There was plenty to play for with the winner of Sunday’s Outrigger T20 gaining the top position on the points table after each side has played the others once.
Both TCT and the Superkings had bolstered their starting XI’s with experienced cricketers for the clash. Craig Murphy and Anthony Dupont came in for TCT. Arun Virdikar, Shah Ullah and Ravi Naik played their first matches for the Superkings.
Superkings captain Balesh Desai won the toss and opted for his side to bat first. Valentin Guiraud bowled the first over which resulted in 2 edges through to wicket keeper Andrew McMillan.
Jean Matthee trapped Superking Aamir Ali in front in the 2nd over and another catch for McMillan in the 3rd over from Guiraud’s bowling left the Superkings 14/4 from 3 overs.
Sensing that Guiraud was a too quick for the Superkings, TCT’s captain Simon Wetherell rang in the changes. TCT bowled 9 out of their 11 players as they dismissed the Superkings for 87 runs in 15.3 overs.
Divan Mydeen (30 runs) was the only Superking to make an impact. (Extras 23, V.Guiraud 3/5, C.Murphy 2/5, S.Wetherell 2/6).
TCT raced along to 14 from 2 overs until a wicket maiden from Aamir Ali slowed the rate. The Superkings were then able to get regular wickets and remained a chance of victory with TCT 36/4 after 6.3 overs.
The fall of the 4th wicket brought Hico McDonald out to the crease. McDonald got straight into his work with two runs from the first ball that he faced and a six from the third. He added 24 runs from 15 balls to help TCT to a 4 wicket win. (H.McDonald 24, Extras 28, A.Virdikar 2/23, M.Rehman 2/25).
The win places TCT on the top of the Outrigger T20 table. Net run rate separates TCT from Patong with both Laguna and Madras a win behind.
PACT haven’t managed to score a win thus far and will be hoping for some considerable improvement in the second half of the season.
Andrew McMillan