There was much anticipation in the lead up of this game against Fly Dubai at SES. Have beaten us a few weeks ago, we were hoping to get the better off them in this encounter.
There was a struggle to get eleven players on the field for DCC post Thursday night hangovers etc. However, when all members turned up the fact that the match was reduced from 25 to 20 overs given the heat and mosquitoes factor wasn’t encouraging!
Our Captain Nick, having won the toss decided we would bat first and set a formidable total on the board. Chris and Ian had the honour to open the batting and get us to a flying start. Tight bowling by the opposition didn’t allow us to get way and when the first wicket fell for 18, the second wicket fell at 29.
With both our openers gone it was down our in-form batsmen Jason and Greg to steady the ship. However, Jason’s knee started playing up and when Jason retired hurt along with the runner we knew we were in trouble.
We were rescued by some very clever batting by Greg who finished on 52 not out despite running out of partners, and the 2nd highest runner scorer was the extras column at 35. We managed a score at SES of 132 off 20 overs.
It was down to our bowlers to bail us out and they nearly did but the dropped catches allowed the opposition back in and win the game from us. The new ball was given to Chris and Jacob and the first wicket of the opposition fell when Ash took a brilliant catch in the long on boundary. A few overs later Nick cleaned bowled one of their batsman what appeared to be an in-swinging Yorker!
We were right back in the game, so we thought. However when Ash came on to bowl we had could have had the Captain of Fly Dubai along with their other in form batsmen out if we held on to three dropped catches.
Here are the DCC bowling figures.
Chris Ward – 3 – 0 for 14
Jacob – 3.2 overs 1 – 21
Nick – 4 overs 1 – 22
Greg – 4 overs 0 -21
Ash – 4 overs 0 – 47
Greg – 4 overs 0 -21
Ash – 4 overs 0 – 47
The match lasted until the 18th over, however had we held on to those crucial catches we could have won as it was always difficult for a new batsmen to settle in and score runs.