Nunholm: 152/8 (40 overs)
Hillhead 2nd XI: 153/9 (37.2 overs)
In a high stakes encounter between the top two teams on the table, Hillhead 2nd XI edged out Nunholm in a nail-biting finish. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Hillhead 2 aimed to keep Nunholm’s score within reach.
Nunholm’s openers, A Reed, and J Cox, set a solid foundation with Reed scoring a patient 26 from 56 balls and Cox delivering a robust 40 off 59 deliveries. Despite their promising start, Hillhead’s bowlers steadily chipped away at the line-up. Rayyan Butt was especially frugal, claiming 2 wickets for just 11 runs in his 6 overs. Darshan and captain Sai also contributed significantly with the ball, taking 2 wickets each. Key moments included two crucial runouts, brilliantly executed by Darshan and wicket-keeper Ramzan Mohammed, which broke the back of Nunholm’s innings. Lower-order contributions from L Renou (30 off 36) helped push the total to a competitive 152/8, aided significantly by 27 extras, including 24 wides.
The chase began with early setbacks for Hillhead 2, losing Sam Dabell and Sai Kumar quickly to N Cubbon. Deil Patel steadied the innings with a composed 30, but the pressure from Nunholm’s bowlers, particularly T Newport who took 3 wickets for 34 runs, kept Hillhead on their toes.
Despite regular wickets, including a notable middle-order collapse, Hillhead found resilience in their lower order. Darshan Chatrathi played a crucial knock of 38, and with Ayush Agarwal contributing 10 and Agrim Jain remaining unbeaten on 6, Hillhead inched closer to their target. Extras once again played a pivotal role, with Nunholm conceding 36, including a significant number of wides.
The match culminated in a thrilling finale with Hillhead 2nd XI achieving victory by 1 wicket in 37.2 overs. The day was defined by strong performances from both teams’ bowlers and critical innings from the lower-order batsmen. Hillhead 2nd XI’s resilience and determination saw them through in a match that will be remembered for its suspense and excitement.
