ICC win the first match of the Outrigger T20 League

PHUKET: In the first outrigger 20/20 cricket league match of the season, Island Cricket Club (ICC) played Village Cricket Team in the morning match on the 6th July 2014. Village captain Martin Platts won the toss and elected to Bat.

Village opening batsman Divan Mydeen (1) was caught behind early on from the bowling of Arun Virdikar, who struck again soon after having Kevin Quilty(10) caught by S Ullahh. Sam Ali(10) was the next to fall being run out by Arun Virdikar who was having a great day in the field.

When Mark Ashman (1) was clean bowled by A Saleam , the Village looked in real trouble, until Mark Whetton (42) who had been at the crease for a while and was looking in good form, was joined by from Martin Platts (18) leaving the Village on 45 runs after 10 over’s.

After the drinks break, the partnership proved fruitful with Whetton and Platts putting on 44 runs until Platts was caught at close range by P Borkar off the bowling of A Chand, and Mark Whetton followed 7 runs later bowled by Arun Virdikar. Village finished on a total of 93 runs after their 20 overs. Pick of the bowlers for ICC was Arun Virdikar who finished with an excellent return of 4 wickets for 10 runs.

ICC required just under 5 runs an over to secure the win. S Ullah(14) and R Naik(10) opened the innings at a brisk pace, but with 28 runs on the board Mark Whetton trapped S Ullah LBW. With the score on 30, Sam Ali playing his first game for the Village bowled R Naik.

With both openers back in the clubhouse and the score still on 30, K Karn from the Thai youth team playing for the Village trapped A Chand (0). After a flurry of wickets, J Mohammad (6) was the next to go being run out by Platts with the score on 36 runs. By 10 over’s the run rate for ICC was the same as the Village and it was anyone’s game.

The half time break team talk in the ICC dressing room must have worked, as after drinks, S Kumar (33) who was dropped twice by the Village and A Mushtaq(16) put on an excellent partnership of 51 runs to see ICC home in the 18th over. Pick of the Village bowlers was Sam Ali with figures of 2 wickets for 13 runs.
ICC have their first win of the Outrigger 20/20 league against a team that were dominant last season.

The competitive nature of the game was a great start to the 20/20 league, which promises to provide scintillating cricket for both players and supporters alike.