Recap

Match Stats:
Delfos – 159/9 in 25 overs
JCC – 161/1 in 16.2 overs
Result: JCC won by 9 wickets

Toss: Delfos

The first game at fortress Hope Village got off to a delayed start due to overnight rain spoiling the ground staff’s efforts to prepare a competitive (read ‘green’) wicket to kick off the new season.

Play eventually commenced at 13:15, with the game against Delfos reduced to 25 overs a side. Having won the toss, Delfos had no hesitation in batting first.

Opening bowler Vijay Sooknannan claimed the first of his two wickets within the first 20 minutes, which was a pattern repeated throughout the game as wickets fell at regular intervals. Despite this, the opposition scored at more than six runs per over.

Their run rate was helped in no small way by loose ground fielding and a tally of five dropped catches.

Possibly displaying a lack of faith in his fielders’ ability, JCC’s leading wicket-taker on the day, Mpumelelo (Mpumi) Mncube, took four wickets with his beguiling off-spin. Two came via catches by fellow bowler Atif Zia, one was adjudged LBW and his fourth wicket a stumping by ‘keeper Rameez Singh.

Meshen Govender celebrated his debut for the Su-1 team by claiming a wicket (and nearly a second) in his solitary over.

The plans for an aggressive start to the JCC response, a measured middle period and blitz in the last five overs turned into a comedic plea by the opening batsmen to find more balls to replace those swung with gusto into Hope Village’s surrounds.

Atif and Mahmood (Mehms) Asvat showed no mercy to the hapless Delfos bowlers, putting on 100 runs in 12 overs, and finishing the game in 16.1 overs. Both recorded a half-century (Atif succumbing to a needless run-out after scoring 52 off 38 balls) while Mehms blasted five 6s and ten 4s to finish unbeaten on 81 off 49 balls.

Rameez came to the crease for 14 minutes to record 17 runs off 12 balls (including two 6s).

The rollicking nine-wicket victory secured JCC a bonus point, and is hopefully an indication of the ruthless ferocity with which home ground advantage will be defended throughout the season.