Club News

Abreez Gul, Varun Seth, Ghufran Ali fashioned an extraordinary batting and Naveed Sehrai, Haroon Muhammad Superb bowling spell and Imran Raja all-round performance dominated the game against Cosmos Cricket Club as Halton Stars wins by 241 runs in a one sided game.

Oakville/Burlington, Ontario July 12, 2009

The day begin with Halton Stars winning the toss and elected to bat first, while star batsman Bilal Khan was missing from the line-up, Captain Ali Shah decided to step down in batting order and Imran Kazmi opened the inning with Imran Raja and provided an excellent start by adding quick 33 for the first wicket, when Imran Kazmi was caught in slip. Ghufran Ali stepped in at crucial # 3 positions and batted an excellent inning however Imran Raja who was looking untroubled at most times, unable to decide to play a full shot or a cut to a slow deliver and edged the ball right into wicketkeeper’s hand, Imran made fine 42 runs.

Varun Seth joined Ghufran Ali and continue to move the score on a fast pace, when team score crossed one hundred mark, Ghufran Ali was LBW, Ghufran made fine 30 and Halton Stars 126 for 3 wickets down. In form Ali Shah was unlucky as he was a bit late in playing an excellent delivery by Andeep Walia and was back to the pavilion without adding any run. Naveed Sehrai came in to bat at # 6 spot and quickly added 31 runs before being bowled by Raghbir Walia and

Halton Stars was 157 for 6 wickets down when Abreez Gul joined Varun Seth.

Abreez was shaky a bit to start but he was quick enough to realize this situation and played some dot balls. From here on youngsters showed excellent temperament to stay on the wicket and both played impressive shots in motoring the team score to pass 200 runs in 40 overs. When scored reached 288 runs and Halton Stars was in full control of the game Varun was run out, he made an excellent 51 runs with on e six. Abreez soon followed Varun to the pavilion when he was caught at long on; he made excellent 86 runs which included seven boundaries and two sixes and HSCC score 288 runs for 6 wickets down. Bottom batting order got caught in the excitement of fine batting performance of youngster, however took the score pass three hundred as HSCC was all out for 306.

Varun and Abreez 131 runs 6^th wicket partnership was the high light of the day before Halton Stars took the field to bowl.

The Cosmos batting inning segment belongs to in-form Naveed Sehrai. Who was absolutely at his best, showed his all out effort and bowled at a brisk pace and swing while maintained excellent control, length and line. From his first over, when he slipped in a quick delivery to Sewa who was unable play and gave Naveed an easy catch to hold on for his first wicket and set the tone that Halton Stars in business to finish the game quickly and that's exactly how it turned out; Cosmos Cricket Club was all out for mere 66 runs.

Cosmos lost five quick wickets to Naveed and Imran Raja who was the HSCC pace attack tandem and brilliantly supported Naveed from the other end, keeping the batsman in check and bowling line and length with short start.

Naveed Sehrai and Imran Raja, received plenty of support from Leg spinner, Haroon Muhammad who maintained excellent control of the tone set by Naveed and Imran, seldom giving the batsmen easy scoring opportunities. Naveed Sehrai bowled his season best in taking 4 wickets for 28 runs while Haroon Muhammad and Imran Raja supported brilliantly with 3 wickets and 2 wickets respectively. Naveed Sehrai, Haroon Muhammad, Abreez and Varun Seth were the players of the week.

Szafar