1s fell to a somewhat unfortunate loss as rain once again influenced matters, Grammar losing by 8 runs on DLS when the game felt evenly poised. Grammar would rightly feel somewhat aggrieved that everyone was off the field for 30 minutes while the sun shone over concerns of the safety of the outfield, the once again long grass giving the cause for concern. In what were 2 evenly matched teams, Grammar had fought back well to bowl out the visitors for 176, Knightriders initially reaching 71 for no wicket in 11 overs.
The Grammar recovery had been led by the spinners as Agha Haider created good pressure allowing seamer Harry Mapplebeck to bounce out Vijandiran for 49 and then castle Selvaraj for 2. It was then spinner Javaid’s opportunity to turn the game on its head as he claimed a 5 for with some canny changes of pace. His 1st ball outfoxed Kumarasamy and Desai made a smart stumping. He then had Raghavendra well caught on the boundary by Mapplebeck before pinning Bhatia LBW next ball. The hat trick was saved but there was still time for another wicket in the over, Ramaswamy playing a shot he will never wish to see again, LBW for a duck as the visitors slumped from 123 for 2 to 123 for 5.
Salman Bedaar replaced the skipper and he soon had Siva excellently caught at cover by Hassaan for 5. He had a 2nd wicket with a sharp caught and bowled while Javaid claimed his 5 for bowling Palaniyandi for an excellent half century. Bedaar finished things off, getting Jayakumari stumped for 17 as Knightriders were all out for 176.
While this was probably 20 more than ideal given the long outfield, it was still a very gettable target and a lot better than had looked likely at one point.
Knightriders then got off to a great start, bowling Keith for 2. Haider and Bedaar combined to add 64, with Haider the aggressor, Bedaar struggling with the long grass to eventually fall caught and bowled for 8. With weather looking like it would have a role to play this wicket plus the quick loss of Quraishi (0) and Desai (4) meant Grammar were behind the DLS par score . When skipper Haider fell for an excellent 58, it meant Mapplebeck and D’Costa were up against it at 89 for 5. They did however add 17 quickly with excellent running but more rain forced the players off and no more play was possible.
Next up Grammar travel to Mannofield hoping for some better fortune and more fluent batting, while Grammar compete in every game, getting over the line in one game is becoming rather more critical with each week.
Champagne Moment
Agha Haider hooking a 6 off his nose.
Man of the Match
Hasnain Javaid for an excellent 5 for – he is now 3rd top wicket taker in the league.
