Match Report: THCC1 v HSV, 28.6.2015

THCC 9/169 (Raman 46, Israfeel 27*, Aman 24, Gurwinder 3/13, Barkat 2/28) beat HSV 168 (Barkat 86, Dushant 38, Israfeel 3/28, Cam 2/42)

It wasn’t quite like the Boston Red Sox breaking the “Curse of the Bambino” when winning the World Series in 2004 (for their first win since 1918), but it was still pretty good.

In the annals of north Germany cricket, HSV has always been something of a bogey team for THCC. And with wickets falling during THCC’s run chase, it was looking like the HSV hoodoo was about to hit again.

But THCC held on at the end, thanks to some great batting by Israfeel, supported by tailenders Jatin, Bipin and Kamal. The HSV hoodoo has been broken, and a new precedent has been set. With two stunning wins against league leaders Findorff, and two exciting wins right at the death (against HICC last week and HSV this week), THCC is showing just how mentally strong the team is.

And we played some pretty good cricket too.

Jatin on Strike.

HSV won the toss and elected to bat on a grassy wicket under glorious sunshine. Like last week, opening bowlers Israfeel and Bipin started strongly, reducing HSV to 3/15, with the help of great catches by Raman (helmeted at short leg) and Dom (helmeted at short cover). Dushant, HSV’s talented young opener, was striking the ball well, but was dropped several times. It took a bowling change and a superb catch by Aman to remove him.

But HSV’s captain Barkat, coming in with the score at 5/36, launched an impressive counterattack, smashing 86 off 46 balls. Despite plundering the bowling, he was fast running out of partners. With HSV reduced to 9/106, it looked like THCC would chase a low target. However, number 11 Iqbal hung around long enough for Barkat to continue his fireworks, and they put on 62 for the last wicket, pushing the score up to a very defendable 168, until Barkat was bowled by Jatin’s first ball.

The chase started poorly. Dom was bowled by a ball that cut back mile off the pitch, Cam was given out caught behind when he hit his pad with his bat, and Sandeep was also out caught behind, as Barkat continued his fine match by opening the bowling and taking two wickets.

At 3/41, Raman and Aman steadied the ship, with an important partnership of 58 until Aman was stumped off leg-spinner Imran. Steve let one too many balls go, with the last taking out off stump, Raman was out for a solid 46, and Safi was out LBW. At 7/119, things started to get tense, with the HSV hoodoo lurking in the shadows.

Israfeel started tentatively, swinging and missing. Jatin was hitting the ball well, but in the air, and he was eventually caught, with the score at 8/131. Bipin hit some huge shots, putting on 27 with Israfeel, who was also starting to find the middle. It was 9/158 when Bipin was out caught behind.

Now things were seriously tense. Kamal defended a few balls and left it to Israfeel to hit the winning runs, getting THCC home by a solitary wicket and breaking the HSV hoodoo.

Many thanks again to Barkat and the HSV players for another challenging and exciting game of cricket. Big thanks to Tina and Dave for scoring once again. And also thanks to all the supporters who came to the game and helped cheer THCC to a well-deserved victory.