CU’s CHALLENGE GOES IN VAIN

By Khuram Shehzad

Saturday the May 7th CU took on one of the experienced team, Challengers. It turned out to be good day for cricket though it started off as a bit chilly. As usual the early arrival of CU players helped them get ready for the game. With slightly wet outfield and damp matting, toss spun in favor of Challengers. Windy and cloudy conditions suited the bowling and CU lost both of their openers, Jaskaran Malhotra (USA’s ‘Cannon Opener’) & Abhijit Joshi (Ex USA U19) early to Ravi. Yaseen and CU debutant Khadar (25 first class, India) put up a good fight and played through the tea break – at halftime score was a modest 71 for 3. Another CU debutant, 18 yr old Rutvij (Ex U17 USA) got out quickly while getting used to the matting conditions. After the inning break CU started to loose wickets on regular basis with skipper Sami running out of partners, CU got bowled out for 157. Challengers’ bowlers stuck to their basics very well – good line and length.
Askari and Khadar opened the bowling and challenged the challengers’ openers but they built it up slowly and steadily. Nandan, Rohit and captain Chirag, did the needful with the bat. By tea break their score was 72/2. With some aggressive captaincy and some smart bowling CU came back strong taking 6 more wickets. . A spectacular low diving catch by skipper, Sami presented Khuram a hatrick opportunity with the ball. Two wickets in 37th over followed by two wickets in 38th over leaving Challengers 7 to win in 2 overs. Challengers scored those 7 runs in 39th over and won the game by 2 wickets. What seemed to be a straightforward chase turned into an excellent game of cricket. CU dropped several match winning catches, including two in the very 1st over of Askari. If all the catches were converted, perhaps Challengers would have been in bigger trouble.

CU’s ‘Man of the Match’ goes to Askari for his brilliant bowling spell of 8-1-20-1