HOW WE BECAME CHAMPIONS!
Date: July 27, 2014
Opposition: NCA Force One
Ground: Mohawk Park, Hamilton
Motivated, focused, and desperate to win, Oakville rise to the occasion, and destroy their opposition to take the Ed Burn Champions Title.
Oakville were put in to bat in the biggest T20 game of the season. Zaid Rehman and Ayaaz Ali opened the innings and the pressure was on NCA right away, as Zaid took the attack to the bowlers from the first ball. Ayaaz was unlucky to miss the fun, losing his wicket early. Niaz Paracha walked in, and along with Zaid, kept the foot on the gas. These two were scoring at over 11 an over, hitting some grand sixes all over Mohawk Park. Zaid missed out on a half century, when he was caught on the boundary on 41. Ali Shah came in next, wanting to keep the party going. He hit a four and 2 sixes and was out for 17 in 5 balls. Majid Mahmood came out and batted freely, trying to keep up with the skipper, and scored two massive sixes as well. Niaz got to 60 runs before he lost his wicket, and Oakville finished their 20 overs with a mammoth 188/9. Shivanand Reddy took 4 wickets for NCA, but some great batting by Oakville’s top and middle order put them in the favourites seat to win the championship.
NCA had the worst possible start, losing their powerful opener, Ishpreet Gill on the very first ball of the inning. Just a few balls later, Christian Flook took his second wicket of the over and in no time – NCA were pushed on the back foot. Christian and Darren Kimberley bowled beautifully, keeping them starved for runs. Christian took 2 more important wickets, and Amit Sawh cleaned out the middle order with 3 wickets of his own. NCA put up a fight and got some runs, but Oakville bowling and the big score proved to be just too much. Abhijeet Karkhanis and Shiv Reddy scored 32 and 31 runs, but NCA were bowled out for 119 in 18.4 overs, giving Oakville the win by 69 runs, and the Title of Ed Burn Champions.
3 easy wins in the playoffs, beautiful batting and leadership by the young Niaz Paracha, attacking batting by all the top order, and some great bowling by Oakville’s pacers and spinners, and not to mention, some great fielding and catching – all contributed in this first ever title for Oakville’s Premier Team, and a sweet one of course.
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