Hyderabad Expats Cricket Club - The Nizams

Northwich Cricket Club

Introducing an English club that we have common players for.

Good game today nizams unlucky on the result.

Game result - 29/01/2022

Third win a row!! Undefeated in 2022!!

Some said it couldn’t be done, before and during the match, but your friendly expat Nizams ignored the doubters and secured yet another win in 2022.

Despite being without some first team regulars, the Nizams welcomed two new members to the match day squad, Malcolm N and Rishi J. Great to see new players join and seemingly enjoy the day greatly - they were last to leave the ground after a brilliant post match ‘debrief’. It’s not often we get a win in the first match for debutants (or the first 10 if you speak to Wheels), so this was extra special.

Malcolm underwent the golden pads initiation (Rishi you’re up next game), and managed to avoid the customary 🦆 that goes along with these occasions.

Before the toss, the now mandatory bad language warning was issued to Shaun; this was ignored throughout the match.

Batting first, Nizams new opening pairing of Little Jon and Surya strode out to the wicket keen to take on the strike bowlers. This lasted 9 balls, when LJ was bowled for 5, but not before he’d clipped a lovely four to fine leg, giving the team hope he was in top form. That shot almost guaranteed him not finishing 22nd in the MVP ratings (he would finish 20th).

In came Captain Arindam - with a lot of coaching from his ‘experienced’ teammates ringing in his ears. 20 runs were added in the next 3 overs, before Capt fell, bowled for 13 from 24 balls including 2 boundaries. 26/1

Surya was next to fall for 12 - a powerfully hit shot that was destined for the ropes, had it not been for a great catch from the fielder at point. 39/2

We now had Shiraz and Bhagat to the crease, with Nizam hopes of hitting a defendable score hinging somewhat on their partnership. They didn’t disappoint. A 33 run partnership came to end when Bhagat was bowled for a game joint-high 24 from only 13 balls, including four 4’s and a monstrous 6. 72/4

New boy Malcolm came into the action, but it wasn’t long before he lost his partner, Shiraz c&b for 12. 85/5. In between, Malcolm had survived a very dubious lbw decision from the umpire, when even our friends in Delhi and Mumbai heard the nick off the bat. Thankfully, fair play won, with the opposition refusing the accept the wicket and Malcolm could continue his debut.

This reprieve didn’t last too long, as he was out without adding to his first ball single, and two balls later (albeit his first ball was a wide) new batsman Vishal was clean bowled, leaving Nizams 86/7 after only 12.2 overs.

Sanjay and Ram now in for the Nizams, with the team needing them to pull us back from the middle order ‘blip’. Neither let the team down. 35 runs were added in the next four overs, Sanjay falling in the 17th over for a more than a run-a-ball 13. 121/8

Rishi came out next, and was unfortunate to be out lbw without scoring. Maybe the gold pads would have made a difference…… 122/9.

Last man Shaun ‘Oasis-swaggered’ out to the field. Ram was the set batsman and it was key he took most of the strike, which he did admirably. Four 4’s in his innings and some stout defending by Shaun meant Ram had reached 24, when at the end of the 19th over he was bowled while trying to add to the total.

End of innings, Nizams had made 136 all out. Not one of our best scores, but the confidence in the team was still (surprisingly) high that this was a figure we could defend.

After some bananas, water and some other lubrication for a select few, Nizams went out for catching practice before the second innings began. There were a couple of signs of things to come…..

It is worth pointing out here that the opposition were a much changed side from our last game; unavailability of some players led to them bringing in half a team of unknowns, although the term ‘ringer’ was heard a number of times during half time conversation.

Surya took the first over, hoping to get a quick wicket to give the Nizams the perfect start. First two balls, wides. Ball three - wicket! LBW with the ball skipping down leg side after hitting the batsman’s back leg. He was not happy. The FB livestream crowd commented on his remonstrations to the umpire. A watch back of the drone footage from behind the stumps shows the ball clearly hitting the leg in line with the wicket, so correct decision and what a start. 2/1 after one legal ball.

Third over, second ball, and Surya had his second wicket. Bails flying in the air (imagine this, at least), stump pointing to the keeper, and Nizams were now starting to really enjoy themselves. 11/2

What came next, in only 6 balls, put the Nizams in almost total charge of the game. First off, a good hit and a call for a single from the batsman, who failed to appreciate the ball was heading directly to new boy Rishi. A quick pick up, set, superb throw from backward square and a direct hit on the stumps with the batsman miles out of his ground. The crowd couldn’t believe it, and a great memory for Rishi’s first match.

Three balls later, and Surya had his third victim, taking a simple catch off his own bowling and celebrating in style. We only had to wait three more balls for the next, and his fourth wicket, another batsman clean bowled trying to get his team back into the match.

Six balls, three wickets, and the opponents now displaying the dropped shoulders that any team would on 18/5.

The final 5 batsmen for the opponents tried manfully to keep the game going as a contest, scoring over two thirds of the team total runs, but apart from a three over lull, the Nizams continued to take wickets regularly.

Shaun and Vishal chipped in with a wicket each, but it was Ram who finished the game off in style; three wickets from 2.4 overs, one lbw and two spearing into the stumps.

However, somewhere in the middle of all this success, came one of the moments of the match. As usual, Shaun’s unique style of bowling was confusing the batsmen. After swinging and missing one too many times, the batsman clipped a ball straight back in the bowlers direction. A couple of steps to the side, a couple back. He is set. The ball is in the air for what seems like an eternity. Open hands waiting. The ball arrives, this is it…….. or not. The ball hits his hand and pops out to the side, Shaun dives for it, legs splay, ball falls to the ground, so does Shaun. They are not together.

