Villa Park batting flexes to a season high 237 runs, as they dumped Players to a 49 runs defeat; Zeyad Imtiaz (57 runs & 2 wkts) named MOM |
Villa Park coming off a big win against Streamwood faced ever-dangerous Players team. Players won the toss and put Villa Park in to bat. Usual pair of Mujtaba Baqir (16) and Zeyad Imtiaz (57) started the proceedings. Saqib Ahmed (1) took advantage of the strong wind from one end and bowled quick to rattle VPCC opening batters. On the other hand Farhan Mehdi (0) bowled in to the wind with tremendous control and poise to contain VPCC usually fluent bats. But fielding did not support their bowlers and few catches went down. Zeyad took full advantage of the let off and shifted the gear as soon as Samir Mohammed (0) came to ball his only over that cost 24 runs. VPCC lost wickets very irregularly as their batsmen kept putting together timely partnership. This game saw the return of Bakhshi brothers. Hassan (24) provided the trademark stability to VPCC one-down position. Villa Park team missing their captain Uzair Ali today got another solid innings from stand-in captain Fawad Agha (19). At the middle of the innings game was set up evenly for both teams as Villa Park score decent 120 runs with 3 wickets down and big bats of Haris (64) and Fawad (19) in the middle. Haris took couple overs to get his eye in, then he started dispatching Players bowling to all over the park for his best innings of the season so far. Players today had no answer for Haris?s brilliance as he took away the game from the opposition in the span of 6-8 overs. Arif Hockla (18*) finished the game with style, as Villa Park posted season high 237 runs in 30 overs. Villa Park opened their bowling with returning Ahmed Bakhshi (0) and Haris Imtiaz (0), both of whom were taken to the dry cleaners by explosive Players openers, specially Farhan (44) who played some powerful shots in the early going. Players were cruising well over required run rate, as they scored 68 runs in 6 overs with out a loss of a wicket. Fawad took the pace off and brought Hassan (0) and savior Zeyad Imtiaz (2). Both pulled back run rate significantly. Once the run rate was manageable for VPCC bowlers, Fawad (4) decided to attack with himself and in-form Lahori express ? M. Ahmed (2). Moved paid dividends as both took wicket early to remove both openers. Fawad bowled with vicious pace and accuracy and claimed 4 wickets only to miss his fifth wicket as dismal VPCC fielding drop too many chances. In the end it turned to be one-sided affair as Players just had too much to chew in VPCC total score. Zeyad Imtiaz was declared player of the game for his brisk fifty and game turning spell. Please visit www.villaparkcc.com for video highlights and detailed stats of the game. |