Under glorious blue skies, what could be better than the sound of leather on willow at the picturesque grounds close to Bellapais!
The TRNC Spring 2017, Creditwest Cricket League has started officially. Two new teams, Ozanköy Cricket club and Lefkosa Legends, including the biggest rivals (5 times TRNC Creditwest Cricket Champions) the Gentleman of Girne, and Creditwest 2016 Spring League Champions, Eastern Mediterranean University, plus the passionate Near East University and some very talented Cricket engineers from the Middle East Technical University. Every team will play other teams and in total each team will play five matches.
There will be a Final between the top two teams. The winner of the Spring 2017 Creditwest League and the winner of the Autumn 2017 Creditwest Cricket League will play for the Creditwest TRNC Cricket champion trophy, and the winner will then qualify for Creditwest 2017 Cyprus Champions trophy.
The first match of Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League was played between Near East University vs Ozanköy Cricket Club and Ozanköy captain; Imran Bajwa won the toss and elected to bat. The new Ozanköy team, made a very grumpy start with 4 wickets for 65 in six overs. But it didn’t take long before Ozanköy was in big trouble, when NEU bowler Adeel struck 3 wickets for 18 runs, the only partnership from Ozanköy was Imran and Rashid and, with the help of both, Ozanköy was able to set 153 runs target in 20 overs.
In reply to 153 runs, NEU opener batsmen Adeel and Muneeb made a very solid start and played a remarkable innings with 65 runs not out, with the help of 4 fours and 3 sixes, and Adeel made 48 runs, with the help of 2 sixes and 2 fours, which sealed for the NEU a confirmed victory in the Creditwest Cricket league.
The next match was between Eastern Mediterranean University from Magusa and the Middle East Technical University from Guzelyurt, METU captain Muzammil won the toss and elected to field. EMU Captain Sohail Kilji and Majid Khan took a start, with a remarkable innings of 65 of Captain Sohail Khilji and contribution of Saad, EMU succeeded in setting a defendable target of 163 runs in 20 overs.
In reply to 163 runs, METU didn’t look confident at all, when METU lost 3 wickets for 35 runs. After that, the middle order Nabil and Mazz stood solid like a mountain against the EMU bowling attack, and the METU fought back and took the game away from EMU, when there were only 35 runs left in six overs for the METU to win their first match. But once again METU proved their batting as well as their strong bowling side and Khalid took 3 wickets in one over. Nahal was METU’s best bowler, and he took the most important wickets and helped METU to win their first Match against EMU in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
Sunday 9th of April 2017, 2nd week of the CreditWest Spring 2017 Cricket league, 1st match between Ozanköy Cricket Team vs Eastern Mediterranean University, Captain Sohail Khilji won the toss and decided to field first, Ozanköy went in to bat first. Fahad and Bilal, Ozanköy’s openers took a very confident start against EMU and attacked aggressively and they were successful to hit every bowler, at the end of 10 overs Ozanköy were 80 run with a loss of 4 wickets and after that couldn’t save the rest of their wickets, and Ozanköy only succeeded in making 136 runs in twenty overs.
In reply to 136 runs EMU made a very good start when they lost their only wicket in six overs, 36 runs. It was the only partnership from Majid Khan and Captain Sohail Khilji, after that none of EMU batsmen could stay in front of Ozanköy’s brilliant bowling performance and EMU lost their 2nd match in CreditWest Spring 2017 League.
The second match was played between Lefkosa Legends and Middle East Technical University, this time Muzammil won the toss and elected to field first. Legends looked to be in big trouble when they lost their opening batsman Salman for 2 and Saifullah for a duck, 6 overs and 33 runs with a loss of 3 wickets. Muhammad Idres 46 runs, and Abid 48 runs, made a very useful partnership for Legends and they were able to give 161 runs in 20 overs.
In reply to 161 runs, Middle East Technical University didn’t make a very good start by losing their first wicket on 9 runs. The only partnership was between Muzzzamil captain of METU 29 runs and one down Nabil 20 runs. But after that none of the METU guys could have stood against Lefkosa Legends and METU made only 140 runs in 20 overs. Lefkosa Legends captain Muhammad Haseeb was delighted to win their 2nd Match in the Creditwest 2017 spring cricket league.
The TRNC Cricket Association offer an opportunity, to support TRNC Cricket Association, by participating as umpires at adult games and full training will be provided Those local readers who are interested, should contact the Umpire Manager Phil Lucock on: 0533 863 8499
Next Sunday 30th of April, 09:00am, Lefkosa Legends vs Ozanköy Cricket Club and 13:00pm Gentlemen of Girne vs Middle East Technical University
For more information go to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Cricket Club Facebook page click here or Contact Chairman of TRNC Cricket Association Danish Afridi Telephone: 0548 890 4835 or email danisheen2001@yahoo.com
