Did you see that?

“SEEING is believing”, although sometimes you see, but still find it hard to believe. This is very relevant to two matches this past week, one at home and the other in India.

“SEEING is believing”, although sometimes you see, but still find it hard to believe. This is very relevant to two matches this past week, one at home and the other in India.

I am tempted to start in Mumbai, but will start closer to home, Queens to be specific. On a Sunday morning on a slightly damp wicket with a tinge of green, everyone quietly hoped that Old Hararians (OH) would win the toss and put the home side to bat.

The home side minus Greg Strydom were always going to struggle in those conditions against an OH side that included lanky seamer Lovemore Manatsa, Faraz Akram and former national team superstar Douglas Hondo, looking more like a super rugby forward than a bowler.

Queens lost the toss and were soon in trouble as they had no clue on what to do with Akram’s wicked in swing. They were 24-4 in no time. After a stubborn fifth wicket stand between Simba Kusano 16 and Chris Mpofu 15 they were bungled out for 77.

A fantastic innings by that man “extras”, with a top score of 25, guided them to that paltry total. No other batsman got into double figures. Akram finished with an incredible seven wickets.

The OH batting line-up had Vusi Sibanda and Cephas Zhuwawu among others and we all assumed it was game over bar the shouting. Some inspired bowling by Kudzi Banda and Tendai Bidi saw the OH side in panic mode as they were reduced to 44-4.

Had Queens held their catches they would have probably won the match. At the change of innings Queens’ batsmen Delta Sivalo implored someone to hit practice catches to them, but no one did. Maybe if the technical staff had heeded the call, they may have taken the chance Hondo offered on zero, before finishing the match 22 not out.

As stated last week, Queens will have to think long and hard about their batting if they are to change their fortunes in the competition.

There was better news for the other side from the region as a blistering 60 from Titus Chipare made sure Emakhandeni had a victorious trip to the Eastern Highlands.

  • The Mumbai Indians hosted the Rajasthan Royals in what was effectively a quarter final at the Indian Premier League. I have seen a lot of incredible things on a cricket field, but this has to rank in the top two, at least. The Royals batted first and for the Indians to qualify they needed to win the match within 14,3 overs regardless what the score was.
  • When the Royals scored 189 it was all but done and dusted. The Indians got off to a fast start, but lost wickets at regular intervals and the required rate ballooned out of control. When hard-hitting West Indian, Kieron Pollard was dismissed cheaply and it was effectively game over. So confident of going through were the Royals, that mentor Raul Dravid was discussing play-off strategies with the commentary team before the end of the match.

    However, one-day international (ODI) fastest 100 world record holder, Correy Anderson was still at the crease and had other ideas. He picked the perfect night to come to the party. He batted at three and was undefeated on 95 at the end, striking at well over 200.

    A few crazy overs brought the Indians within touching distance of victory. I thought to myself how heart breaking it would be for them to get so close and not get over the line. The third ball of the 14th over was up and they needed two to win. James Faulkner produced a near perfect Yorker and they managed just one and the Royals celebrated going through by the skin of their teeth.

    However, the statisticians quickly worked out that if the next ball was a boundary the net run rate would be calculated on 193, if a four or 195, if a six and the Indians would squeeze through. Complicated? I know. After much deliberation, Faulkner bowled the next ball, a juicy full toss outside leg stump and was dispatched to the second tier of the Wankede Stadium and the Indians pulled off the most shocking back door entrance to complete the play-off line-up.

    They joined the Kings X1 Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. Chennai have lost three in a row, but they have big match players and I won’t be surprised to see them in the final on Sunday. I am a little worried about the Kings as their big hitters have been off the boil lately although their young Indian players have come to the party.

    Sunil Narine and Robin Uthappa may have enough to take the Knight riders to their second IPL crown. Whichever way it goes, it is going to be a great week for Twenty20 cricket.

  • West Indian Lendl Simmons shocked us all when he hit the first 100 of the IPL season. Uthappa replaced Glen Maxwell at the top of the batting chart.
  • England slumped to a new low in the second ODI against Sri Lanka when they were rolled over for just 99 and came perilously close to beating their lowest score of all time. They lost the match by 156 runs and the series is tied at 1 all.
  •  This week we look at the letter “Y”. Yorker, a full delivery that bounces by the batting crease, right under the bat. It is also known as a “toe crusher”.