Tawheed won by 6 wickets
Tawheed lost the toss and were put into field
Nightwatchman: 116 for 7 in 14.2 overs
Altaf 23
Ajmal 16
Sayid 18
Vahid 23
Mohammed Fazal 4 0 30 3 Saj Rehman 4 0 28 2 Mo Teemur 3.2 0 22 1 Khurrum 3 0
24 1
Tawheed: 120 for 1 in 13.00 overs
Yasser Ali 55 Not out
Mohammed Ali 31 Not Out
Mohammed Fazal 21 Not Out
Vahid 2 0 13 1 Ilyas 3 0 17 0
The Second East London Derby in as many weeks, was not as explosive as
the first one, with both teams approaching this knock-out tie with caution.
Altaf and Ajmal started brightly with a few boundaries and quick singles,
testing the Tawheed Pace attack. They were both rested after 2 overs a
piece, as Spinners Fazal and Saj entered the attack.
Once the Slow men came on, the Nightwatchmen were left watching the ball
'fizz' passed their bats ('A Red Saunders quote' - Red used to say 'Fizz it
up in the air').
Saj Rehman and Mohammed Fazal Took the middle overs by storm as the
Nightwatchmen run-rate plummeted to under 5 an over (which is snail pace for
VPCCL standards!!).
As panic set in Nightwatchmen lost 3 wickets for 13 runs inside the
first 3 overs of spin, leaving them playing a rearguard action for the rest
of their innings.
Only Vahid had answers to the questions asked of the Nightwatchmen
batsmen - by Tawheed's sinners as he hit them for consecutive boundaries,to
put in a cameo 23 giving the nightwatchmen score card some credibility.
Once the Tawheed opening bowlers were re-introduced into the attack, the
tail folded by the 15th over as Nightwatchmen were bundled all out for a
below par 116.
Tawheed almost cantered to victory as Yasser proved to be the signing of the
pre-season with damage this week with the bat (instead of with the ball or
behind the stumps) hitting an unbeaten 55.
He was assisted this time by Mohammed Ali, also proving his
'allrounder' credentials by being promoted to No 3, and chipping in with a
quickfire 31 not out.
The 'brave and enigmatic' cricket Legend that is Fazal Mohammed, entered the
innings with just under 30 runs to win. Only 11 days after his operation on
his jaw, a 'Helmet-clad' Fazal proved why he is one of the most respected
and feared players in the VPCCL.
He not only took 3 wickets but also finished the job off with a cameo
21 to help ease Tawheed into the 2nd round of the cup.
Submitted by Saj Rehman of Tawheed
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