenmore needed some stability and it came in the form of Waseem and Nabeel. Together they put on 31 runs and got their side back in the hunt. Their partnership was perfect for the situation, taking no undue risks but picking up as many singles as possible. Although careful not to risk losing further wickets they still capitalised on anything loose. Nabeel hit one six during his 21 and it's worth mentioning. In a week when the Spirit of Cricket has been discussed and perhaps dismissed by some as non-existent (thanks to Stuart Broad not walking in the 1st Ashes test), this six showed that sportsmanship and honesty are still prevalent in our great game. Nabeel had struck the ball well out to deep square leg but Cavaliers' Eshwar had managed to get under it and took an excellent catch. While his teammates celebrated Eshwar looked down to see his foot had been on the boundary line and immediately signaled six runs. With the game at such a critical stage this was a fantastic example of sportsmanship.

Nabeel eventually fell to a catch at deep cover point and with a run-a-ball still needed Waseem needed some more support. First George Williams (3) joined him and helped put on 14. Then Ajay, having his first bat for the T20 side, played in a calm fashion to give Waseem the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking over. But Waseem was the undisputed star with the bat. He could not have played a more composed innings. At no point did he look under pressure or like getting out. He knocked it around ones and twos, and was always able to have a release shot that found the boundary. One particularly memorable six soared way over the flower-beds and took Glenmore to within touching distance of victory.

Ajay was unfortunately run out for 6 which left Sandy to partner Waseem to the finish line. Waseem hit the final ball of the 18th over for two runs which sealed the win and took him to a well deserved fifty. It was a truly fantastic innings and was the difference between the two teams.

So, Glenmore now have a record of 2-3 and will be looking to make that 4-3 next weekend.