Chiayi City hosted day one of the “Pink Day” cricket tournament yesterday and — in between the showers — Pakistan Cricket Club Taipei (PCCT) and Taiwan Daredevils earned wins, while two matches were half completed.
In the first match, PCCT edged to victory over fellow northerners Formosa Cricket Club. Rigert van Eeden was obdurate in compiling his 25 runs before sacrificing his wicket to a run out trying to up the pace.
Anthony Liu then provided some momentum, smacking PCCT’s star bowler Mushtaq Muhammad (3-22) over long on for six during his innings of 22.
However, the pitch was full of demons, with deliveries that did not bounce accounting for both Liu and captain Heinrich Nothnagel (18). Mushtaq, Joseph Praveen (2-13) and the rest of the PCCT attack made sure that the strike rate never threatened 100 and Formosa finished their 20 overs on 106-9.
The chase was no cake walk, with Nothnagel (1-15) and Ric McGail (1-18) proving hard to get away. The match might have turned on Formosa bowler Salim’s third over when he dismissed Ninad Malwade and then had captain Mujahid Muhammad well caught behind by a diving Tathagata Bhomick.
In the end, though, the day belonged to Praveen (12 not out), who with courageous support from Raja Akhter (17 not out), carved out the victory with some big shots through mid-wicket.
Taiwan Daredevils overran hosts Taiwan Stars in much more convincing fashion, piling up 143, with captain Duane Christie contributing 61 before Suresh Rangipillai held a catch at long off from Ali Chang’s bowling (2-3).
Kris Belling was the next-highest scorer with 19. Rangipillai also impressed with his bowling, taking 4-18.
However, those efforts were completely eclipsed during the Stars’ innings by Mahroof Hussain’s 5-15, which included a hat-trick. Among the tumbling wickets, Rangipillai managed to score 21 and Tanveer Shoaib 24, but the reply petered out for just 92.
Rain played a big part in the rest of the schedule, as only the first innings of the second round of matches were able to be completed. The Daredevils turned up the heat on PCCT, setting a target of 167 as Christie scored an unbeaten 56, with Hussain (33) and Jeff Black (38) also contributing.
The Stars’ top order did a bit better against Formosa than it had earlier in the day, with Shoaib hitting 56, but their middle order was again exposed. Liu (3-31) claimed a triple wicket maiden and hat-trick, although 18 extras boosted the Stars’ total to 128.
Weather permitting, those matches will be completed today at the Xinmin Road Softball Ground, along with third-round matches and the final.
A ladies’ match between the Darling Devils and Chang Jung Christian University is also scheduled.
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