Metchosin CC vs Vikings - July 10th, 2021 @ BHP
The Cougars returned to BHP to right the ship after the previous weekends loss at the hands of UTD Victoria. With the injuries beginning to pile up, the strength of the Cougars depth would be tested again.
The Vikings came in with a perfect 4-0 record, and after championing the league last year, it would be no issue feat to get the win.
With the toss won, the skip elected to field first and see if the Vikings could be toppled by the bat first pressure.
Some top notch opening bowling by Izak and Tanzil had one wicket down with 5 runs on the board.
The early wicket would bring the ever-present Dhruval into bat. With some early wobbles the formidable lefthander found the aerial route with success, launching three consecutive fours past the long on and off boundaries. Partnering well with Dr. Van Oort, the Vikings would press forward combating the early tight bowling.
Rohan would break the partnership with a fine inswinging yorker to remove Richard, and reverse the momentum momentarily. All the while Dhruval would continue past his fifty and enroute to the hundred. Some more unMetchosin like fielding would see the Vikings continue their steady piling of runs as they past 200 with Dhruval reaching his 100.
Some late wickets thanks to Viquar and Will would bring some reprieve to the Cougars fielding unit, though the Vikings batting depth would offset as they reached a 265 for 5 after 45.
With the strength of the Cougar batting, this would be doable, the initial opening pair of KP & Izak (bruised rib swelling increasing by the minute) ended quick as KP found the edge caught behind, 7-1.
The skip and Izak were finding the runs as the grass began to dry out in the hot sun. No sooner did Izak get his eye in and began to find the boundary then did he try and pull a skiddy delivery to be the second victim of the innings. 31-2.
Enter the Himanshu, pulling Sunil's fierce bouncer for a glorious six, followed by a punchy four to extra cover. The Vikings begging to fret the increased run rate that Chewy always works at, only until the Skip tried to emulate the young gun and began walking back to the sheds at the grim noise of dislodged bails. 57-3.
Dukey would brush off his previous golden duck and find some quick boundaries, keeping the run rate high and rotating well with Himanshu. However, he would soon follow the skip with the same fate, Sunil yelling to the balcony in hopes of getting a response from Ross Sands. Thankfully Ross rarely gets involved in chirping and continued his sober walk towards the lawn bowling pavilion to chase that Olympic dream.
A few more wickets would fall, including Himanshu. The chase seemingly out of reach of the hands of the Cougars. Tanzil and Viquar would give some late heroics to at least give the Cougar players and fans some respite from the pain of another loss. The final score all out for 192. The return of the socializing would see the result as a mere memory though, as the Pavilion playing host to both sides for pizzas and beverages. A welcome sight indeed.
Scorecard can be found here: https://www2.cricketstatz.com/ss/runreport2.aspx?club=23365&mode=100&match=394754
The Cougars will take a welcomed week off from Division I cricket as they have a bye weekend over the 17/18th. However, the MCC will be welcoming the Campbell River Seconds for a social matchup on the 18th of July at the MCG. The Cougars will return to the fold on July 24th to take on the Albion CC.
