Edinburgh South Cricket Club

Match Week Nine report

Originals and Rockets were hoping to take advantage of Spirit’s slip in week eight. Superchargers aimed to move off the bottom, Spirit were chasing one more win to guarantee the title, and Fire looked to continue their winning form.

Game one: Rockets v Superchargers

Superchargers won the toss and elected to bat. Dan and Martin opened and had a tricky start, with two wickets lost in the first over bowled by Mo. They recovered in the next overs, including a six by Martin, and added 18 for the loss of one more wicket to finish their four overs at 12/3. Amiya and Sabir were next. They scored quickly and added 34, including a six for Sabir and three fours for Amiya, but lost two wickets; after eight overs it was 46/5. Nab and Prab were last and began slowly, adding four and losing a wicket in over nine, before accelerating in over ten. With two overs left it was 64/6, but tight bowling from Dharmesh and Kav brought two wickets and the innings closed on 63/8.

Dharmesh and Peter opened for Rockets and had a poor start, losing a wicket to the first ball, but recovered to add 22, including a six for Peter and two fours for Dharmesh; with another two wickets lost, the pair finished on 19/3, slightly behind the rate. Kav and Mo were in next and, despite their best efforts, struggled to score freely, adding ten for the loss of two wickets; 29/5 after eight. Gus and Kasun needed 35 to win but began with two wickets in the first two balls and never recovered, as wickets fell regularly; they finished on 30/12.

Points: Superchargers 24, Rockets 7

Game two: Originals v Superchargers

Originals won the toss and elected to bowl. Jack and Martin were first up. They batted steadily, adding 20 in four overs for one wicket to finish on 20/1. Kav and Prab followed; more sensible batting against good bowling brought 17 for one wicket, so 37/2 after eight. Amiya and Ansh were last, but good bowling from Nab and Ankur limited them to seven in overs nine and ten before a small recovery; the innings closed on 53/4, a low score but just about defendable.

Originals started with Dan and Gordon and had a tricky opening, losing a wicket in the first over; tight bowling in the next overs left them 17/1. Nab and Stephen were next. Four fours and a six in two overs took the score to 45/1 after six, and a comfortable win looked likely. However, two tight overs from Prab and Ansh produced a maiden and a wicket-maiden, and the score was 40/2 after eight. Ankur and Jas were last, needing only 14 to win. Brilliant bowling by Ansh, Jack and Kav brought four wickets, and Superchargers had an unlikely win as Originals finished on 36/6.

Points: Superchargers 20, Originals 4

Game three: Fire v Spirit

Fire won the toss and elected to bowl. Matty and Mo opened, and Graham’s loopy bowling bamboozled them as two wickets fell in the first over. The second over was better, with a six and a four for Matty, before two good overs for Fire left the score 5/4 after four. Nab and Charlie added 20 in two overs, but excellent spells from Jas and Ankur took five wickets; after eight overs it was 11/9. Ansh and Eddy were last and had to rescue the innings. They batted and ran well, adding 28; the total ended 39/10, low but defendable.

Fire began with Graham and Gordon. Conservative batting and running yielded 13/1, right on the rate. Ankur and Shaman chipped away, and a strong eighth over worth 13 took them to 36/2. Amiya and Jas needed just four to win. Tight bowling by Ansh and Nab made it 36/4 after ten, so four still needed. Over 11 brought seven, putting Fire ahead and Spirit needing a wicket. The final over saw two wickets in the first two balls; with seven now needed, a dot and then a two left Fire requiring a four to tie and a six to win. Amiya hit the last ball for four. Scores tied, the first tie of this league, after a pendulum swing over the last four overs and the most exciting game of the season.

Points: Fire 12, Spirit 11

League table

Batters of the week

• Amiya Mishra 25
• Ansh Bisht 25
• Nab Pani 21

Bowlers of the week

• Graham Smith 3-7
• Ansh Bisht 3-17
• Jas Singh 3-31

After that nail-biting tie between Fire and Spirit, Spirit still look certain to win the league; it would take a very unlikely set of results in game week ten for them not to. The race for second is alive and any of the other four teams can claim it. With two wins, Superchargers have leapt to second and a win against Rockets would all but secure the runners-up spot.

Rockets play Originals and Superchargers and know that two wins would give them second. Spirit play Fire needing just one point to guarantee the title. A win for Originals or Superchargers could also deliver second, depending on other results.

It has been another exciting league, with the outcome going to the final week. On to the next round of games and good luck to all teams.