REDS DEFEND THEIR RL T20 TITILE
After winning the toss the Reds went in with intent again and this time around the double J's did not waste time. Jakati took off from where left in the semis and Cam Jefferys went on with his business as usual. Although boundaries and singles were coming, in the first two overs, extras was the top scorer.
With both openers scoring freely, they managed to cross the 50 run partnership within the first 5 overs, putting a big score on the cards. However, the Masroor bowlers sent down a few economical overs which meant one of the batters had to get on the attack. Jakati tried to hit one over cover but found the fielder. 73/1 after 8.3 overs was a solid start, providing a platform the Reds deep long batting line up.
Jeevan walked in and next 12 balls saw 20 runs scored, most of them by Cam, even as Jeevan was sent out to push the scoring but his stumps got pushed out instead. 93/2 after 11.2 overs. In came young Prateer, who went on with his business along with Cam who was playing the aggressor at more than a run a ball.
As in the semis, Prateer was again unlucky, leaving the Reds at 110/3. Michael was sent in to up the run rates which he did, connecting on two good ones. He also managed to rotate the strike with Cam who meanwhile had scored a 50. Jasveer in a bold move retired Cam on 59 and sent in Angus to push the scoring as after 18 overs the total did not converge to the run rate which they had in the first 10 overs.
At 143 /3 after 18 overs Angus and Michael pushed it as much as they could, though one has to say that Masroor bowled really well at the end and scoring wasn't easy in the middle. Angus hit a six and a reverse-sweep four, and the Reds finished with 159/3 in their 20 overs.
Would this be enough to defend. Masroor had scored 235 in the first semi-final!!
Bipin and Jeevan opened the bowling for the Reds and after three overs Masroor were cruising at 21/0. Jeevan’s first ball of his second over saw a beautiful in-swinger take Altaf’s stumps out of the ground, in a wicket maiden. 21/1 after four overs.
Meanwhile, as Aditya was scoring freely and quickly at one end, Jeevan took two more wickets at the other, to put the score at 37/3 after six overs. Reds skipper Jasveer decided to bring spin into the game, with himself and Behram Ali, even though the pitch wasn’t really turning. Jasveer got an important wicket, well caught by Bipin to put the score at 42/4.
Things were looking good for the Reds, with the focus being put on tight bowling to increase the required run rate. Ali and Victor kept the runs down, but Aditya was still scoring, and was unfortunately dropped a couple of times, with the white ball getting lost in the setting sun.
Aditya kept the momentum going along with Rana, a veteran of many games and situations like these. The pressure was building due to the climbing run rate, but then a mix up between Aditya and Rana, plus a direct hit from Bipin sent Rana on his way. This key wicket put the score at 80/5. 160 looked still achievable, especially with Aditya set and more batting to come.
Naeem and Aditya put on a 40-run partnership, but they perhaps took a few too many overs to get these runs. The required run rate was up to 12 an over. Enter Bipin with a double strike, first removing the dangerous Aditya for a well-played 70, then getting Rajeev first ball. This was Bipin’s 200th wicket for THCC. An amazing achievement. But he wasn’t done, because the next ball he completed his hattrick, with Angus catching Gurmeet at long on. Suddenly, the game was over. Masroor fell to 120/8, then finished the overs on 129/8.
The Reds defend their Cricket Hamburg T20 title with a comprehensive win.
THCC Reds start hot in chilly Kiel
In foggy, cold and overcast conditions, the Reds travelled north to Kiel (always an enjoyable trip as the players of 1.KHTC Kiel Cricket Club are a great group of guys to play against and their pitch is one of the best in Germany). Bipin lost the toss, so the Reds rugged up and headed out to field. The ball was swinging early, with the first four wickets all caught behind, with WK Mithun ending the innings with five catches in a solid display. Madura (29) showed some form with the bat, but wickets fell steadily around him, and Kiel were all out for 107. The Reds were a little rusty in the field, and high catching was made more difficult under cloud cover the same colour as the white ball. But, for the first outing, it was a good performance, with Angus taking three wickets, and Bipin and Ali got two each. New player Jeevan bowled with pace to get a wicket, while Rohan and Victor each got one.
The Reds then made a solid start, as Cam (21) and Mithun (27) quickly got the score to 50, then man-of-the-match Ali (36*) and Jeevan (10*), finished the job, in a rare situation for THCC, with two left-handers batting together.
