Match Report 29 Jul 11: Crni Zmajevi Cricket Club vs. Lahore Kings 11 [one day 3.1]

We were looking forward to this game, the Kings had beaten us twice in the past season, so it was payback time. They looked out of form as well, so everything was set for a successful game for us. Conditions were Dry/Overcast, spinner friendly. Rasmajinan and Holtbacher opened for us, and Holtbacher lost his wicket early in the 7th over. Abolhassan came in, and they've done a wonderful 158 runs partnership with Rasmajinan, both got close to a century. The two player departed in the 36th and 37th over, after that we lost all our remaining wickets so quickly, Rogers departed last at 49.4. Despite that, we had a comfortable 276-10, for the conditions this looked very promising. Bowlers was in form too, Farell took 2 early wickets, and Haider provided his usual magic in the late overs. Rogers sealed the deal at 42.6: Crni Zmajevi Cricket Club won by 70 runs.
Excellent victory:) The Kings rested a lot of players though, they got hit by fatigue very badly. All in all, this was an excellet match for the Dragons, Rasmajinan & Abolhassan did wonders with the bat, and all our bowlers performed quite well. I've played 2 wrist spinners again, and it turned out well [again].

Match Report 17 Jul 11: Pretoria Parrots vs Crni Zmajevi Cricket Club [Pavilion Cup Round One]

5000 supporters came to see Pretoria's battle against Crni Zmajevi. The groundsmen prepared a flat pitch, while the weather was nice and sunny on this afternoon. Samar Ali called correctly, and the Dragons started their innings. Despite the conditions favored the batsmen, Anwar lost his wicket early, the umpire called lbw at 0.3. Another batsman departed, as Harden made a catch, Salih was quickly off pitch. What happened after that, wasn't exactly pleasing for the home side.Lostwalleti and van der Bilt's partnership quickly hit the 150 runs mark, and the score was 176/2 by the break. Crni Zmajevi continued where they left off, the 2 made 264 runs combined, as Indrasiri finally managed to take van der Bilt's wicket at 37.4. Wickets started to fall a lot quicker at this point, Lostwalleti departed at 39.4, Hodgetts followed quickly at 40.6. Next one out was Javed, then Samar Ali, who were the only one with a decent batting figure from the late order. Rebbeck took his 5th wicket at 49.5, Crni Zmajevi's innings finished with 383/8. A quite good score even on this pitch, i must add. As Pretoria started their innings, Amalean started his show. The openers were out by 2.3, and Zia took another wicket at 3.3, Amalean added 2 more, after the 10th over Pretoria was at 53/5. Amalean continued to bowl amazingly, and finished the game with a marvelous 6 wickets. Lostwalleti added the next 2, the Parrot's batting line up was up for a real test, which they failed to pass. Haider finished them off with an excellent spin at 33.6.Crni Zmajevi Cricket Club won by 239 runs.

Playing mostly their substitutes, Crni Zmajevi's manager expected a harder game. There was some quality batting from Lostwalleti and van der Bilt, the latter got 3 keeper catches too. On the bowling side, Lostwalleti excelled again, along with the man of the match, Amalean. From the Pretoria side we can't point out too many great performers this time. Rebbeck put on an excellent bowling display, and Indrasiri had some great moments too.
 

Match Report 15 Jul 11: Crni Zmajevi Cricket Club vs Surray [One Day Div 3.1]

 First match of our one day season, and already gone crazy. Surray visited us, conditions were dry/windy. We've played with 4 spinners, and 1 medium pacer. We called the toss correctly, and our innings was on its way, the lads didn't started as well as i have hoped for, the scoreboard showed 24/2 after the 5th over. It wasn't a good sign, Adcock departed our 2 best batter, Ahmad Abolhassan and Holtbacher. The partnership of Rasmajinan and van Onselen lasted longer, the latter lost his wicket at 18.4, Lydamore bowled and finished the over with a wicket maiden. Nothing interesting happened, at half time we were at 94/3, not too good, i must admit. Rasmajinan left the pitch too at 28.4, Anwar followed him not long after by a great ball from Adcock again, at 30.6. Things didn't look too good for the home side.... and continued to be worse, Ismail Abolhassan bowled out by Lydamore at 33.3, and by this all of our decent batsmen were out. Farrell and Mazin did a decent partnership after though, Mazin got out at 38.2 ( Adcock again), Farrell followed him at 41.5 Score was 181/8 at this time, not good, not good at all. Ramparasad failed to score on a slow ball as van der Graaf bowled him out. By the end of over 44 we were down to only 1 wicket, managed to score a miserable 189.. Come on lads! Our last partnership last night was Haider and Rogers, a couple seemed incapable to bat, yet they have put up a solid 27 runs. At the end, we managed to finish with 214/9. That did not look bad at all.

 Farrell and Ramparasad started to bowl, and Surray's batters was on rampage. Scoreboad showed 36/0 by the 5th, and 82/1 by the 10th run. Seemed like we will have serious problems, Ramparasad bowled awfully at this period. Things didn't get much better, however Rogers managed to bowl out Buckstein at 13.4, and he was bowling when Rasmajinan finally stumped Hodge at 19.4. Finally Surray slowed down a bit, still they have looked comfortable at the break with a neat 137/3. They needed 81 runs from 26 overs. After the break our 2 most experienced bowler came, and they made sure Verdi will get some more grey hairs. Surray's Hill started to hit boundaries from almost every ball, until Farrell finally caught him at 28.2. Surray still looked comfortable to win, Haider gave a bit of hope to the home side in the 34th over, when he took 2 wickets at 33.5 and 33.6. Rogers started to bowl strongly, with low ER and 2 wickets in the 37th over. Match could still go to either side, Surray was at 196/8, needed only 19 runs from 13 overs. Ramparasad corrected some of his earlier mistakes by bowling out Adcock at 40.1, and Haider put up a tricky ball when Rasmajinan managed to stump Lydamore at 41.4. What a game! Crni Zmajevi won by 6 runs.

 I can only hope for games like that, these moments what makes cricket the best sport in the world. There was at least 4 turning points in this game, when Adcock took those early wickets, when Haider/Rogers batted greatly, when the openers of Surray humiliated the home side's bowlers. But at the end, Rogers and Haider saved the day for the locals. Both team deserved to win, Crni Zmajevi got the upper hand with luck, and thanks to its excellend spin attack in the late overs.

 Players of the game for the home side are Rogers and Haider without doubt. They had an excellent partnership and managed the home side to survive till the end of their innings. Then they did an excellent job in the bowling department, the two combined took 7 wickets of the opposition. Can't really point out anyone else from the home squad, Rasmajinan did some decent keeping and managed to score 53 runs.

 For the visitors,  Hodge had an awesome stroll of runs, 69 runs out of 70 balls is admirable with this conditions. There was some great bowling display too, Adcock and van der Graaf had 7 wickets combined.