11/03/2021
MCCC book place in semi-finals
MCCC booked their place in the semi-finals of the CCL 2021 T20 competition with an exciting four-run victory over HPCC on Sunday at the Hobson Cricket Ground in Climax. In the tightly fought quarter-final MCCC were dismissed for 134 in their allotted 20 overs while the home team replied with 130 in 19.5.
After being asked to bat first under cool autumn conditions, MCCC were indebted to a solid innings of 43 by Nadeem Sajid for their eventual score. Nadeem’s innings, which came off 32 deliveries and included three fours and two sixes, proved to be the backbone for MCCC as the home team’s bowlers kept a tight rein on proceedings. Four run outs, including that of Nadeem, did not help MCCC’s cause and the next best score was 24 by Faisal Kashmiri – an innings consisting of two fours and a six from 22 balls. The other batters to reach double figures were Karthik Reddy Bora (16) and skipper Naqash Choudhery (13). For HPCC, Rizwan Bahadur claimed two wickets for 24 runs, and Ehtesham Arshad two for 26.
MCCC struck swiftly when HPCC began their reply with Walton Chase removing Eibaad Butt with the first legitimate delivery of the innings. The other opener Jehangir Khan also received a first ball from Yaser Warrich while Ghias Rehman became the third batsman dismissed for a duck as HPCC slipped to 25 for three. Nadeem, who sent back Rehman also dismissed Abdullah Shah for an 11-ball 26 (three fours, two sixes) at 39 for four as MCCC seemed ready to take control. However, Zain Afzal had other plans! Although he kept losing partners at regular intervals the left-hander kept his team in the game with a 47-ball 59 which included four fours and two sixes. He carried HPCC into the final over with eight runs required and the advantage firmly with the batting team. Then up stepped Awais Khan! Awais, who dropped Afzal before he reached double figures turned out be the hero for MCCC, shattering the left-hander’s stumps with the second delivery of the over. The remaining runs proved too much for the last pair and a mix-up resulted in a run out off of the fifth delivery and MCCC were in the semis!
Nadeem completed a fine al-round performance with three wickets for 30 from his four overs while Warrich claimed two for 17 from four. There was also a wicket each for Awais, Karthik, Naqash and Charles.
MCCC will travel to Greenville, South Carolina, for Saturday’s semi-final against GGCC who beat CLCC in their quarter-final. The game starts at 1.30 p.m.