What did we just witness? How did that happen? No words can explain or do it justice, you have to watch the video in the comments to truly witness the event in all its glory.

After all the excitement, the game came to a close in the 14th over of the reply, with the Smart Challengers all out for 95, giving the Nizams the win by 41 runs.

Man of the match was Surya for his 4 wickets and a few runs, with special mention to Ram for his all round performance and Bhagat with the bat, Rishi for his run out and Malcolm for his diving stop in the field to save a certain boundary. And of course to Shaun for keeping our spirits up, always.

So, 3 from 3 in 2022, perfect record for January that will go down in the record books.

A great game, a great day, and another win to look back on when we’re all too old to play any more.

Keep posted to hear about our upcoming games and even more excitement almost guaranteed!!

Select ‘highlights’ are in the comments.

Game result - 22/01/2022

Another successful day for the Nizams, winning our second game in a row in 2022, this time against the strong batting line up of the ASG Warriors.

Put into bat at the toss, Nizams started well despite an early wicket, reaching 89/1 after the first 10 overs. MoM Rajesh was unfortunate to be out facing his first ball of the second half, after scoring a majestic 48 from 32 balls. Only two more wickets went down, with three more batsmen scoring over 20, to leave the Nizams 158/4 at the end of their innings.

Nizams took to the field with a lot of energy, given half the team hadn’t spent any time batting!

First ball - stonker from Bhagat!! Knocked over off stump and sent it somersaulting five times before it came to rest (video below).

Despite the oppositions other opener sticking around for 16 overs for his 57, Bhagat took a second wicket in his second over, and the game was on!

Warriors were well behind the run rate at the half way stage, at 63/2, and the Nizams pushed on over the final 10 overs. Two wickets in the 11th and 13th overs, first bowled by Rajesh and then a splendid catch in the deep by Tarun off Shaun Heffernana’s deceptive bowling, left the opposition needing 72 off 45 balls.

The game changing moment came in the 17th over. Vishal got out their danger man Amit for his 57, a well judged back-peddling catch from Wheels Dolbear. Four balls later he had his second of the over, lbw for a duck for the new batsman.

Needing 45 from 25 balls, the Warriors remained confident, but tight bowling and limiting runs in the field, in the face of some exuberant swings of the bat, meant the game was quickly getting away from them.

Two run outs in two balls either side of the last over put the game almost beyond them, with 19 needed off the last 5. Little Jon B got the first with a direct hit from long on, with Tarun sweeping up the next ball and firing in a lovely throw to the bowler Ram who whipped off the invisible bails.

Ram closed out the game with a second wicket of the final over, and conceding just 8 from it, resulting in an 10 run win for the Nizams.

Fielder of the day was young sub Avi, who stopped a number of boundaries in the long/fine leg positions, whilst also allowing his older teammates some time resting on the sidelines.

Overall, a great team effort, with 5 bowlers taking wickets to go with those consecutive ball run outs.

Team selection is now on for the next game, where we hope to extend our unbeaten run in 2022……

A fantastic weekend of cricket, hosting the Malabar Pirates. We'll be heading to Mumbai soon to keep this great tradition going.

A fantastic evening of social cricket.

Royal Strikers Eleven: 9/185(20) defeated The Nizams: 3/171 (20) by 14 runs.

Bowling
Mahesh 3/32 (4)
Sam 3/34 (3)
Wasim 2/26 (3)

Batting
Arindam 46 (35)
Vidhu 37* (15)
Sam 36* (28)

Fielding
Arindam 2 catches
Sam 1 catch
Tony 1 catch
Surya 1 run out

The presidents Cup.

Hyderabad Expats Cricket Club - The Nizams lost to Malabar Pirates Cricket Club by 31 runs.

The tour match between us and the pirates was played in excellent spirit between two teams who have formed close friendships. The ground, food and hospitality put on was fantastic and special mention goes to Sam Freeman and Arindam Sinha for doing all of the organising.

Man of the Match - Abhay Parulekar for 47 with the bat and 1-20 with the ball.

Terence David 4-30

Wheels Dolbear 29 off 33

Shaun Heffernana 2 - 25 including the wicket of Tony which he is likely to never shut up about!!

Great day, great cricket, great mates.

See you soon to win our cup back.

Nizams first game at Elite cricket academy and the pitches inaugural match.

We were honoured to be hosted there by Rajesh one of the Nizams team.

Hyderabad expat the Nizams 121 all out lost to smart challengers by 6 wickets.

The game was played in a great spirit and enjoyed by all.

Best Batting
Gareth 29 (25)
Malcolm 25 (17l

Best Bowling
Mahesh 2/21
Amit 1/25
Jon 'Rajesh' stoutt 1/3

Fielding
Gareth 1 catch, 1 catch off a free hit he still tossed in the air...that will get a mention in the end of season report🤣

Not a great result today but our first 30 over game.

This Saturday the Nizams will play the Royal Strikers XI at MRR cricket grounds.

This will be our first 30 over match of the season.

Following the match we will be going to Oro Sports Village for food and drink.

If anyone would like to join us at either the match or Oro you would be very welcome.

Family effort today with notable contributions from kids and partners.

12GB CC: 216/6 (20) defeated Hyderabad Expats Cricket Club - The Nizams 155/9

Best Batting
Sam 54* (35)
Tarun 30 (16)

Best Bowling
Gareth 2/32
Mahesh 2/36
Dylan 2/40

Fielding
Sam 1 catch
Tarun 1 catch

Great day out for the debutant kids who fielded and bowled superbly!