Match Report

Catches win matches

Catus Cricket Club experienced its first taste of glory of the season by winning the LOBSC T20 tournament the previous weekend, 19 year old Ijaz Noor, resident of Prayssac, starring with his first 50 and three wicket haul. Catus came out as top dogs over Nimes, Montpellier and a combined team from Toulouse. The ACCSO competition includes all nine clubs, a tougher task.

Yesterday, a final round robin of three matches between Catus, Eymet and Montpellier, held at the home of Toulouse Cricket was reduced to only 15 overs per innings by the powers that be. Already there were three things in Catus’s favour; first, we can surely last 15 overs, second, very short boundaries, third, Catus play Eymet in the first game with the losers playing Montpellier in the second.

Captain Atiq won the toss and elected to bat. Ijaz Noor opened with his namesake Ijaz Khan and as partners came and went the local stood firm eventually being run out on 81 from only 38 balls, the only other serious contribution coming from Waheed with 18. The innings closed on 138 for seven, a defendable but gettable target.

No time for warm butties today as a quick turn around was required to ensure all three games could be played in daylight.

Bobby and Atiq opened the bowling, but with no immediate breakthrough, Ijaz Noor was tossed the ball. After having been on the receiving end at nets the previous Thursday, hit on the lid and a swollen ankle, it was no surprise to me that Ijaz took two wickets in his first over, ending with three for 20 from his allotted three overs, The other star bowler was Atiq, who mopped up the tale ending with two for 21. Great concentration in the field helped, pressure on the batters led to three run outs and five catches. Eymet were restricted to a mere 91 for nine.

The next match therefore, was between Eymet and Montpellier, giving the Catusians a breather, time for team talks down the local hostellerie, and to dream of what might be. Dangerous.

A dominant performance from Montpellier and classy batter Rony (51*), meant Montpellier were able to chase down Eymet’s total of 141 in just 11.2 overs.

Atiq’s skill and judgement in leading the team now extends to knowing which way the coin will land and accordingly won the toss and chose to bat first once again. This time it was the turn of ‘quiet man’ Zuber to partner local star Ijaz, aiming for ten runs an over. Virtually all the batters contributed, however, the stand out performance came from our own classy batter Waheed, who was eventually bowled on 68. Rahim scored a quickfire 25 and the Catus innings ended on 153 for eight.

Anything over 10 an over is a big ask. The Catus attack bowled as accurately as they have all season and Montpellier were behind the required rate from the start. Wickets fell at regular intervals. Atiq took the prized wickets of Rony and Farhan and Catus sensed victory. Wickets were evenly shared but, once again, it was Ijaz Noor who had the best figures taking three for 11. As the sun started to go down and the air traffic gradually reduced, Montpellier were eventually all out 39 runs short. Attention now turned to the action in the other big cricket match of the day taking place in Dubai.

Congratulations to us, two cups in two weeks, and a big thank you to the umpires, scorers and Toulouse Cricket Club for hosting.

Pete CCC