DCB Quarterfinals 2016 - Match Report
Dusseldorf Blackcaps, WDCV Champions vs. SG Findorff, NDCV Champions, Nordpark Dusseldorf.
Perfect weather greeted both the teams for the Quarter finals of the DCB national championship (50 overs). SG Findorff won the toss and their captain Rashad elected to bat. Blackcaps were right on the money straight away bowling tight lines and consistently troubling the batsmen. Blackcaps struck early and kept a tight lid on the scoring rate, reducing Findorff to 47/4 in 15 overs. The batting team consolidated after the drinks break through Shafqat Ashraf and Satar with a 50 run partnership. Blackcaps struck at regular intervals, but SG Findorff found useful contributions from their middle and lower order including a significant last wicket stand between Lukman and Haider worth 34, giving them respectable total of 190 runs. Shafqat was the top scorer anchoring the innings with 48(67), followed by cameos from Ammar with 23(13) and Ifthikar with 20(8). For Blackcaps Venkatraman Ganesan, Shaun James Edwards and Kashif Shahab took 2 wickets apiece also with Majeed Ahmadzai, Tarun Rawat and Neeraj Sharma chipping in with a wicket each.
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Blackcaps run chase didn’t begin too well, when they lost their first wicket at the end of the first over. The SG Findorff’s new ball pair made further inroads as they dented the Blackcaps top order reducing them to 24/4 from 10 overs. With their backs against the wall, Blackcaps fought back gamely through a 90 run partnership between the skipper Venkatraman Ganesan and Suthan Sutharshan. Blackcaps were coasting along when Iftikhar struck twice in the space of 3 balls to reduce Blackcaps from 114/4 to 114/6. Blackcaps were further dealt a crucial blow when they lost Venkat, with the scorecard reading 123/7. Under pressure, Blackcaps responded again through Majeed Ahmadzai and Neeraj Sharma first putting on 17 runs before Neeraj was run out! Kashif Shahab joined Majeed and the two put on 34 runs in 5 overs, shifting the balance towards Blackcaps. With only 15 needed to win, SG Findorff held their nerve and took the wickets of Kashif and Majeed in succession to bowl Blackcaps out for 175 winning the game by 14 runs. It was a great game of cricket that ebbed and flowed in both directions, with Findorff coming out on top! Venkatraman Ganesan top scored for Blackcaps with 77(52), followed by Majeed Ahmadzai with 21(18) and Suthan Sutharshan 16(41). For SG Findorff, Iftikhar was the star taking 4/26 with support from Hamid who took 2 wickets. We would like to express our thanks to SG Findorff for a great game played in good spirit and wish them the very best for their next round.
We would also like to thank our supporters who wished us well and special thanks to those who came to see the game. Also our sincere thanks and appreciation for the Umpires Upendra and Anwar who did an excellent job throughout the game.