European Championship Division Two; France Vs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gibraltar-c2906
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Malik-c89416’s unbeaten 81 led France to a competitive 282 for 6 in 50 overs. A disciplined bowling performance by the French bowlers bundled Gibraltar for 139 with 5.3 overs to spare.
An imposing opening stand of 62 runs provided by the opening duo of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Farrell-c63833 and Karan Aswani went into vain as eight out of eleven Gibraltar batsmen went back to the pavilion without entering into double figures. Only 3 batsmen - Ian Farrell (35 off 57), Karan Aswani (29 off 37) and the captain Christian Rocca (20 off 47) - could enter the double figures.
Waseem Bhatti, the French skipper, after winning the toss elected to bat first. Bhatti’s decision of “win the toss and bat first” was well respected by the wicketkeeper batsman Arun Ayyavooraju as he scored 90 runs off 144 balls standing at the crease till the fifth wicket fell.
Despite losing his partner Ramesh Sithambaranthan quite early with just 20 runs on the board Arun kept on his patient assault to help his side grab a competitive score. Sithambaranthan departed at 8, slashing Vikram Khatwani to Karan Aswani.
Williamdeep Singh came at No. 3 to join Sithambaranthan’s opening partner Arun. Both the partners played a well-timed partnership of 55 runs for the second wicket putting France on a scoring track. Singh, with the help of two boundaries, scored 18 runs off 35 deliveries before getting run out by Khatwani leaving France 75-2.
Williamdeep’s dismissal brought the captain Waseem Bhatti to the crease. The captain during his 25 balls stay at the crease smashed three quick boundaries adding 21 runs to the scorecard. Bhatti was caught and bowled by Lain Latin. Third wicket partnership between the opener and the captain earned France 45 more runs.
The next man who came to the crease to join the opener was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khan-c94694. Both the partners played a fourth wicket partnership of 42 runs taking France from 120-3 to 162 for 4 on the board. Usman was also caught and bowled by Lain Latin. He scored 21 runs from 26 balls, all from singles and doubles.
Usman Khan’s departure brought the pugnacious Shahid Malik to the crease. The fifth wicket stand earned France 43 runs before the fluent Ayyavooraju gave an edge to Buzaglo off Sandhwani. He played a patient 144-ball innings that earned him 90 runs. His 144 balls stay at crease also entertained the audience with 8 boundaries.
Shahid Malik continued Ayyavooraju’s job but in an aggressive style. Malik slaughtered the Gibraltar attack with a flurry of boundaries and sixes. His unbeaten whirlwind 81 came off just 36 deliveries. Swashbuckling Shahid Malik took the France to a competitive 282 for 6 at the end of the 50 overs innings.
Latin and Sandhwani took 2 wickets each. The bowlers were quite generous in conceding extras, particularly wides; 31 innings extras contained 23 wides.
Though Gibraltar’s reply got off to an impressive start with the openers setting a decent platform of 62 runs but the batting line-up failed to defend the opening stand of 62 runs and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. The openers, IM Farrell and K Aswani, forced the French bowlers to change their minds as both the openers did not give the attack even a single chance.
Shahid Malik once again came to help his side with the ball as he earned his side a breakthrough when he caught Aswani on his own ball. Malik struck back when he sent Farrell back at 35 leaving Gibraltar 74 for 2 on the board. After losing the opening wickets, no batsmen could bother the French attack and kept on losing wickets one after the other. The captain tried to help the side come out of dripping condition but no batsman could support his 20 runs effort. All the team was sacked for 139 in 44.3 overs.
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