Olten Outplay Lions in Clinical Fashion, as Zurich Lions Stumble in Hedingen

Snehil Joshi
Jul 7
2 min read

📍 Venue: Hedingen, Zug

📅 Date: July 6, 2025

Result: Olten CC beat Zurich Lions CC by 93 runs🪙 Toss: Zurich Lions CC won the toss, opted to field

In a game that promised intensity, Zurich Lions CC were handed a reality check by Olten CC, going down by 93 runs in the CSPL 2025 league clash. While the scoreline might suggest a one-sided contest, the defeat was more an accumulation of quiet mistakes across all three departments than a single moment of collapse.

🏏 First Innings – Fletcher Fires, But Olten Build Through the Middle

Opting to bowl first, the Lions started like a dream. Kenardo Fletcher was breathing fire from the top end, knocking over batters with skill and venom. His jaw-dropping figures of9-2-20-6 was nothing short of world-class swinging it, seaming it, scaring them. At 49/6, Olten looked buried.

But cricket is a strange game.

Naim Stanikzai (82 off 82) stood tall, dug in, and dragged Olten back into the contest. He found a gritty partner in Appu (24 off 75), and together, they batted time, absorbed pressure, and punished loose balls. The Lions, unusually off-color in the field, dropped crucial catches and misfields that allowed the total to swell. Add in 55 extras, and the result was a frustrating 201 all out a score that looked 40 too many by the end.

🏏 Second Innings – A Batting Collapse Without a Fight

Chasing 202, the Lions never got going. The top order got starts but never kicked on. Ashwin (22) and Ankush (22) looked settled, but wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. There was no consolidation, no intent to bat time, and the pressure mounted fast.

From 59/4 to 84/7, the writing was on the wall. The middle and lower order caved in, with Fletcher (the hero with the ball) and others falling to soft dismissals. The innings ended at a disappointing 108 in 26.2 overs.

🗣️ Captain's Message – Kanishk Shah speaks

“It was a one-off game. We didn’t show enough fight and were outplayed by a better team on the day. Enough said about "Catches win matches". But there’s no reason to be too critical. Middle order has to take up the responsibility. Bowlers are winning us games. And, Fletcher was our only shining light and a true saving grace. Lions have always bounced back from tough days over the past few seasons, and we’ll do exactly that in the games to come.”