The game between last season’s toppers, Yadavas Senayan CC & WISCI Wanderers had all the makings of a marquee clash and the presence of strong players from Singapore & Bali in both the teams, took up the expectations even further. The match also provided a great opportunity for the best of young Indonesian cricketing talent to learn from the best of Singapore & Jakarta in the cauldron of a high-stakes, exciting real-match situation.
Inspite of being sent in to bat on wet ground, Senayan CC clearly were in the mood for some attacking cricket. Even after the 19-year-old Bali quick, Darma Arta (3/59), got rid of Muhaddis in his first over, Kadek Gamantika (55) put on fast-paced partnerships, first with Viraj Bhammar (25) & then, a huge one with the Singapore captain, Chetan Suryawanshi (81) to take YSCC to hundred within 11 overs. However, Gaurav Tiwari got rid of the dangerous Gamantika & two quick run-outs followed, to slow YSCC down.
The free flowing boundaries stopped & Chetan Suryawanshi then had to shepherd the innings through smart cricket & partnerships with the young Indonesian national players Anjar Tadarus & Ahmad Ramdoni (28). Both of the youngsters would have benefited a lot from the time out in the middle & learning from the hugely experienced Chetan. YSCC were eventually bowled out for 256 with 11 balls to go, a daunting score on a wet, overcast day.
YSCC started the bowling with Raj Kapadia (2/35) and Chetan Suryawanshi (1/21), bowling tight lines & making it difficult for the WISCI openers to score freely. WISCI could only manage 42 at 12 overs break with both their openers back to the comfort of the new pavilion at Cibubur. With the asking rate steadily climbing, WISCI needed to up their run rate. Suhail Modak was stuck halfway down the pitch trying to take a quick single. In walked Gaurav Tiwari fresh from a blazing century in his previous game the previous week, but he fell to the guiles of the wily Ashit Mehta driving a slow one into the hands of the cover fielder.
The score 76 for 4 in 17 overs was beginning to worry the WISCI batting line up, but, the Singaporean national player, Surendar Chandramohan (73) went after the spinners, clobbering 52 runs off the 4 overs bowled by the spinners. Prem Subramanian (2/22) then broke the partnership, first by getting Rajeev Rajeswaran caught at short-fine-leg and then a direct throw catching Surendar short of the crease and in many ways, breaking the back of the WISCI chase. Dave Holmes fighting knock of 44 went in vain as wickets kept falling at regular intervals on the other side. WISCI were bowled out for 202 handing YSCC a 54 run win.
Thanks to Fahim & Prasanna from Ceylon CC for umpiring the game
