Game Reports--July 13, 2008

Mr. Consistent Khalid Gilani single handed destroyed the Springdale bowlers as HSCC-B race to another 2 wickets victory.

Burlington/Oakville, Ontario July 13, 2008

Rain interruption at the start of the HSCC inning, did not stop Khalid Gilani to play another outstanding inning to take HSCC-B to a victory. Gilani fine 92 not out earned him the player of the week.

Springdale Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat first on the sunny day. SDCC started off well but HSCC-B bowlers kept the pressure on and finally wickets started to fall on regular intervals. HSCC-B bowled them out for 164 in 40 overs. Bilal Khan and Danish Bashir were the most successful bowlers taking 3 for 33 in 10 overs and 21 for 3 in 4 overs respectively and fine spells of Ali Abbas 2 for 15 and Kaleem Arif 2 for 14 provided the much needed bowling support to bowl out Springdale CC for 164 runs.

Imran Kazmi and Danish Bashir opened the inning for the HSCC-B and try to put on some quick runs on the board before rain threaten to stop the game, Danish hit a huge six on the 1^st ball of the game and then a boundary but got out on in the 1^st over. This early dismissal put a pressure on Khalid Gilani who step on the crease at # 3.

Rain stop the game for 15 minutes and it seems that chasing 164 runs wasn't going to be easy on the slightly wet pitch and surely HSCC-B were hobbling to reach 165 but it did not stop inspired Khalid to take over the charge. A good stand between Khalid and Bilal Khan provided the much needed momentum as Khalid hitting the ball all over the field before Bilal was out for 13 runs.

Farrukh Siddique joined Khalid and took over where Bilal left off, Khalid and Farrukh slowly getting HSCC-B closer to the target score but Farrukh was bowled for 18 runs. Another mini-collapse put HSCC on a spot as wickets started to fall quickly and it seems difficult for HSCC-B to reach the 165 target.  But the Khalid Gilani (Mr. consistent) ensured he does not lose his focus and played a captain inning in completing the determined task as HSCC-B won the game by 2 wickets.

Khalid Gilani's exceptional effort earned him the player of the week honour.

--Szafar

Bilal Khan and Naveed Sehrai superb Centuries stormed Halton Stars -A to HSCC's record 418 for 7 and Sher Khan hat trick completed the massive 345 runs victory over HOCC.

Burlington/Oakville Ontario; July 6, 2008

Five weeks ago at the same Samuel Smith Park Bilal Khan scored a magnificent 116 before Naveed Sehrai and Ghufran Ali sent Hari OM CC tumbling to 66 all out and humiliating 206-run defeat . At the same Samuel Smith Park, Bilal Khan once again smashed another superb century and Naveed Sehrai made his first century of the season before Sher Khan, the mystery young fast bowler puzzled the Hari OM CC batting line-up to finish with astonishing figures of 6 for 17 with a game ending Hat trick on the last ball of the inning.

Halton Stars chose to bat first on the hot day, Naveed Sehrai and Danish Bashir blazing early onslaught demoralized the Hari OM CC as Naveed and Danish stormed to 162 runs 1^st wicket partnership in only 23 over, Boom Boom Naveed hammering an exciting 101 that included 10 fours and 5 sixes and Danish Bashir threatened to race for his second century of the season, unfortunate Danish was unable to survive a determined leg-before appeal and 1^st wicket fall on 162. Danish smashed a quick 86 runs with the help off 9 fours and 5 sixes.

Imran Kazmi joined Naveed but fall victim of another determined successful LBW appeal. Ghufran joined Naveed, eventually, Naveed miss to read the slow ball off Navin (Selman) and got caught at deep long on for 101, this brought Bilal to the crease and he felt right at home from the 1^st ball and took the charge where Naveed left off but before Bilal settled down, Ghufran tried to flick the ball to the square leg and was bowled out for 21 runs.

Khalid Gilani join Bilal and both of them started to flicked, glanced, pulled, drove straight and smashing the ball through covers, late-cut, and kept everyone attentive to watch their inning as Bilal Khan and Khalid Gilani explosive outburst got to a HSCC’s record 418 for 7 in 50 overs. Bilal scored his second century of the season (113 runs) with 9 fours and 5 sixes and Khalid Gilani 48 runs not out (5 fours).

It was pretty special to watch as the match turned out to be a four -men batting show, with Naveed Sehrai, Danish Bashir, Bilal Khan and Khalid Gilani bludgeoning Hari OM CC once again into submission as they felt helpless while their fluent shot-making and power-hitting raced the HSCC to the big score.

Hari OM CC open the inning, Kashif Nisar and Ali Abbas open the attack and as usual put the pressure on the HOCC opening pair with pace and good length bowling but after first 10 overs HOCC was on the receiving end of a fine bowling performance of Sher Khan as he was pretty much unplayable by HOCC batsman and destroyed the HOCC batting line-up in taking 6/17. He bowled 6.4 over in taking six wickets but most remarkably, inning ending last three wickets for his first hat trick of the season to finish off the Hari OM CC and leading his team to a huge 345 run victory.

The Spin magician Ghufran Ali showed his usual magic to support Sher Khan with 3 wickets. Bilal, Naveed and Sher Khan share the Player of the week award. Honorable mention Danish Bashir and Khalid Gilani and Ghufran to recognize their fine contribution.

-szafar..