22/03/2026
Motivation was high following heartbreaking losses (losing both vital tosses) in wet conditions for two weeks running vs league leaders Underachievers and Stokes Valley. Effectively ending Scorpions hopes for a Timed final appearance and shot at a promotion. Redemption was on the menu to finish the season strong.
Thankfully sunshine greeted the lead-up to the penultimate game of the season: a replay of the One Day Final against WISC and with a record of 1-2, Scorpions looked to even the ledger.
Upon arrival we had to tell Sikhs 2nd XI (with stumps in our pitch) which ground is theirs, before WISC won the toss and elected to bat.
Scorpions skip Sid opened up and had the ball shaping nicely - piling up 3 maidens - as Chengappa went about dismantling the WISC batting card from the other end.
First he drew the potentially devastating Manish into a skier of a drive with a cheeky slower ball. Benny at long on had time for a cup of tea, which he used to perfect the ratio of hands to sunblock to prepare for a comfortable catch which aroused his team mates glee at snaring such a dangerous wicket.
Next was a full and wide tempter that drew Shivam into a drive that caught a thick outside edge. Mani at gully quickly dashed to his left to secure an excellent sharp catch.
Chengy kept his third in row all to himself - this time using another slower ball. Manoj could only manage to gift a simple catch back to bowler and dismisser, whom gobbled it up like half a snickers bar.
Parimal set about driving anything full for five nice boundaries to get WISC to 50. 2nd change Jobin found an answer by swinging a full one through the gate as Parimal looked to put another cover drive away. This ball of the day beautifully swung inside the swinging bat to clip the top of off.
Janeel had smashed a massive six off Jobin to take over proceedings from Parimal, but when he drove aerially to the right of Sid perched at short mid off, whom threw out a right hand to intercept the ball. These ones either stick or blast through, but this one stuck firmly in the middle of Sid’s clasping mitt for the catch of the day.
Scorpions had finished half of WISC’s innings by drinks, and would require a mighty fight back to be denied an easy run chase. A mix-up offered up Mani a run out opportunity, and as he stepped in to blast the ball at the keeper’s end stumps, he realised the other end was a safer bet, so he pivoted to the bowler’s end and fired the ball to Vishesh - whom pouched the hard throw well - to complete the run out and fantastic piece of fielding and decision-making from Mani.
WISC were able to punish anything too short or too full, but continued to lose wickets via a lovely edge to Rakesh off Jobin then an lbw from Mayur when he finally joined in the fun. Another great catch from Mani off Jobin in the outfield took out the ninth wicket, and all but end the rearguard effort. Chengappa finished what he started, enticing another poor stroke resulting in a Jobin catch.
A deadly efficient Scorpions fielding effort had executed their victims. It was like a replay of the One Day rolling of WISC for 59 before Christmas. This time, on a decent track, a below par target of 140 was set up for the batters to do their job.
Shivam brought lively pace to an end that could stay low, as Jonny and Indra got their innings started with a short one pulled for the first boundary from the former, and a fullish wide one smashed to the opposite cover boundary from the latter. Shivam then produced a wicked one that kept low, Indra shaped to play off the back foot, but the ball snuck through onto his stumps.
In came Benny whom promptly got off the mark before he misjudged his almighty swing to another short one that stayed slightly lower that expected, catching the toe of his bat before carrying into the keepers gloves. Like Chengappa at the start of WISC’s innings, Shivam had his third and final wicktim snaring a feather off Jonny’s glove as he tried to dispatch a short one down leg side.
Rakesh ended opener Vivek’s spell with a gorgeous lofted drive down the ground for four. But when Manish entered the fray, he got Rakesh slashing at a wide short one, catching an edge to go through the keepers gloves then into first slip’s hands!
The game stood in a similar situation as in the first innings, but a different approach ensued as Mani negotiated Mani(sh)’s probing but ultimately wasteful spell as Mani left and defended superbly. He patiently leg glanced a boundary amongst plenty of chat until a full one was suitable for a glorious cover drive that was the ground stroke of the day. Vishesh also kept out some good Manish yorkers and any time Janeel strayed into his arc he unleashed one of many boundaries. Their partnership was only 30, but it blunted WISC’s top wicket takers, and put Scorpions in the drivers seat.
Shailesh was inevitably given the ball with his tempting full length and excellent drift. But it was a loose ball that got Mani on 17, clothing a full toss to a reaching mid-wicket to open up an end. That end was captain Sid, due a captain’s knock, and started watchfully, before finding the middle of his bat with multiple drives slammed down the ground.
Vishesh was the middle order glue, holding the innings together via two meaningful partnerships, turning over strike when the big shot wasn’t on. Finally, on 29 Shailesh got one to stay low - avoiding Vish’s arcing bat - rattling the woodwork. Which was to be WISC’s last piece of success as Jobin copied Sid whom eased into his innings with plenty of time and overs to use.
Sid kept slamming full ones down the ground and then unleashed two huge shots over square leg, one going all the way, to win that contest and was the aerial shot of the day. Jobin added his aggressive clean striking for 18 to put an end to WISC hopes as boundaries now flowed from both ends.
Sid ended the chase with a classical lofted drive down the ground for a brisk unbeaten 42, securing the honours between the teams. A 2-2 record but 10-6 to Scorpions on the points table due to the higher scoring wins in one day and timed cricket. WISC did get the one day final prize, and both teams will be eager to reignite the rivalry in 26/27.
Well done lads on a commanding win, and with one game left, we’ll look to finish as we mean to go on.
Thank you to sponsors Anankai Limited and Blueprint Finance New Zealand for your support this season!
