Hello BayCC,

Ramadan Mubarak! Hope you are doing well.  We wanted to provide you an update on the SRCA Summer League schedule.  As you know, the SRCA Summer League started last weekend and scheduled to end at the end of October.  There are a total of 16 teams participating in this league.  The groups and rankings of these teams are listed below.  The City of San Ramon has provided two grounds (Monarch Park and Windermere Ranch) for this league.  Here is the availability of these grounds: Windermere Ranch – 8am to 6pm on Saturdays and Monarch Park – 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.   

Groups and ranking:

Due to Ramadan (8/1 thru 8/29), SRCA gamming committee was kind enough to schedule only one game and one umpiring duty for both of our teams during this month. However, this created a challenge for the committee to take advantage of the availability of these grounds and finish the league by the end of October.  As a result, we have been asked to play two games in one weekend in September.  Please make yourself available for these games accordingly.  

Here is the schedule for the first round:

Thank you.
BayCC Management

BayCC held the second Mini Tournament of 2011 on Saturday, July 23rd at the MCG ……Monarch Cricket Ground….not…. Melbourne Cricket GroundJ 

Shakir came back to the team after a month who mesmerized the batsmen with his swing and fast yorkers, excellent 4 overs and gave away 13 runs, he had been unlucky at many times, not to get the wickets that he had deserved. Fasial has bowled with a good line and gave 14 runs in his four over spell. At one time Faraz and Atif both were both on a hat trick, they both got 2 wickets, Farhan got 1 wickets and gave 9 runs in 2 overs, he had bolwed a very good last over. We were required to chase 89 runs in 20 overs.

Batting Performances 

I thought that Bilal was the most calm guy on our team, however Rasim came out even more calm and played a fighting inning of 7 runs when the other team was sledging and criticizing left and right. Both the openers gave us a very good opening stand of 25 runs in the first 6 overs. Bilal was as usual Mr Dependable, had made 12 runs. Shahid played a responsible inning of 12 runs, which includes the only six of the inning, declared as 4 due to continuous whining of the fielding side. At the end of 10th over, we were 40/1. Unfortunately we couldnt keep up with the momentum and we had lost four main wickets in 10-15 overs session, out of which 3 batsmen, Shahid(12), Shakir who solid 6 runs in the middle and Faraz(0) were out in the 15th over alone, when Faisal and myself came to bat. Faisal played a cameo of 12 runs when BayCC needed 30 runs of 31 balls, but we couldn’t carry it all the way untill the end. then came the last over in which 13 runs were required. On the first 3 balls of the over both captain and the vice captain got out cheaply. Then came the glory boy, Atif Manzoor, who was asked to make 10 runs in the last 3 balls of the match, Atif hit 2 consecutive boundaries and made us victorious. Hats off to Atif who had played magnificently with a bat and a ball both and hence declared, man of the match.

And last but not the least thanks to Imran, Latief and Anis who supported us throughout our batting

Ali Qadri 

“I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious. ”
Vince Lombardi

It was a dreary cold rainy morning, rain had delayed the first game between Tigers and Rockers. By the time we all got together at the Valley View Park (as usual late) around 11:50 the game one the other field was just starting. Our Captain decided some light practice should be held, and we took on to field to do some catching practice. As usual there were some sensational catches that were held at the practice field; if only we can find the way to bring the same intensity to the actual match it would be nice. After the practice and not to over burden our old bones we went to Peet’s for coffee. The mood was one of calm, Omer who just rejoined us from his escapades in the dunes of Dubai and Muscat was welcomed with warmth. After coffee and some rain we arrived at the ground, but the earlier game was still in progress so we milled about and chatted, chippered and clowned around as usual. Shakir was on song with his comments which kept everyone loose. Finally Rockers folded infront of Tigers and it was our turn. Mavericks are a good team and are lead by a capable captain. Our captain lost the toss and we were put into bat. It was not a batting display that should be serenaded, it should be summmed up like this, the last out that was of myself was comical to say the least. Missing the ball of off stump I thought I had inside edged it and ran like no tomorrow only to realize mid pitch that I had missed the ball and keeper had collected and stumped me all ends up. Anis was furious with me but he held his tongue knowing that more important part is just coming up.

Baycc have always been touted has one which is filled with bowlers; bowlers like Omer Chauhdary, Faisal Waseem, Farhan, Shakir, Atif, Sami, Parvinder, Ali Husseni, Amir Waheed, Anis, Showkat, Latief, Tariq Ansari and myself (Azher) with good strong backup with Faraz, Ali Qadri, Imran etc. With such options at hand it is hard to just pick 5 but you have to. In this match captain decided to go with Omer, Faisal, Shakir, Anis and Azher with Atif, Ali and Faraz as strong backups if needed. After our not so famous batting display we had an arduous task of defending 46 runs. Now if you think about it its 2.3 runs per over that Mavericks needs to score to get to their target and by the looks it was a defeat staring down at us. The team huddle was simple at best, the message to the bowlers was to keep the line and length and bowl outside off stump, simple enough. Unfortunately I don’t have detailed scorecard infront of me, but the story goes like this. Azher and Faisal kept the Mavericks on back foot, pegging that nagging off stump line. After bowling two overs each Azher and Faisal were replaced by Shakir and Omer. They both kept the same line and choked the runs completely. Shakir bowled one bad ball which became a full toss on the off, batsman jumped on the chance to smack it on the off only to be caught at point by nicely timed dive. The fielders were pumped and backed the bowlers 100%, Anis was patrolling the on side dispensing encouragement and little well guided jabs at the batsman which kept the batsman off their game. At the end of 10 overs Mavericks were I think 8 or 9 runs (again sorry I don’t have the score sheet infront of me ) then came the second part of the innings, Bowlers kept line and fielders held on to all the catches. I guess the catching practice paid off Faisal was phenomenol with 4 wickets. Omer was as lethal as he is always, Omer has not missed a beat while away. Shakir was a magician with the ball, cutting the ball from the middle leaving the batsman on the off. Shakir and Atif held on to some nice catches.

Came the 16 over with one wicket left, captain threw the ball to me and just told me to go for it and get him this last wicket. The last wicket was a ball that has left an impression on my brain, I can see the ball pitching and cutting in - inside edging the batsman and gloved by the keeper…..Euphoria!!!!!!!!!! I was stunned standing in the middle of the pitch arms raised high and emotions running deep. Team was huddled around the captain jumping in joy. These old bones still have some juice left (courtesy of 5 hour energy Anis Bhai also drinks 5 hour Energy drink but for different reason I only drink it b4 the game!!

Maevricks were shell shocked to have scored only 20 and out of that 20 we had gifted them with 11 extras. So only 9 runs were scored off the bat. A feat unheard of, the bowlers truly deserved the pat on the back. As the victory came to the club the skies openned up with bright sunlight as to say that they were waiting just for the right time.

The support we got from the gallery was unbelievable, Farhan, Zeeshan, Latief, Imran, Adnan, Ali Husseini and Asif Rahman were vociferous in support. If I missed someone I truly apologize.