Down to the Wire in Katich Cup Opener

Needing only 5 runs off the last over for victory, the Hawks managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with a 8 run loss to the Falcons in the Croatian indoor cricket season opening Katich Cup on Saturday. The win gave Ned Ivković's Falcons a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series. Ivković won the toss and elected to bat on a newly laid strip at the Sports Recreation Centre in Trnje, Zagreb.

The falcons opening batting pair were Joe Jurić and Pero Bošnjak. The pair put on 18 in their 4 overs thanks to a big last over which included a big six by Jurić and one by Bošnjak off the last ball of their last over. Captain Ivković and Ibad Faruqui were next in. The pair put on 26, the highest partnership of the match, playing smart indoor cricket, using the bonus runs off the walls well and not losing a single wicket in their 4 overs. Thomas Paske and Paul Mušin were last in for the Falcons. Good bowling from Hawks captain Vivek Sharma, who was looking sharp despite spending the festive period in Istanbul sampling the many kebab outlets on offer, and suicidal running between the wickets from the pair saw them manage 9 from their 4 overs taking the Falcons total to 55 off their 12 overs.
 
At the innings change over the falcons knew they had the runs on the board and if they could create pressure in the field and take their chances then 55 was defendable. The Hawks opened up with Daniel George and Nick Zdunić and they were forced into mistakes through good fielding and bowling, particularly from leg spinner Bošnjak who after a loose start found his line and length. George and Zdunić ended with minus 4 from their 4 overs. Not the start captain Sharma, who was next in with Adrian Beckett, would have wanted. Needing to force the run rate Sharma played some powerfull shots finishing with 23 in their 24 run partnership from their 4 overs.

34 to win from 4 overs was the equation for the last pairing of Krešo Kekez and Jasen Butković. They looked odds on to do this as they smashed 29 off their first 3 overs. Joe Jurić had the responibilty of bowling the final over of the match with the Hawks needing to just nurdle the ones and twos off the wall and not lose a wicket. The first ball of the over produced a classic 'he said yes, he said no' scenario which saw both batsmen stranded at the strikers end as the throw went to Jurić who took the bails off. Jurić, getting some turn, was difficult to get away and the target with 2 balls remaining was now 8. Seeing Kekez charge, Jurić bowled one a yard wider and Kekez was left stranded outside his crease as keeper Ivković took the bails off and ended the Hawks hopes.

The win gave the Falcons first opportunity to dish out the banter in the bar after the match and an early lead in what promises to be an exciting series. Game 2 is next Saturday 21 January.

Falcons 55 (Ivković 16, Jurić 14, Paske 14, George 2-16) Hawks 47 (Sharma 23, Butkovic 19, Bosnjak 2-9)

Player of the Series Table (Top 5) after Game 1: (1 run = 1 point, 1 wicket = 5 points)

1. Vivek Sharma 28
2. Jasen Butković 24
3. Ned Ivković 16
4. Thomas Paske, Joe Jurić 14
5. Ibad Faruqui 13