The Daredevils beat out the other four sides to claim Taiwan Cricket’s Formosa Cup in Chiayi City yesterday.
With four matches to play, the only team not in contention were the Badshaws and perhaps that situation contributed to their tardiness when the morning got off to a disappointing start with the first forfeit in the competition’s history.
The Daredevils set themselves up for a good day with a spanking win over Taipei Indian side ICCT. The 178 runs were far too many to chase as Graham Terblanche, supported by Jeff Black (42 not out), launched 81 runs to all parts of the ground and outside it. A pair of 21s from Hitul Jogani and Anant Patel were enough for only 113 for ICCT as Caleb Kenyon (3-16) ran through them.
Next the hosts Formosa faced ICCT. Captain Heinrich Nothnagel belted 52, but opposing captain Nirav Shah (1-10) helped restrict Formosa to 119. Patel hit a half-century of his own in reply as the hosts were bundled out of their own tournament.
ICCT placed second overall, leading the other two teams who won twice on net run-rate.
The last match to finish was between Taipei Pakistan side PCCT and the Daredevils, and with the trophy on the line,0 the action did not disappoint.
PCCT’s Shezhad Khan and Shoaib Meer bowled Terblanche and captain Duane Christie, before Ninad Malwade, bowling with a broken hand, had Andrew Carrick leg before wicket. At 27 for 3 the situation was dire, but Roy Horgan (49) has learned to enjoy the PCCT attack. With a series of cross-batted swipes he wrested back the initiative, while Black (30) and Kenyon (15) helped boost the target up to 135.
The reply hit early trouble as well with Black (2-22) and Jared Painter (1-12) causing the batsmen trouble. Carrick took a good, low catch to remove Khan, before Terblanche launched himself at a ball falling behind him and held a stunning one-handed catch after Rehan Naeem was surprised by Painter’s pace.
PCCT captain Mujahid Muhammad (65 not out) showed some steel and hit Kenyon out of the attack with six fours in the one over, but with 23 required off the final over, the target proved 11 runs too many.
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