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Sharma's
combo swing the opener
ALVIN SALLAY (South China Morning Post, 9 September 2002)
The domination of
the Independent clubs ended yesterday when the Kowloon Cricket Club and
Hong Kong Cricket Club combination beat them by two wickets at KCC in
the season-opener.
Chasing a total of
205, the established clubs reached 206 for eight with seven balls to spare.
Hong Kong skipper Rahul Sharma, captaining the combined clubs, led the
way with an all-round performance that included five wickets and a top-score
of 48.
Batting first, the
Independent clubs were dismissed for 205 in the 49th over. Amar Najeeb
led the way with 57 while useful contributions were made by Tabarak Dar
(32), Imran Idrees (30) and Nasir Hameed (20).
Sharma was mainly
instrumental for the restricting the Independents batting lineup taking
five for 34 with his leg spin. "This was only the second time the
new pitch was being used and it seems to be a spinner's wicket,"
said Sharma.
He then continued
by scoring an invaluable 48 as the combined clubs carefully negotiated
their way past the spin attack of left-arm spinners Najeeb and Munir Ahmed
who grabbed two wickets apiece. Sharma received valuable support from
HKCC Scorpions opener David Mallinson, who stroked 37, and KCC Templars
teammate T. R. Kalyanraman, who hit 25.
But it was left to
all-rounder Sher Lama to hit the winning runs, stroking Independents skipper
and fast bowler Afzaal Haider for two fours in the 49th over - to third
man and square leg - to bring up victory for the KCC-HKCC combine with
just seven balls to spare.
"It was a very
close match, a very competitive one. This is the first time we have beaten
them in three attempts," Sharma said yesterday.
The 2002-03 Sunday
League will shrink to eight teams with the pull-out of KCC Colts from
the premier competition. Friends XI will be also replaced by Sunday Merchants.
Meanwhile the Saturday League will expand to 17 teams with the latest
addition being SubCont CC.
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