It was a fun-filled weekend of cricket with Southerners’ B Division team registering their first win of the season in an all-round team effort.
Having won the toss, Nadeem chose to bat first. After an early collapse, it looked like we would be struggling to even put on a decent score. However, it was not to be, thanks to a couple of partnerships that set-up a fighting score in the end. The innings was rebuilt through two phases.
Duncan settled the ship with his calm and composed 36 which included a beautiful hook for six and a few very well executed boundaries towards the end of the innings. He was well supported by Leigh in a 61-run partnership providing a nice platform. Leigh made patient 15.
The second phase comprised a rather aggressive approach from Chicken Andy who was again well complimented by Gordon coupled with wonderful running between the wickets. Andy blasted off to 31 runs off just 22 deliveries reaching his best score with the bat for the Southerners. Gordon made an attacking 17.
In the second innings, young Chandar and Abhijit gave us a good start, bowling tight spells with Chandar rattling the top order by picking up 2 wickets in his spell. It was followed by good bowling spells from Duncan, Gordon, and Leigh. Nadeem rotated the bowling well. For a brief moment it looked like Indorama were shifting the balance, but we were all over them and never let them off the hook, with Duncan again coming good with the ball and winning the well deserved “Man of the match” award for his all-round effort. Duncan and Leigh picked up a piece each with Khan finishing with 3 wickets down the line.
Graham was brilliant behind the wickets saving several runs down the leg side and getting a couple of beautifully executed stumpings.
Southerners: 140/8 (Duncan 36, Chicken Andy 31, Gordon 17, Leigh 15)
Indorama: 126/8 (Khan 3wkts, Chandar 2wkts, Duncan 1wkt, Leigh 1wkt)
Result: Southerners won by 14 runs
Man of the Match: Duncan Kiwi