Pakistan Badshahs were too powerful for TSCC in Taiwan’s first ever Southern Cricket League as they cruised to victory with 32 balls to spare at the Shinmin Baseball Ground in Chiayi on Saturday.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Badshahs as they had to work hard in the morning game against bottom of the table Tainan Swingers.
The Swingers batted first, making 126 for nine in 20 overs. Roshan Ajay made 31, before TSCC skipper Ali Chang took his wicket. There was accurate bowling from Tanweer Ahmad (two for 14) and Chang (two for 28).
The Badshahs were cruising at 69 for no wicket until a batting collapse left them on 104 for seven. However, Danny Hassan hit 27 not out to guide the Badshahs to the final after they finished second in the league with seven points and a higher net run rate than Taichung Scunners, who finished third.
In the afternoon’s final, TSCC won the toss and elected to bat first in the 25-over match.
They got off to the worst of starts, however, when they lost in-form batsman Andrew Carrick in the first over and they never really recovered, only talisman Jeff Black’s 61 offering any resistance.
TSCC were dismissed for 126 in 22.2 overs, with paceman Hamid Amir taking four for 13.
The Badshahs also suffered an early setback, losing Majid Siddique for 10, but after that cruised to victory. In-form batsman Shoaib Tanveer made 34 and Hassan hit 34 not out as they recorded a seven-wicket victory.
Hercules Kloppe took two for 28 and Raj Khan one for 19.
Charl de Villiers of Taichung Scunners was named bowler of the tournament, while Hassan won the batsman of the tournament award with an amazing average of 128.00.
The next major tournament to be held in Chiayi is the Taiwan Cricket Sixes on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7.
FCC DEFEAT ICC
By S.I. Salim
Contributing reporter, with staff writer
FCC strolled past ICC in the fifth game of Northern Taiwan Cricket League on Saturday to set up a likely semi-final against TCA.
Opting to bat first at the Shezi Island Baseball Ground in Taipei, FCC lost both openers by the seventh over with 40 on the board. The loss of early wickets drew a cautious approach from FCC as Henry Nothnagel (15 from 36 balls) and Salim (13 from 24) seemed content to push the ball around, leaving the acceleration to the end.
It never came though, with both batsmen holing out in the deep by the 16th over. A slew of run outs and some smart bowling then saw FCC fall short of the 100-run mark.
Anant and Sandeep Patel were among the wickets for ICC.
ICC started their reply positively, but a withering new ball spell from FCC’s Ric McGrail (three for 17) put them on the back foot.
After the drinks break, things turned even worse for the hosts when Jay Magar took another three wickets.
The game seemed pretty much over for ICC, but Patel wasn’t convinced and with only the No. 11 batsman for company, he unleashed an array of shots that sent jitters through the FCC camp.
Following the onslaught, 21 from 18 balls seemed possible and the match sprang into life, but it was too good to last, Thomas Rayen yorking the ICC No. 11 in the 18th over to bring the match to an early end.
Rayen bagged two wickets, Nothnagel and Salim one each.
In the end, FCC’s superior bowling and ICC’s profligacy with extras proved to be the difference between the teams.
The final match before the semi-finals sees PCCT take on ICC. See the Taiwan Cricket Facebook page for details.
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