Macgregor Mystics v Qld Falcons

Warehouse Cricket Winter 2022 - Round 6 - Sunday B1

17 July 2022 at Judy Holt Park #1

The teams were greeted to a beautiful winter’s day at very well prepared Judy Holt Park.

Mystics won the toss and elected to bat. A rare appearance opening with the bat by skipper Allauddin Mohammed was short-lived when he edged to the keeper off Mohammed Siddiqui in the second over, but that was the only joy for the Falcons in the first hour as Gojanur Channa and Sukhveer Singh compiled a run-a-ball 82 run stand for the second wicket. It was a re-introduced Siddiqui that brought the partnership to a halt in the 15th over when Sukhveer was trapped in front just two balls after reaching his 50. Another wicket right on drinks put the Falcons back in it at 3/95.

What was a good start for the Mystics became mediocre when spinners Salah and Ammar grabbed three wickets in 12 balls in the 21st and 22nd overs to reduce Mystics to 6/125. Channa brought up his 50 then mounted a rescue mission with the aid of Aman Dhaliwal. Together they added 71 from 98 balls for the 7th wicket before Channa was trapped in front by Abdullah in the 39th over. Muhammed Salah struck twice in two balls in the next over and the Mystics were back on their heels again at 9/199. A vital 50 run 10th wicket partnership in just 56 balls between Taha Artani and Arun Kumar propelled Mystics to a solid 249 at the end of the 49th over.

Falcons’ chase started poorly. A mix-up at the start of the second over had Mohammed Siddiqui short of his ground attempting a second when Arun Kumar’s throw hit the stumps and Sami Hassan had his stumps disturbed by Arun in the next over to make it 2/7. Then, two in two balls in the 6th over made it 4/21. Aman juggling and holding a catch at slip and the new batsman trapped in front by Sukhveer. From that point it was going to be difficult for Falcons to run down the target. Partnerships of 45 for the 5th wicket; 31 for the 6th and 41 for the 9th kept them in the hunt. All anchored by a fine knock of 71 from 69 balls by Aamar Liaqat. Falcons eventually succumbed for 164 in the 38th over. Sukhveer taking the bowling honours of 4/34 from 8.3 overs to go with his 50 with the bat.

Well done to all including groundsman Greg Stevens for the preparation of the field.