Match Report Div 5: ICCB -2 vs MECC -3

Nail-biting Finish: ICCB-2 Team falls short by a whisker in thrilling cricket encounter

In a thrilling cricket match held at Wemmel Cricket Ground, ICCB-2 faced a disappointing defeat by a margin of 19 runs against the formidable opponents, MECC -3. 

Abhinav - 54 Runs

Match Details:

Date: 8th July 2023

Venue: Wemmel Cricket Ground, 1780 Wemmel, Belgium

Teams: ICCB -2 vs. MECC -3

Toss: MECC -3 won the toss and elected to Bat

Scorecard: https://www.crichq.com/matches/1103879

In a thrilling cricket match held at Wemmel Cricket Ground, ICCB-2 faced a disappointing defeat by a margin of 19 runs against the formidable opponents, MECC -3. 

The match began under clear and sunny skies, with temperatures soaring high, making it a scorching day for the players on the field, the weather turned unpredictable, with occasional clouds and brief showers.

The teams battled it out under the blazing sun. The hot weather added an extra layer of challenge to the players, testing their endurance and mental strength throughout the contest.

• First Innings:

As the toss took place, the sun shone brightly, casting a golden glow over the field. The MECC -3 captain, Dileep Singh chose to bat first, looking to take advantage of the dry and firm pitch under the relentless sun. 

The batters, well aware of the challenging conditions, stepped up with determination.

The opening batters of MECC -3, Prem and Gajendra, took to the crease with confidence. They weathered the early storm created by ICCB-2's pace attack, displaying a mix of solid defense and powerful strokes.

ICCB-2's bowlers, led by the experienced Anirudh and Abhinav, tested the opposition's batting lineup. They bowled tight lines and extracted movement off the pitch, making scoring difficult for the opponents. 

However, Prem and Gajendra showed great resilience, frustrating the bowlers and steadily building a solid partnership.

ICCB-2's captain, Nithya, made some crucial bowling changes to break the partnership. The decision paid off as their star spinner, Shreyans, struck with beautiful deliveries, dismissing Gajendra Pawar and Prem Wadhwa for a well-made 26 and 45 runs respectively.

This made MECC-3's score to be at 126/2 by end of 27th Over. As the innings progressed, The middle-order batters, Ravi choudhary and Vivek Ajantha, contributed valuable runs, pushing the MECC-3 team's total past the 200-runs mark.

In the latter stages of the innings, ICCB-2's bowlers fought back valiantly, taking quick wickets to stem the flow of runs. Abhinav,Anirudh and Amit sinha, a trio of pace bowling, showcased their skills by claiming seven wickets together. 

With some tight bowling from ICCB-2 and fielders displaying great agility and athleticism, attempting to restrict the flow of runs, MECC-3 lost their last 7 wickets for just 29 runs. ICCB-2 managed to curtail MECC-3's total to a challenging but attainable 234 runs.

• Standout Performances:

Ravi choudhary played a brilliant innings 55 Runs.

Prem Wadhwa and Vivek Ajantha contributed 45 runs and 40 runs respectively with their skillful batting.

Anirudh with his fiery pace took 4 wickets and Shreyans claimed 3 wickets with his magical deliveries.

The players took regular water breaks to keep themselves hydrated, gulping down fluids to replenish their energy levels.

• Second Innings:

ICCB-2's openers, Amit Sinha and Rahul, started the chase confidently, hitting some crisp boundaries. They provided a solid start, ticking the scoreboard over steadily.

However, MECC-3's bowlers, led by the experienced Dileep Singh, Akshay Ghanekar, Pankaj and Tejpal Singh came charging in, hitting crucial breakthroughs at regular intervals, putting ICCB-2 under immense pressure.

The breakthrough came when Rahul fell victim to a brilliant delivery which uprooted the wickets by Akshay Ghanekar.  This dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, as ICCB-2 lost a cluster of wickets in quick succession.

By end of 27th over, ICCB-2 was 6 out for 118 runs. 

The middle-order batters, led by the steady presence of Phani and the attacking prowess of Abhinav, rebuilt the innings. They showcased great technique and determination, countering the opposition's bowling variations.

However, the required run rate continued to rise, and the wickets kept falling at regular intervals.In a nail-biting finish, Team ICCB-2's lower-order batsmen fought valiantly, but the target proved just out of reach. They fell agonizingly short by 19 runs.

• Standout Performances:

Abhinav's composed 54* runs showed a testament to his skill and determination.

Amit Sinha and Phani fought gallantly, showcasing their resilience and unwavering spirit.

MECC-3, bowler Dileep Singh displayed incredible skill and consistently testing the opponent's batsmen throughout the day.

While team ICCB-2 may have fallen short on this occasion, they can hold their heads high, knowing they fought valiantly until the very end. 

This match serves as a learning experience and an opportunity to grow stronger as a team.