Titan

Madnani Hits 85 In Titans Win!

Paul Dharmendra Ramkissoon

Game 2 of the regular season pitted the Titans against Port St. Lucie cricket club at John Prince Park.  It was a hot summer day and things got off to the usual start with the Titans skipper losing the toss.  However, as history has shown that is always a good
thing...as we tend to win under those circumstances and...win we did.

Having been put in to field.  Wazza started things off a bit out of sorts and had an expensive first spell of 4 overs 1 wicket 36 runs...but later he wrapped up the tail of a short run up to finish with figures of 5.3 overs 42 runs and 4 wickets.

Paul steadied the attack on the other end and bowled his 8 overs on the trot to finish with 2 maiden 22 runs and 2 wickets including the scalp of Eifel their big bat.  After being hit for a four...he responded taking the wicket of Eifel the next ball and might have been
on a hatrick ball had Alan claimed a regulation catch at point the ball after.  Oh so close.

Atif bowled well and finished with figures of 8 overs 36 runs 2 wickets.

Danny was very good in the middle overs finishing with 8 overs 27 runs and 2 wickets, but suffered the indignity of two straightforward chances being dropped courtesy of Atif and Dalip.

Vedere's introduction was poorly timed as he went for 13 off his solitary over , but he admittedly bowled badly also.

Alan should have had a wicket in his two over burst, but in the end it was 13 runs and no wickets in his two,  He looked rusty all day in fact and totally out of place on the field at times.  But thats to be expected after a two year hiatus.

In all they managed 160/10 of 32.3 overs and that was never going to be enough.

Our batting started off as requested by Coach and Skipper alike...keep it simple and walk it...occupy the crease & don't lose wickets.

Consequently, we were at 70/0 at the 15 over water break.  Dalip retired hurt due to cramping and Rakesh went back out to face the music and was stumped off the 4th delivery he faced for 1 run. Rheeshie was next up and produced a small partnership of 21 runs with Chuck, but was done in by one that reared up and offered the keeper the taken chance.  Still his 18 was a good contribution as we were 94/2 after 24 overs.  Dalip returned to the crease at that point and continued a steady effort with Chuck, but Chuck offered a simple lazy chance to square leg and was on his way back having made a dogged 23.  Wazza strode out and looked good first ball up, but was foxed by a tossed up beauty that bowled him next ball.  Essentially two very soft back to back dismissals gave PSLCCC a smidgen of hope, but Atif was sent in at #6 by Paul to provide a LH & RH
combination that actually yielded a half dozen valuable extras in the waning overs.  With two runs needed Dalip suddenly gave it away on 85...but all in all great knock by him and one that showed his maturity and determination more than ever before.  Paul went out and faced one ball adn the next went for a wide and in 38.1overs it was over.  Titans had claimed their 2-0 mark on the season.

All in all a solid if not special win for Titans and a good way to open their account at the home ground.