2013 KATICH CUP: FALCONS 4: 3 HAWKS

"We gelled well as a unit out there today and we were strong in the field. We are good for the series now," that is what a beaming Douglas Kennedy said after his Hawks side breathed more life into the 2013 Katich Cup when they made it 4-3 in the best of nine series in Zagreb on Saturday.

There is an old addage in cricket that catches win matches, and that could not have been more true as the Hawks "outfielded" the Falcons in Game 7 to win by 22 runs. There was not too much to write home about for the Falcons batsmen when they were sent into bat after Kennedy won the toss. (pic above: Hawks and Falcons analyse the days play after the match in the bar)
 
A series of run outs and soft dismisals was the theme throughout the Falcons innings as their batting line-up failed to get going. A score of minus 13 at the end of the 9th over were signs that the Falcons would be shovelling the proverbial uphill.The Hawks were impressive in the field throughout holding their catches, with that man Marko Mance again pulling off a catch and a half. A rally at the death saw the Falcons at least post a positive score and give the Hawks something to chase.

Only Mike Marić, Pero Bošnjak, Tonko Tabain, Jasen Butković, Goran Kellet, Jurica and Paul Mušin did not go into the negatives in the smallest total of the season to date of 25.

If the Falcons were to have any chance in the match they needed to take wickets, and lots of them. Three dropped catches and a missed run out in the very first over of the chase was not in the Falcons game plan at the change of innings, and they would be made to pay for their sloppiness in the field.
 
A big Ibad Faraqui six down the ground, followed by one each from Ivan Slipčević and David "Čif" Žižić, kept the Hawks total moving forward, and it was a good thing they did as the Falcons bowlers decided that if they were not going to get backed up in the field they would have to knock the stumps out of the ground. Young Goran Kellett was particulary impressive, his accuracy being rewarded as he finished with 2 for minus 2.

The Hawks, who were ahead of the run chase, only needed to keep their wickets to win the match and keep the series alive, and the last pairing of Vedran Žanko and Julien Goodman made sure of that with sensible batting, giving the Hawks a 22 run win.

To use some tennis terminology, the Falcons have now blown two "match points" to wrap up the series. Can they finally finish off the Hawks next week or has momemtum shifted to Kennedy's Hawks. Game 8 next Saturday is sure to be a thriller.

Falcons 25 (P. Mušin 12, J. Butković 12, T. Tabain 7, G. Kellett 3, D.Kellett 1-4, M.Mance 1-6, J. Goodman 1-11, K. Kekez 1-11)

Hawks 47 (D. Kennedy 6, I. Slipčević 6, C. Kellett 5, D.Žižić 4, L.Anderson 3-11, G.Kellett 2--2, P. Mušin 2-1, J. Butković 2-4)

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

1. Paul Mušin 137
2. Doug Kennedy 103
3. Lokesh Thondavada 101
4. Jasen Butković 94
5. Krešo Kekez 86
6. Akshay Daxini 78 
7. Conrad Kellett 78
8. Gus van Rensburg 71
9. Tonko Tabain 55
10. Goran Kellett 40
11. Julian Goodman 39
12. Mike Maric 33
13. Marko Mance 33
14. Lloyd Anderson 32
15. Pero Bošnjak (wk) 31
16. Richard Probst 26
17. Ibad Faraqui 17
18. Paul Stubbs 13
19. David Žižić 12
20. Dario Kellet 10
21. Šime Ivančević 8
22. Rob Raguz 7
23. Nick Zdunic 4
24. Vedran Žanko 3
25. Ivan Slipčevic -1
26. Tinisha Chimfamba -5
27. Dominic Čičak -10
28. Vicko Tabain -20
29. Luka Papa-Stubbs -30