The ASL 35 Over League came down to the final match of the season with the two
remaining title contenders, Patong Cricket Club (Patong) and Kashmiri Cricket Club (KCC),
set to battle it out for the title, at the ACG in Thalang.

Patong captain Seemant Raju won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch that although being
a bit green after some welcome overnight rain was still a good batting wicket.
Matthew Kohler, returning to his opening role after some gentle persuasion from his team
mates took to the crease alongside Alex Sechiari, who had come out of retirement faster
than Conor McGregor, for this important fixture.

Imtiyaz Mushtaq after shockingly taking his team from the field in a rulings dispute the
previous week, returned to the field and duly took the new ball. Kohler and Sechiari found his
bowling very much to their liking as they did most of the early scoring from Mushtaq’s (4
overs 0/38) bowling. From the other end, however, the best bowler on the island, Waseem
Manzoor was running in with great rhythm and striking the batsman on the pads and body at
will. Manzoor (3/29) would eventually get due reward with a double breakthrough, first
having Sechiari (11) trapped in front and then beating Ike Bekker (0) all ends up, by
uprooting his stumps. Suddenly Patong were 27 for 2 and in need of a partnership. Two
partnerships would follow, but it was one man doing all the damage, Iceman, Matthew
Kohler was on fire and dispatching the bowlers to the fence with regularity. His batting
partners Craig Morgan (2) and Dave Watson (11), were nothing but cheerleaders to the
Kohler carnage. When they had both departed, Jason Robertson would join Kohler and as is
often the case the running between the wickets improved in speed and decisiveness.
Robertson would add as many runs by watching wides and no balls sail by as he would with
the bat, as KCC battled to get their compasses dialled in. KCC would end up handing 48
runs to Patong by the way of extras. When Robertson (24) was ultimately bowled by a
beautiful knuckleball by Basheer (4/28), Patong were in a strong position at 195 for 5 with
15.1 overs still to be bowled. Kohler (106), soon moved on to a well deserved hundred and
took the Patong score over the 200 mark before KCC fought back with a slew of wickets.
Only Saju Abraham would offer any resistance, from the tailenders, with a fearless 8 not out
that would later prove crucial. Patong were be bowled out for 226 in the 27 th over, giving
KCC the momentum at the lunch break.

A’arif Mushtaq and Imtiyaz Mushtaq, opening the batting for KCC, continued to ride that
momentum and their luck with a host of dropped catches from Patong, quickly moving the
score on to 55 in 6.5 overs before Alex Sechiari (1/58) would clean bowl A Mushtaq with a
devastating in-swinger. Dave Watson had M Asif beautifully caught by the S Raju in the very
next over and all of a sudden, the game was back in the balance at 58 for 2. I Mushtaq (52)
was excellently caught by the diving Craig Morgan, again, off the bowling of D Watson.
However, Waseem Manzoor, was now at the crease and playing beautifully. On his day
there is no player on the island more devastating and no total seems enough. Patong knew
the importance of his wicket and when he was dropped on 14 and again on 53, Patong could
feel the game and title slipping from their grasp. Patong would continue to take the odd
wicket, but not the wicket they so desperately needed.

Although teammates were falling around him, Manzoor soldiered on with his eye firmly on the prize. But, when Matthew Kohler finally had Manzoor (68), caught behind with the score on 175 for 7, Patong thought they were home and on a gentle canter to the title. Newcomer, Deepak, had other ideas.

With each swing of the bat, Deepak grew in confidence, dispatching the bowlers over the fence at will. Patong seemed to have no answer to his power. Swing by swing, Deepak and KCC moved closer to the finish line. The score ticked past the 200 mark. Then all the way to 218 and within two boundaries of victory before Patong turned to their opening bowler Shivam Bhattacharya, who first had Basheer brilliantly caught by Tyler Whateley, who after two previous dropped catches knew his team could not afford another. As the Batsman had
crossed while the ball was in the air, Deepak was now on strike and the game on a knife
edge. What happened next would decide the league, and this time it would be Shivam that
would come up trumps with a beautiful yorker that uprooted Deepak’s stumps and sent the
Patong side into wild celebrations.

Patong had won, but, this game did not come down to one player, there were moments in
the game, in the season, that contributed to this victory. Tyler Whateley grasping his hardest
chance of the day, Shivam coming up big when his team needed it the most, Matt Kohler
finding form and a ton from nowhere, KCC deciding to surround the bat of Saju Abraham
and Saju retaliating with 8 important runs, Craig Morgan’s beautiful run out, a great catch by
Anthony Van Blerk to dismiss Waseem Manzoor in these teams earlier fixture. Cricket is not
about one player or one event. Cricket is about a team coming together for a common goal.
Small moments that at the time seem insignificant but ultimately decide a title.
The Phuket Misfits after a strong late showing in the league would finish second and claim
the runners up trophy.

Batsman of the tournament went to Waseem Manzoor, he also claimed the Best bowler and
player of the tournament title. Waseem Manzoor is a great player and gentleman on and off
the field. Phuket cricket is grateful to have someone of his level in our tournaments.

Written by Jason Robertson
Photo Courtesy of Michael Way