Mad Dogs Cricket Club - WSL Final 2014

WSL Final v Mad Dogs Cricket Club WSL on Sat 20 Sep 2014 at WSL Final
Mad Dogs Cricket Club Won by 5 wickets

Match reportDogs beat the Columbia boys in the final

We arrived bright and early at 10am to find there was no parking, as usual, but ten of us gathered there on time as requested by skipper Arora, only to find that the 11th and final “arriver” to the ground was none other than….the skipper himself, who rolled in comfortably at 10:45am. Mehta won the toss and chose to bat first on a partially cloudy morning, Arora musing that he would’ve chosen to field first in any case. Moore and Coutts opened the bowling, Coutts bowling a tight line outside the off stump. Moore’s first couple of overs were filled with all sorts of gifts, most of which Columbia attempted to take advantage of, but didn’t do so smartly. Ashwin was the first to go, a rank full toss that many agreed should’ve been deposited into the pub we were to have post-match drinks at, but instead was caught at mid-off by Chaudhary, who hung on to the ball, some say, with another set of round objects that belonged to him. Nevertheless, Columbia were off to a bad start, Younis then cutting a Moore short delivery straight to the safe hands of Nichani for his first out of three catches for the day. Coutts then trapped Sharath LBW for 1, and Columbia were in real trouble at 18 for 3 in 7 overs. In walked Kiran, the destroyer of the Dogs many a time in the past, a couple of spots higher than usual. Skipper Mehta and Kiran then steadied the ship, albeit briefly till Moore outfoxed Mehta who played and missed outside off and was cleverly stumped by Salahuddin, for Moore’s first real wicket of the day (and third in total). Kiran then departed to Chavan (replacing Coutts at first change), skying a catch to Nichani at long on. At this stage, Columbia were in dire straits at 36/5 in 12 overs, and in danger of not batting out their quota of 35 overs. Sumo and Ram proceeded to counter-attack, Sumo leading the charge with fierce straight drives, several which beat the long-on fielder who had no chance. The Dogs tried to plug the gaps for Sumo, packing the straight field both in the inner ring and on the boundary, but Sumo kept finding the gaps. Ram played smartly, tapping the ball around, especially in the vacant square-leg region quite often for 1s and 2s. Columbia’s score trudged along to 62/5 at the break (in 18 overs), and then past 90 before the next breakthrough came. Harrison was brought on along with Nichani, and it was 97/6 as Ram departed LBW. Nichani was unlucky, one dropped catch off Sumo by Puri, who then proceeded to leave the field as he split the webbing in his left hand. Harrison then accounted for Sumo (44) shortly after, Nichani himself completing his third catch at mid-wicket – 103/7 in 26 overs, and all to play for. Columbia’s batting is deep, and Manoj and Parag showed just why we couldn’t count them out of the game at any stage. Together, they took the spinners out of the attack, and took advantage of a couple of wayward deliveries from Coutts in his second spell, to take the total past 150. Smith was brought on to close the innings, and to continue the trend of full tosses getting wickets, Manoj smashed a full bunger straight to the hands of Coutts at deep square leg. There was uncertainty as to whether the catch was legal or whether it was a six, and Coutts added to that uncertainty by signaling a six himself but then clarifying that his signal was merely his celebration style. 157/9 then, and with two overs to go, Columbia were looking to get to the 170 mark, but Smith bowled Richard in the first ball of the 34th over to leave Columbia bowled out for 157, and the Dogs needing 158 to win. 

