The Division 1 Mississauga Dolphins facing adversity at the start of the season going on multiple losing streaks, had many critics and doubters on the team even making the playoffs, let alone having a deep playoffs run. Putting all those aside and focusing on their game, Skipper Adeel Ahmed and the Dolphins went on winning streaks leading to the last game of the season, which they won in dominating fashion giving them a spot in the playoffs. The Dolphins would face an opponent in York Cricket Club, a team who has been unbeaten so far and has been dominating teams throughout the season. The Dolphins had won the toss and elected to bat first on a sunny day.
With Husnain Riaz and Dhruv Patel opening the innings for the Dolphins, they look to provide a start the team can build off of and post a total they are comfortable defending. Husnain and Dhruv would put together 16 runs before Dhruv departed scoring 3 runs and Husnain would follow him back as well the very next ball, being caught at midwicket, scoring 10 runs. The Dolphins now 16 for 2 after 5 overs, look to be feeling some pressure as they lost two quick wickets. Peer Abuzar and Bashar Ashfaq now on to the crease, they look to add runs to the board and bring momentum back towards the Dolphins. Abuzar and Bashar would do a good job rotating the strike, not playing any risky shots which led to them putting up an 18 run partnership before Bashar departed scoring 7 runs.
Sher Rehman Khan coming in to bat, he looks to continue his recent form, quick scoring runs. After a 21 run partnership, that wouldn’t be the case for Sher as he departs scoring 7 runs, leading to drinks break. Yawer Naved now onto the crease, he looks to do some damage with the bat, adding runs to the board. Peer Abuzar now feeling confident with the bat, he looked to go down the pitch to hit some maximums and crushes 2 back to back out of the park, bumping up the score. Yawer and Abuzar would put together 23 runs before Abuzar departed scoring a team high 39 runs. Hamza Hameed would come in to bat, looking to defend his wicket and add runs to the board. Miscommunication would lead to Hamza being run out and eventually would also lead Yawer to be run out as well as Hamza departed scoring 0 and Yawer scoring 8 runs.
With the Dolphins now 83 for 7, Farzan Muljiani and Adeel Ahmed would come to bat as the two look to push the score past 100 runs. Adeel and Farzan would put together 9 runs before Farzan departed scoring 3 runs. Saad Ahmed on to bat, he looks to add to the score as he has 8 overs left to play. Adeel and Saad did a great job rotating strike and beating the bad balls, leading to a 13 run partnership before Adeel departed scoring 9 runs.
With the Dolphins now 105 for 9, Muhammad Rameez would come to bat looking to add as many runs as he can and to play out the allotted 40 overs. Rameez and Saad rotated the strike well and pushed to tally runs as each run counted. Rameez and Saad would put together a 12 run partnership which would take the Dolphins to 117 runs before Rameez departed scoring 8 runs. The Dolphins would be bowled out for 117 runs after 39 overs.
Looking to defend a low total, Skipper Adeel Ahmed need to make sure the message of intensity has been sent to his playing XI and most importantly to the opening bowlers.
The message was definitely received as the opening bowler Husnain Riaz would go on to pick up the first wicket for the Dolphins on the second ball of the innings. York Cricket Club looked to be under pressure right off the bat and the Dolphins looked to continue that pressure moving forward. Saad Ahmed bowling from the other end, looked to continue applying pressure on the batsmen. In his 2nd over, Saad would pick up back to back wickets, completely changing the atmosphere of the game and putting himself on a hat-trick. Although he wasn’t able to pick up a hat-trick, he did in fact leave a gaping hole in York CC’s batting line up. Husnain Riaz continuing his magnificent spell, would pick up 2 more wickets as he continued his wicket to wicket bowling.
York CC now 12 for 5 after 7 overs, the Dolphins seemed to have taken their foot off the gas as the batsmen were able to put up a 10 run partnership before Husnain Riaz once again would find the breakthrough for the Dolphins picking up his 4 wicket of the game and the 6th in total for the inning. York CC looked to be struggling as they find themselves 20 for 6 after 9 overs.
York CC batsmen would once again put up a decent partnership as the batsmen were able to put together 21 runs before Hamza Hameed would find the breakthrough for the Dolphins picking up 2 wickets. The Dolphins gaining some momentum their way once again, they don’t seem to capitalize on it as the batsmen would put together a 30 run partnership in the game, this being the highest for York CC, before Hamza Hameed once again would breakthrough for the Dolphins picking up his 3rd wicket in the game.
York CC now 77 for 9 and 41 runs still remaining, they have a tough task ahead of them as they only have 9 overs remaining and only 1 wicket to spare. Yawer Naved being called into the attack, he would follow through as he picks up his first wicket of the game, leading to York CC being bowled out for 81 runs, with the Dolphins doing the impossible, winning this game by 37 runs.
The Dolphins hurdled many obstacles in their way and finally were able to prove many people wrong as they punch their way to the finals. The Dolphins will have a week to prepare for their next opponent which comes in the biggest game of the season for them as it is the Championship game.
The Dolphins look to face-off against the Stallions Cricket Club next week at Sunnybrook Park.
