Scorecard

Longford 1 v North Kildare Cricket Club Men's 2nd XI on Sun 10 Aug 2014 at 13.30pm
North Kildare Cricket Club Won by 2 wickets (20/25 points)

Match report The seconds traveled... and traveled... and traveled... and eventually they made it to Longford where their opposition awaited in the middle of a field with tree cover the whole way round the ground, without sight-screens and with no sign of the sun.

On a miserable day, things got even worse when Dollars lost the toss and the oppo elected to bat first; no real surprises there... Gilly and Andy opened up and started well - Gilly bagging his first after just three overs. Andy toiled hard at the other end, but struggled to find a consistent line and length. However - Gilly took a wicket every second over and at the end of his 9 overs, he had removed Longford's top-4 and more importantly, no.3, Tariq who swung for the fence every chance he could get bat on ball. Tariq made 43 in his stay at the crease, with more than his fair-share of good fortune, but Gilly finally had his man after he was deceived completely with a slower ball. After four had gone down and Gilly had already finished his 9 overs, the heaviest of the rain came down and play was suspended by mutual agreement as there were no officials to make the call. Both captains decided that the game had to be reduced to a 35-over-a-side game and when the rain died down (barely), NK really ran through the Longford lineup thanks to Gilly's opening spell and one of Happy Singh's best spells for the seconds to date. In the end, Longford were bowled out for a lowly total of 138.

So - NK needed just 139 to maintain their winning streak in the league. Dollars and Gilly started up and looked to take the attack to the Longford bowling unit right from the off. Unfortunately, both fell for single-figure scores which left Vossie and Lucy at the crease. The pair steadied the ship with a stand of 30 together, but when Lucy was run-out because of a slight mix-up, Matt Chase, Vossie and Ger followed quickly after leaving NK struggling on 59-6 from 16. After the collapse, the task of chasing the remaining 80 runs was left to Behzad and Andy Chase. NK were in desperate need of partnership and the two lads duly obliged. Both Behzad and Andy batted as if they were having a net - relentlessly putting the bad balls away and turning good balls into singles. The pair put together a stand of 52, which, in the context of the game was match-changing. Andy was bowled on Nelson, but had made a vital contribution of 20(14) that got NK within touching distance. Matthew O'Meara joined Behzad at the crease, who, at this stage of the innings was seeing the ball like a watermelon. Behzad and Matt then put together the all important stand worth of 41, which Saw NK's deficit drop into single-figures. Behzad was in no mood to hang about and tried to finish things with a towering six, but was caught to a good diving catch at long-on for a brilliant 50(37) balls that resulted in NK winning the game with a few overs to spare - NK just limping over the line by 2 wickets and a very happy MO'M and Zeb striding off the field of play.

Credit must go to Longford for what turned out to be a great game of cricket when defending such a small total, in the most atrocious weather conditions and on a soaking wet outfield. Congratulations to Behzad on his maiden second-team half-century - a knock that can only be described as match-winning and full of grit and bottle. After his 95 the day before, it is safe to say that Behzad is in a rich vein of form, so long may it continue.

A big thanks to Anne O'Meara for scoring with very short notice, and did so with a smile on her face. Thanks also to Gerry Fennell and his wife, Eileen for traveling in support of NK.

NV

Longford 1 Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 11w 9b 6lb 
for 10 wickets
27
138 (32.2 overs)		     
A. Sarfraz b  M. Gilchrist 6 12 1 50.0
Amir b  M. Gilchrist 4 12 33.33
S. Tariq b  M. Gilchrist 43 31 6 1 138.71
A. Javed b  M. Gilchrist 7 25 1 28.00
H. Rasheed lbw  A. Singh 15 33 1 45.45
S. Sarfraz ct  N. Vorster, bowled M. Zeb 23 34 2 67.65
M. Imran b  A. Singh 0 1 0
D. Javed b  A. Singh 3 7 42.86
U. Sarfraz Not Out  8 22 36.36
S. Tana ct  M. O'Meara, bowled N. Vorster 1 3 33.33
B. Iqbal ct  M. Gilchrist, bowled M. Zeb 1 2 50.0

North Kildare Cricket Club Men's 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Michael Gilchrist9.003749.254.11
Andrew Chase6.003600.006.00
Amardeep Singh7.012036.672.86
Neil Vorster7.0022122.003.14
Muddasir Zeb2.20824.003.43

North Kildare Cricket Club Men's 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 3w 6lb 
for 8 wickets
11
142
(30.5 overs)		    
Michael Gilchrist ct  Amir, bowled A. Sarfraz 6 9 1 66.67 1
Sean Dalton ct  A. Sarfraz, bowled. D. Javed 9 13 2 69.23
Neil Vorster b  M. Imran 22 31 2 70.97 1
Lucy Small Run out  11 21 1 52.38
Matthew Chase b  U. Sarfraz 2 8 25.00
Gerard Horn lbw  M. Imran 0 1 0
Behzad Majeed ct  D. Javed, bowled A. Javed 50 37 6 2 135.14
Andrew Chase b  D. Javed 20 14 4 142.86
Matthew O'Meara Not Out  5 15 1 33.33 1
Muddasir Zeb Not Out  6 10 1 60.0
Amardeep Singh  

Longford 1 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
D. Javed 7.03824.001.14
A. Sarfraz3.0026126.008.67
S. Tariq7.004000.005.71
M. Imran5.5020210.003.43
U. Sarfraz2.0013113.006.50
H. Rasheed1.001000.0010.00
S. Tana1.00900.009.00
A. Javed3.00717.002.33