By now, both teams had increasingly large contingents, always a positive sight in a final. Columbia had about 15 “support staff” mixed between WAGS, players not selected for the final, and other interested parties, whereas the Dogs had about 10 of our own. The first question at the break was would Puri be able to bat at his now preferred opening position after his injury. A few throwdowns from Lawrence later, and Puri decided to go out there along with Smith, a new opening partnership created specifically to counter Columbia’s seam bowling threat. And counter it they did. Smart running between the wickets, putting the bad balls away, and providing due respect to Columbia’s opening pair of Sumo and Richard meant that the Dogs started on an unusually solid note. Smith was dismissing of most balls outside the off-stump, his trademark straight drives to anything pitched up or punches to short balls through the covers kept the scoreboard ticking. Puri was similarly trademark in his leg side shots, rotating the strike to the good balls, and picking anything of his legs for either flicks or pulls, one over from Sumo bringing two fours. The only chance before the break was when Puri was put down at a short-ish square leg off Sumo. 45/0 after 10 and the Dogs were sitting pretty. However, Columbia’s first change bowlers Ram and Varun kept the pressure on by giving nothing away, slowing down the scoring rate. Ram was particularly impressive, bowling a wicket to wicket line, with a few close lbw shouts to both batsmen. At the break, the Dogs were 65/0 in 17 overs, requiring 93 more to win with 18 overs to go. The talk at the break was about continuing the good work, and Smith and Puri vowed to keep the fight going. The first couple of overs after the break were once again tidy from Columbia, with Ram continuing his tight bowling. Varun then took himself off to bring their leggie Manoj on. Smith took full advantage of Manoj’s short ball offerings, taking him for two successive fours through mid-wicket. Manoj was then taken off after two short overs and replaced by Silluvai. Ram continued to plug away at the other end and finally received due reward for his tight bowling, Smith falling lbw to Ram for a very well-played 43 to end a great opening stand of 85. The in-form Shah walked in at his preferred number 3 spot, and took some time to get going, Silluvai bowling a very smart maiden to Shah. The required rate was mounting, and with 12 overs to go, the Dogs needed 66 to win. Puri, the in batsman at this stage, decided to chance his arm against Ram, and took him for four over mid-wicket. In Silluvai’s next over, Puri then came down the track to flick Silluvai for six over deep mid-wicket; pressure back on Columbia now. But, as they say, such crucial stages of the game bring out the best in players, and with 55 needed of 10 overs, Columbia brought their talisman Sumo on for his second spell. First ball of his second spell, and Sumo trapped Puri lbw for a patient, but well compiled 49. 55 needed of 59, with 8 wickets in hand, still anybody’s game. Chaudhary and Shah scratched around for a couple of overs with Sumo and Silluvai operating in tandem. With the required rate going past 6 an over, Shah and Chaudhary then had a moment of complete indiscretion, which resulted in Shah maintaining his ground, and Chaudhary slipping halfway down the crease, so much so, that Columbia had enough time to fumble twice and still effectuate the run-out. Skipped Arora walked in next, and didn’t really get going, Richard accounting for him in the fourth ball of the 29th over, 45 still to get, with 7 wickets in hand and 38 balls to go. Mohsin walked in at 6, and immediately drove his first ball for a two past long-off, a sign of things to come. With Columbia using up their main bowlers quite early, the Dogs then needed 39 off 5 overs, and then 31 off 4 overs with all of Columbia’s major bowlers done. Silluvai then bowled another decent over, and with 3 overs to go the Dogs needed 24. Parag, their usual opening bowler, hadn’t bowled today, and was strangely then brought on. Adarsh, pretty set at this stage, then chanced his arm of the second ball of the over, and just had enough on it to go past the fielder at cow corner for a vital blow (six). With 13 needed of 2 overs, Mohsin then hit the second ball of the 34th over for a boundary and the Dogs now needed 8 off 10, and were within sight. Some smart bowling from Varun then meant that the next three balls were dot balls. Mohsin then took 2 off the last ball to make it 6 of the last over required. First ball was a dot ball, outside off. Second ball, Adarsh took a single. 5 off 4 needed. Mohsin then hammers one down to long off where the boundary was prevented well by the boundary rider, 3 off 3 to win. Next ball was another full ball on off stump, and Mohsin drove confidently, but in the air, to long on. Ram, who had been patrolling that boundary for a while, took a very, very important and pressure catch which then changed to equation to 3 off 2 balls. Importantly, the batsmen crossed, which meant that Shah was on strike. Sensing the occasion, Shah had a target scoring zone in his mind. Silluvai delivered a full-ish ball on the stumps, but Shah was too good this time, slog-sweeping him cleanly over deep square leg to hand the Dogs a famous win with 1 ball to spare! The Dogs members were all elated, running on to the field to find a teary-eyed Shah not able to control his emotions. What a season it has been for him, to come back from a tough season last year, to be in shooting distance of the club scoring record. 

Clarence delivered an eloquent speech, the trophy was handed over to Arora and Puri, and the Dogs took several pictures with the trophy (including one which includes certain Dogs members changing). Herno Smith was given the MVP award for his 3 wickets and 43 runs, and deservedly so. Both sides then went on to the pub across the road, where several beers, and then spirits, were to be had with several discussions about the game, not least John Moore lauding Coutts for his nought not out innings, Coutts jibing back about batting averages, Sanjay telling tales of the last WSL victory, all team members drinking out of the trophy, and several other tidbits, in true Dogs fashion. This really has been a transformational, and difficult year for the club in many ways, but many thanks to all those who came out to support us and celebrate the victory together: Keith (who was there from the first ball right through to the end), Sanjay, Frankie, Yasir, Carolyn, Teresa, Tim Fawbert, and many others during the course of the day, both in person and in spirit. Here’s to many more victories! 





WSL Final Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
8nb 3w  
for 10 wickets
11
157 (33.1 overs)		     
Saad Younisct  Nichani b Moore710170.0
Ashwinct  Chaudhry b Moore541125.00
Sharathlbw  Coutts1812.50
Varun Mehtast  Mohsin b Moore92536.00
Kiranct  Nichani b Chavan1220160.0
Ramlbw  Harrison213265.62
Sumoct  Nichani b Harrison4454481.48
Manojct  Coutts b Smith17172100
Paragb  Smith23202115.00
SiluvaiNot Out 66100
Richardb  Smith1250.0

Mad Dogs Cricket Club WSL Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
David Coutts7.0133133.004.71
John Moore7.012438.003.43
Anand Chavan7.0032132.004.57
Herno Smith5.102438.004.65
Ravi Nichani4.002400.006.00
Neil Harrison3.0020210.006.67

Mad Dogs Cricket Club WSL Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 3w 5b 2lb 
for 5 wickets
11
161
(34.5 overs)		    
Herno Smithlbw  Ram4356576.79
Nikhil Purilbw  Sumo49813160.49
Adarsh ShahNot Out 34362294.44
Himanshu ChaudhryRun out 2633.331
Amit Arorab  Richard1911.11
Mohsin Salahuddinct  Ram b Siluvai212111001
David CouttsNot Out 01
Ravi Nichani 3
Anand Chavan 
John Moore 
Neil Harrison 

WSL Final Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sumo7.0027127.003.86
Richard7.0032132.004.57
Ram7.0118118.002.57
Varun5.002200.004.40
Manoj2.001500.007.50
Siluvai5.5029129.004.97
Parag1.001100.0011.00

  • Umpire :
    Clarence Modeste