NAPA (CALIFORNIA), AUG 16 : Bay Area Cricket Alliance (BACA) league leaders Thunder bolts Cricket Club beat Napa Valley Cricket Club by 66 runs in a 35-over limited match at the Fairgrounds in Calistoga here. The win was made possible by fine all-round display by left handed opener Sheraz Babar (59 and 3 for 24) and Subash Chuttugudisi (34 and 2 for 34)
NVCC were hooping to repeat their 2013 triumph over league oppositions when they beat Berkeley CC of the NCCA league and while they made a valiant effort they fell short in the end.
A quick-fire opening partnership of 60 runs between Kunal Mali and Sheraz Babar in just 8.5 overs set a solid foundation for Thunderbolts. Even after NVCC captain Mackenzie had Mali trapped leg before wicket the strong run rate continued but NVCC bowlers New Zealander Bernie Peacock and Irishman Andrew Healy had other ideas.
Both Peacock and Healy bagged three wickets each for NVCC on the day either side of drinks. They were supported in the field with some brilliant catches particularly from wicket-keeper Jeff Keene who had a strong game with the gloves including a stumping off Healy.
NVCC welcomed their first celebrity sub fielder of the season in the shape of Calistoga Mayor, Chris Canning, who showed a great arm and ability to be part of the on-field chatter!
The Thunderbolts batsmen showed Peacock, NVCC’s top wicket taker of the season, little respect sending his first ball of the day sailing out of the ground for a big six. In the end his five overs cost 49 runs but counted amongst them were those three valuable wickets. As the Thunderbolts headed towards the drink break Healy’s first wicket took the wind from their sails but they had still amassed 138 runs from 17 overs.
Healy’s two further wickets in the 20th over helped slow the Thunderbolts somewhat and wickets from New Zealander Bill Nancarrow, South African Dale Moorehouse and Mackenzie aided the NVCC cause with the Thunderbolts being bowled out in 32 overs for a formidable 243 runs.
After lunch provided by club sponsors Calistoga Roastery Mackenzie had some decisions to make. With such a big total to chase he went out with his big run makers from the off. It was to be a similar tale with each of the NVCC top order as they all got great starts (to their innings) but were unable to convert any of them into a serious total.
Three run-outs didn’t aid the NVCC cause as Moorehouse (19 runs off 23 balls) went in the eight over, Nancarrow (0 off 3) and Australian Michael Rule (22 off 33) all losing their wickets that way. NVCC President Phil Bourke (14 off 15) fell to ball that clipped the top of his off-stump while Keene lost his wicket to a good ball that saw him clean bowled. A solid knock from Bijoy Ojha saw him post a score of 27 runs from 29 balls but once he fell, it was the beginning of the end for the NVCC. A final stand flurry from Australian Pete Carson (19 off 21) wasn’t enough to bring it home for Napa Valley and they ended up all out for 177 with four overs of their allotted 35 remaining.
“We all had a fantastic day at the Fairgrounds play ing a great bunch of guys in the very talented Thunderbolts team” said NVCC Club Captain Mackenzie
Brief scores: Thunderbolts CC: 243 (Kunal Mali 16, Sheraz Babar 59, 5x4s, 3c6s, Subash Chuttugudisi 34, 2x4s, 2x6s, Amitoj Ahluwalia 32, 4x4s, 1×6, Chitraji C 29, Santhosh Leisani 20, Sathar Cherkalam not out 11, Murrary Taylor 4, Andrew Healey 3 for 29, Bernie Peacock 3 for 39, Martin Mckenzie 2 for 36, Dale Moorhouse 1 for 42, Bill Nancarrow 1 for 39).
Partnerships: 1st wicket 60 runs (Kunal Mali and Sheraz Babar). 2nd wicket 27 runs (Sheraz and Subash). 3rd wicket 31 runs (Amitoz and Subash), 8th wicket 36 runs (Santhosh and Chiranjit)
Napa Valley CC: 177 (Dale Moorhouse 19, Phil Bourke 14, Jeff Keene 20, Bijoy Ojha 27, 4x4s, Michael Rule 22, 4x4s, Martin Mckenize 3, Colin Nolan 6, Peter Carson 19, Subash Chuttugudisi 2 for 34, Sheraz Babar 3 for 24, Kunal Mali 1 for 10, Santhosh Leisani 1 for 8).
Partnerships: 1st 33 runs (Dale Moorhouse and Phil Bourke), 4th 50 runs (Jeff Keene and Bijoy Ojha).