The SCCG played against PCC Academy XI on Saturday, 08.07, in their 8th game of the season in ACA T20 Division 2 at Ballpark Graz. The match started at 14:30 in the afternoon. The SCCG won the toss and chose to bat first. The weather was very sunny, and the conditions were favorable for batting. The PCC Academy XI, comprised of young players, had played a match against GCT earlier in the blisteringly hot day but still displayed great energy even when put to bowl first.
The SCCG commenced their innings in their signature style, with Jimmy and Vikram at the forefront as always. Surprisingly, Jimmy played a supporting role while Vikram showcased his prowess by effortlessly hitting boundaries every other ball. Although Vikram’s innings was cut short by a catch at mid off, he had already provided an excellent start alongside Jimmy, scoring a quickfire 32 runs off just 18 deliveries. With the absence of Amit, Sahil was promoted up the batting order but unfortunately departed early after facing only two balls, caught at long on. Karthik joined Jimmy at the crease, stabilizing the innings. However, within two overs, Jimmy faced the decision of being given out leg before, despite the leg umpire indicating that the ball had struck him above the wickets. Nevertheless, the main umpire remained confident in his decision. Fayaz joined Karthik, and although the scoring rate slowed down slightly, both batsmen made an effort to rotate the strike on almost every ball. Karthik’s dismissal came in the form of a magnificent catch at deep midwicket, triggering a sudden collapse in the SCCG lineup. Despite the setback at 103/4 in 12.3 overs, the SCCG could only manage to reach a total of 146/9 in the allotted 20 overs, falling significantly short of their initially planned target of 170. However, even though their innings were brief, Shirzad, Harun, Gyana, and Fayaz contributed valuable runs, while Gurudas and Pradeep displayed clever play by converting singles into doubles to anchor the innings till the end. Abdulhadi Afzal of PCC Academy XI picked 3 wickets, while shinwari picked 2 wickets.
With 147 as the target, the PCC Academy XI openers were granted additional opportunities against Shirzad and Shinwari, who began the first spell from the SCCG side. Shirzad, as per his usual, began with three wides, as the ball swung vigorously outside aided by a strong wind. In the second legal delivery of his first over, Shirzad created a marvelous chance, yet the ball whizzed past the watching Vikram and Karthik at second slip. With an early lifeline, the batsman went on to score two boundaries in the first over. Similarly, Shinwari, as in the previous match, also began with a few wides. However, once he found his rhythm, Shinwari took three wickets in his initial spell – the first being a remarkable catch by Pradeep at short fine leg, followed by an inswinging yorker that uprooted the stumps, and lastly a catch again by Pradeep, which appeared easier than his first. The PCC Academy batters struggled to settle, as bowlers Sahil and Harun, accompanied by Jimmy, tormented them with their impressive variations. Wickets fell at regular intervals, ultimately leading to the PCC Academy XI being bowled out for a mere total of 88 runs. The middle order batters Afzal, Shinwari and Farhan Saifi made the major conrtributions adding up 42 runs. The SCCG emerged victorious with a margin of 58 runs by the 17th over. Shinwari claimed the top spot in the bowling attack, picking up three wickets, Harun contributed with two wickets, while Shirzad, Jimmy, and Karthik each added a wicket to their names. Sahil bowled really well, but remained wicketless. The SCCG commends the young players of the PCC Academy XI for their unwavering energy, discipline, and spirit displayed throughout the game.
With this win, the SCCG has achieved a significant milestone, accumulating a total of 24 points, which includes 4 bonus points (Table yet to be updated, screenshot from 07.07). As they hold their position at the top of division 2, the SCCG eagerly looks forward to their next match against the Five Continents Cricket Club (FCCC) on July 30th at Latschach, at the Cricket Club Velden ground. With a strong resolve and a contagious momentum, we will strive to extend our winning streak.
The SCCG has been promoting sustainability in cricket by disseminating information at their games at the Ballpark Graz. They also encourage separating garbage after the match as part of their sustainability efforts. The SCCG plans to continue their sustainability initiatives throughout the season and encourages others to give it serious consideration. #PLAYGREEN this year, be sustainable and protect our future!
SCCG®: Play Green, Play for our Future 