The Reds then quickly headed for the clubhouse and warmed up with a seriously good feed to cap what was a successful and enjoyable day (cramping aside).
We thank KHTC for their warm hospitality on this cold day and wish them all the best for the season ahead. Thanks also to Karthik for scoring and photos/video, and to Baheer for taking on the 12th man duties.
NDCV T20 Regional Champions 2022
First of all thanks to KSV for making it possible to play at their ground. Without them and their understanding, this won't have been possible. Also an extended thanks to the NDCV team for the organisation in total which gave the finals a great atmosphere.
Also a big thanks to both the umpires who did a tremendous and commendable job which lays the foundation of good umpiring Standards throughout.
A phenomenal thanks to our sponsors "Feelgood Shop NL* for their utmost support and belief in our club. We see their partnership as a stepping stone towards more successful seasons to come.
THANKS.
NDCV Champions!!
THCC have won the NDCV T20 League in a comprehensive win against Kiel, and now move on to the Bundesliga promotion playoff vs ODCV champions BSV of Berlin.
Winning the toss and batting first, Cam and Jasveer put on an absolute clinic putting on 89 for the first wicket, followed by Cam and Ali putting on another 79. Michael and Angus came and went quickly before Cam and Kamal put on another 46. Cam smashed 86 off 51, Jasveer 54 off 43, Ali 39 off 16, and Kamal 16 off 8. THCC racked up 219 off 20 overs.
With the ball, things got even better with the Bipin show as a wicket fell first ball of the innings. It was just one of those days where everything went right as Kiel crumbled to 8-27 off 8 overs and all out for 43 off 11 for a mammoth 176 run victory. Bipin finished with 5-10 off 4 overs and man of the match. Angus and Ashwin picked up 2 each and Rohan with 1 as well.
Commiserations to the Kiel lads, we are well aware of the threat you pose, especially after only a 1 run win during pool play, and sometimes these weird days happen, we're sure you'll be back stronger next year.
A huge thank you to the army of supporters who came out to Kummerfeld, our shirt sponsors Feelgood (for all your health and supplement needs), to Verena for scoring, the umpires and everyone else who has contributed towards trainings, ground work, administration and everything else to the functioning of the club.
Onwards to the Bundesliga promotion game, then the 50 over season.
NDCV 50 overs
**BUNDESLIGA CHAMPIONS 🔴🎉🔴🎉🔴**2022
THCC Red are the new NDCV 50 over Bundesliga Champions.
Needing to beat Kiel in order to hold off KSV for the title, THCC went into the game with high hopes of finishing the job against a winless Kiel.
Bipin lost the toss and THCC bowled first. Bipin and Angus got up to their usual tricks of knocking off the top order as Chandan and Su took good catches off Bipin, and Angus caught the edge for an easy catch by Mithun to have Kiel 17-3. The 4th wicket was a stubborn one as both batters dug in for the long haul and took very few risks and played carefully. Boredom is the predecessor of inspiration which led to the common pre-drinks gamble of part-time hope - and it worked! After excellent bowling by Ashwin for no reward, Jasveer came in, bowled a rubbish ball and broke the partnership with an excellent boundary catch by Su with Kiel 74-4. Ashwin was furious 😂😂 Then came the straight balls, bowled (Michael), bowled (Su), LBW/bowled/bowled/bowled (Angus). Kiel were bowled out for 125 in 31 overs and Angus finished with the marvellous figured of 5-29 off 7.3 overs.
The batting was excellent with an opening partnership of 59 before Cam fell LBW for a well made 28. This was followed by another partnership of 56 when Mithun was caught after blasting a matchwinning 54 off 42 balls to make it 116-2. It was a truly outstanding knock including 4 sixes of which one was over cover. Abhik supported well with 24 not out, and Jasveer finished an excellent day being there at the end with 2 not out.
Next up for the Reds is the DCB finals involving the 8 regional winners where we will face the Cricket Niedersachsen winners first on September 4. It will be our home game, but sadly not at THCC and a ground is still being decided.
Thank you very much to Abhinand for scoring, and to Sachin and Shekib for umpiring. Thank you most of all to Kiel for a game played in great spirits, we love playing up there (as evidenced by still being there two hours after the game enjoying drinks and food).
