By Chris Elliott…….
Many people love to watch and follow cricket matches so we are publishing a brief roundup of what’s been happening on the North Cyprus Cricket scene recently in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League as under:
First match on 23rd April 2017 – Gentlemen of Girne vs Near East University
The Gentlemen of Girne played the Near East University at Bellapais and the NEU Captain Masroor, winning the toss elected to bat first. The Gentlemen Captain, Danish Afridi, still looked confident having lost the toss, as Arif Khan struck first two wickets, in his first over, for the Gentlemen. The only solid partnership from the NEU was from one down, Talha, 19 runs and Adeel with 37 runs, After that none of the NEU batsmen could stand up to the ruthless bowling attack from the Gentlemen bowlers and the NEU team only succeeded in setting a target of 104 runs to beat in twenty overs in the first half, of the fourth week of the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
In reply to 104 runs, the Gentlemen were very confident, as usual, and openers Awais Ahmed and JanWali Khan came in to face the NEU bowlers. In the first over, after four runs, Janwali Khan was clean bowled by the NEU attack bowler Arshad. The Gentlemen didn’t lose their morale or courage and at one down, Muhammad Bilal scored 23 runs and Awais Ahmed scored 48 runs in a thrilling partnership, clearing the way for the Gentlemen’s victory when Shahzad Malik and Ather Mir come in to bat which brought an end to the match with a successful showing by the Gentlemen of Girne in just 13 overs in the Creditwest Spring 2017 League match.
Second Match on 23rd April – Ozankoy Cricket Club vs Middle East Technical University
In the second Match between the Ozankoy Cricket Club vs the Middle East Technical University, the Ozankoy Captain Imran Bajwa won the toss and elected to bat first. METU Captain Muzzamil started his bowling attack and struck the Ozankoy first two wickets for just 31 runs, in two overs. The Ozankoy team continued losing its wickets, but the match completely changed, when Ozankoy were only 94 runs, in 15 overs, with a loss of 7 wickets, Captain Imran Bajwa, started his one man show with 44 runs with the help of 5 sixes and 3 fours, and succeeded in making a defendable total of 163 runs, in 20 overs.
In reply to the 163 target, the METU openers Captain Muzzamil and Nabil made a sturdy start, but still they couldn’t stop losing wickets and the first wicket went down on 28 runs. After that METU continued to lose wickets until they were out for 9 in just 15 overs, with the score of 80 runs, which saved the day for Ozankoy’s 2nd victory in Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
30th April first match – Ozankoy Cricket Club vs Lefkosa Legends,
In the 5th week of the Creditwest, Spring 2017 Cricket League; the Ozankoy Cricket Club played their 4th Match against the Lefkosa Legends and it was the Legends third match and Imran Bajwa winning the toss elected to bat first. Ozankoy were in full attack mood but not succeeding in winning the match when Ozankoy lost 5 wickets in 7 overs for only 58 runs and Ozankoy were then in big trouble. After the 7th wicket went down, Ozankoy’s Muhammad Imran made 52 runs and Butt made 44 runs and this brilliant partnership took the game away from The Legends and put a big total of 175 runs, in twenty overs to beat.
In reply to 175 runs, the Legends made a slow but good start with two wickets down for 72 runs in 9 overs, but Legends could not control the loss of wickets, and they were all out in 17 overs with the total of 129 runs. The only really successful batsman was Salman with 43 runs which included 4 sixes and 3 fours.
30th April second match – The Gentlemen of Girne vs Middle East Technical University
The next match was between The Gentlemen of Girne vs the Middle East Technical University, once again unluckily The Gentlemen of Girne captain Danish Afridi lost the toss against the METU Captain Muzzamil and the METU started their innings under pressure by losing the first wicket in the second over, and continuously losing wickets until the 5th over when the partnership of all-rounder Nehal with 58 runs not out and Khalid with 20 runs. Saad came to the rescue with 23 runs and METU had set a defendable total of 155 runs, in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
In reply to 155 Runs The Gentlemen didn’t make a very good start with 3 wickets down in 29 runs in six overs. After that the Gentlemen’s Captain, Danish Afridi made a firm and responsible stand like a wall against the METU bowling attack and fought until the end scoring 31 runs with the help of 2 sixes and 1 four and with fine contributions from Abdul Waris with 16 runs, Shahzad Malik with 17 runs, Sajjad Kamal with 13 runs. At the end of a thrilling match with only 5 runs to Win or 4 to draw, the last man Sajjad Kamal tried to hit the ball but gave an easy catch to the fielder at which point, it was a first victory for METU against The Gentlemen of Girne who lost their 2nd Match, in Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
Next matches in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League at Bellapais
This Sunday the 7th of May at 09:00am the Near East University play Middle East Technical University and at 13:00pm The Gentlemen of Girne play Eastern Mediterranean 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
A great picture of Lefkosa Legends player Salman who made 43 runs.
