Lindeberg vs Asker
Asker's 7th game of the season was against their favourite practise match team, Lindeberg.
Asker lost the toss but were happy to bat first anyway. Israr and Tara took first strike for Asker. Israr began aggresively playing some lovely flicks early on but was unlucky to be adjudged LBW to a ball which seemed to take the inside edge. Qasim walked in and continued the good work. Tara was kept quiet at the other end by some good bowling from Lindberg. He was out trying to lift the run-rate, after a good partnership with Qasim. The scorecard read 49 after 10 overs. Ravi walked in next and took advantage of a dropped catch to hit a few shots. Qasim and Ravi kept the score ticking and reached 93 in 15 overs. Rehan then bought himself on and bowled a fantastic over where he first got Qasim out for a well made 50. Khayyam walked in next but fell soon after without troubling the scorers. Ravi was out next ball completing a distastrous over for Asker. Rehan soon had another wicket in his next over, getting Saliman out. Asker were now in a spot of bother with 5 wickets down at 102. It was time for a partnership, Mehdi and Hashir set about doing just that. Playing smart cricket, they got plenty of singles and doubles. When Mehdi was out in the 23rd over, the scorecard read 151. Ali was in next, but fell to a soft dismissal. Hamza came in and provided some late order hitting before getting bowled. Hashir kept going at the other end and with his clean hitting making his personal best in the season, and made sure that Asker reached a respectable score of 174.
Lindeberg had to chase 175 off 28 overs and were looking for a solid start. Qasim however had other plans, getting his first wicket in his first over. Tara kept things tight at the other end and soon bowled Abasin in the 4th over. Hamza came on in the 7th over and bowled 5 dot balls, before taking a wicket off his 6th delivery. Lindeberg were under tremendous pressure at this stage, the scorecard reading 26/3. Lindeberg sent their trump card, Abdullah, in next and Khayyam made a smart bowling change to get the Saliman into the attack, whom Lindeberg had never played before. That decision paid off immediately, Abdullah beaten completely by Saliman's bounce and pace, Lindeberg now struggling at 29/4. Lindeberg then began to consolidate, and Asker were happy to let the run-rate increase. Mehdi and Israr kept things tight giving nothing away and bowling wicket-wicket lines. Ali and Hameed did a good job inside the inner circle to stop singles. Lindeberg reached 76 after 18 overs, still needing a little less than 100 in the last 10 overs. They decided to finally attack and it paid off for sometime. A couple of misfields and some big shots meant Lindeberg kept up with the required run-rate of 10 rpo for sometime. Mehdi got hit trying to take a catch, but fortunately, Tara's services were not required this time.
Saliman, Qasim, Tara and Hamza returned for the final overs and the Lindeberg batsmen could not get the required acceleration at the end. Wickets fell in every over starting from the 23rd over. Lindeberg were all-out for 145 handing Asker a comprehensive victory.
Club records: Tara taking 20 balls to get his first run.
The scorecard can be found here.
