Lions Innings in progress
Match info:
Date : 01-08-2021, 14:00 CEST
Toss : Zug CC won the toss and elected to bat first
Ground : Buchholz-Uster
Zurich lions is back again on Sunday having played on Saturday already in T-20 with a win over ZCCC I. Game was supposed to be played for 40 overs but conditions were very gloomy and continuous rain threated to wash out the play before the persistent patience from the club initiated the rain-curtailed match for 20 overs each around 1400 hrs. All of a sudden, the dynamics changed as well as the mindset had to be shifted for T-20 format.
Small boundaries, quick outfield and on easy surface it was no brainer Zug CC chose to bat first after winning the toss. Lion’s bowlers were very good upfront in the first 4 overs as there was swing and movement and Zug CC openers just watched the ball to not to lose any wickets. Scoreboard read 4-26/0. Then there were couple of loose overs in the middle, which shifted the momentum in Zug CC favors where they scooted to 8-84/0.
Due to lot of rain and wet outfield, old ball was a bit tricky to control and due to no movement and ball not doing anything, it was coming nicely onto the bat. Zurich lions needed something special to get rid of the openers and a brilliant diving catch in deep mid-wicket by Snehil drew the first blood when the board read 10-108/1.
Zug CC was for sure in course for a big total but then one more diving catch by Snehil ignited to bring back the game in. 11-overs 111/2. However Zug batsmen took control and few catching chances were missed which allowed them to run away in the middle. Some wayward extras also did not help the cause, which would become crucial in the equation of the match. Before the third wicket fell in 18th over it was 188/3 and Zug wanted to end on high. However, some brilliant comeback by Mayur and Kanishk in the penultimate overs got Zurich covered as Zug ended 194/4 in 20 overs. Freddie and Kanishk bowled good spells however; the other bowlers could have tried some variations given the dimensions of the ground. Some sloppy work in the field also did not help the cause. Nevertheless, it was a chase able target in the pursuit.
Time for a break – 10 mins. Second innings to start.
Ankush and Kanishk started the chase again in a great note where Ankush hit couple of great boundaries and some big sixes. He was looking in ominous touch and before Kanishk got out for 12 runs, the duo added 37 runs in 3.3 overs.
Lions were going well and Mayank joined Ankush. Mayank also played some brilliant shots that had 2 sixes and boundaries each. Ankush went on make quick fire 38 in only 17 balls (5 4s, 2 6s) when board read 58/2 after 6 overs. Loki joined Mayank in the middle and both played sensibly. When Mayank fell it was 8.4 overs 85/3. Run chase was looking very much in control and Lions were expected to play sensibly which they did most of the parts. Senthil and Loki built little partnership before Loki got out it was 105/4 in 10 overs.
Zurich lions needed 9 overs 90 runs and Senthil got some cramps before he hit some good shots. That is where the trouble began. Mayur and Senthil who were the duo who could have easily done that and “been-there-done-that before”. It was when, 8 overs 71 runs needed lions had firm belief they have got this covered and then the spinners arrived for Zug. Zug maneuvered their spinners very well where they cramped the duo for rooms and all of the sudden brake applied on the run chase.
Between 13th and 14th over only 5 runs came and rapidly the required run rate rose up to 11 rpo. 6 overs 66 needed, still lions would have backed themselves to do this. Senthil got out at the end of 15th over when board read 140/5. Sheshu fell the very next ball and then it was when lions got into trouble. With 5 overs 56 runs needed and Mayur joined by Sara in the crease lions still had hopes. Mayur hit some much needed boundaries to keep the hope alive before he was out it was 18 overs 167/7. He tried hard and would be gutted to be not able to finish the job. Had he stayed lions would have crossed the line.
In the end, Sara and Sam tried hard but Zug came out of the top by 13 runs. In the hindsight, Zurich lions would still rue the fact the few overs in the middle when Zug was batting went for plenty of runs and while chasing those 2 overs which went only for few runs made difference. Not to be harsh on bowlers but lions bowlers must work on variations in small grounds, if they have to keep alive their hopes to qualify for the next round. Some thinking and tinkering also needs to be done to try changes quickly when needed. Everyone in the team will be really gutted to lose the match coming so close and would like to forget and concentrate on the upcoming weekend where we play back-to-back matches in Pickwick T-20 tournament Sunday August 8, 2021.
Briefs:
Zug CC won the toss and decided to bat first won against Zurich lions by 13 runs
Zug CC :20 overs 194/4 (Amal 77, Ayush 57, Pio 33; Freddie -1/11, Snehil 1/42, Mayur 1/45)
Zürich Lions CC: 20 overs 182/7 (Mayur 40, Ankush 38, Mayank 27, Irshad 2/29, Chamith 2/29,Mike 2/39)
Ciao Snehil TeamZLCC