Cool Heads Give Falcons Victory

It was the cool heads of British pair Richard Probst and Tom Paske which saw the Falcons home in a nail biter in Game 5 of the Katich Cup in Zagreb on Saturday. The 9 run victory means the Hawks now lead the best of seven series to 3-2.

Hawks captian Vivek Sharma won yet another toss and didn't hesitate in electing to bat first. Daniel Geroge and Jasen Butković opened up for the Hawks but could not get going in their 6 allotted overs. Good bowling backed up by smart fielding created pressure on the pair and the partnership could only yield 9 runs. Captain Sharma and Krešo Kekez were the next pair in and they did not fear much better, adding only 12 as the Falcons took regular wickets.
 
With 6 overs remaining in the innings and the score on only 21, the Hawks needed a big partnership and they got it when last week's hero Adrian Becket and Robert Mihaljević came in. The pair played sensible cricket and ran well between the wickets. A couple big sixers from Beckett, who was impressive once again, and an ambundance of extras saw the pair put on 52 and take the final total to a respectable 73.

The run chase could not have got off to a worse start for the Falcons with a run-out off the very first ball followed by Pero Bošnjak losing his off stump the very next ball. Bosnjak batting with Paul Mušin recovered well as the pair started to accumulate the runs finishing with a partnership of 23. Next in for the Falcons was Captain Ned Ivković and Ibad Faruqui. The two not giving their wickets away and running well between the wickets kept the run-rate up for the Falcons. Ivković and Faruqui put on 21 and importantly saw off the Hawks dangerman with the ball Sharma in the process.

With 30 runs required for victory, pressure was on the last pair of Probst and Paske. The two dealt with the pressure alot better than the Hawks bowlers as regular wides hurt them. Intelligent low risk batting from the pair, nurdling into the gaps and Paske running hard between the wickets set up a tense finale when scores were tied with 7 balls remaining. Only needing not to lose a wicket the pair kept their cool and took the Falcons to a 9-run win. The aftermatch homemade meat pie and beers, courtesy of Probst cullinary skills, tasted alot better for the Falcons as they go one win away from levelling the series.

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

1. Jasen Butković 107
2. Paul Mušin 102
3. Vivek Sharma 90
4. Adrian Beckett 86
5. Tom Paske 40