Afghanis dominate in the field
Unusually for Entrecasteaux there was heavy cloud cover and even a spot of rain as the home side took to the field having lost the toss for the second time this season. It made for some interesting movement of the ball in the air as Gregory (5-1-17-1) opened from the Garden House end, with Kochieyan (6.3-1-20-5) from the football ground end. In his second over Kochieyan bowled Pranav (5) and then had Jey caught at gully in his fourth over. Gregory qickly complemented this opening spell by bowling the forceful looking Tharik (17) in the next over so by the time of the first change after 10 overs Cd’ACK had amassed only 32 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.
Livera (4-0-21-1) took over from Gregory and had Ithiyad (13)caught at square leg. Yannick Perera (5-0-35-0) is maturing as a useful change bowler but still has the tendency to deliver a loose ball on which the batsmen are able to capitalise and with the last of his 5 overs costing 12 runs Perera Y. was replaced by Perera C. (5-0-25-2).
By this time the rain had become consistent and there must have been a question as to whether play should continue. Indeed it was difficult to keep the ball dry which led to some high flying deliveries from Hayrapet (3-0-23-1) which Ballu (38), Dina (10) and Ashwin (15) made the most of. Perera Y. eventually had Dina caught at deep gully by Harland and then bowled Ashwin, with Hayrapet claiming the the wicket of the resourceful Ballu by knocking over the stumps.
There is no doubt that the rain made conditions difficult for Entrecasteaux but questions must be asked of the fielding sides proficiency. At times there was a 2/7 offside/legside mix and consequently the batsmen were able to take too many easy singles which must have added 25 runs to the batting sides total.
Mangal (1-0-10-0) was brought on for a cameo role but he never had the time to settle into a good rhythm as Kochieyan took the last 3 Cd’ACK wickets in his second spell.
152 runs did not seem a big total but with a thickish covering of wet grass runs were always going to be hard to find. With lunch taken and the skies clearing Edwards (34) and new opening partner Perera Y. (0) went out to bat in confident manner. Certainly Edwards looked in good form clearing the boundary rope twice in the first over from Pranav (6-0-24-1) but the openers slot proved too much for Perera Y. who was bowled by Ithiyad (4-0-18-5) in his first over. He was replaced by Perera C. (0) who lasted just two balls with his off stump being flattened by the same Ithiyad.
With a drinks break after 17 overs Entrecasteaux had accumulated 64 runs, just one run shy of what the opposition had made, for the loss of 3 wickets, Livera (7) having been bowled by Pranav after a change of ends. Left arm round the wicket Ashwin (7-1-14-1) returned excellent figures and claimed the vital wicket of Edwards who, in trying to force the run rate, pulled a ball with a little extra bounce and the ball flew high and was well taken by Pranav at square leg.
Randhava (24) looked promising, if a little rusty – who isn’t after no cricket for a year and a half, but when he went, similarly caught by Pranav at square leg, this time off the bowling of Sheeraz (1-0-4-1) the game was up. Kochieyan (1) couldn’t repeat his excellent performance with the ball, Mangal (2) holed out to mid off, Harland (0) and Gregory (0) were pitiful. It was left to Fife (0 not out) to wander to the square and dream of might have been.
Entrecasteaux had scored 89 runs and were therefore beaten by 63 runs. Credit is due where credit is warranted – this was an excellent performance by the visitors, notably in the field, their bowling was accurate and their fielding was tidy. It is also interesting to note that the two bowlers to take 5 wickets a piece, Kochieyan for Entrecasteaux and Ithiyad for Cote d’Azur, both herald from Afghanistan.
Thanks go to Maurice Mitchem for umpiring so stoutly.
Entrecasteaux XI: Clifford Gregory, Brad Edwards, Yannick Perera, Chaminda Perera, Sebastien Livera, Satpal Singh Ranhava, Steve Hayrapet, Mohamed Kochieyan, Nawroz Mangal, Ed Harland, Andy Fife
Umpire: Maurice Mitchem