SINGAPORE rode on a mature display from 17-year-old Anish Paraam and an exciting batting display from Buddhika Mendis to score a 3-wicket win over Botswana in their second match in the World Cup League Division 5 Group B match in Jersey on 25 May 2008.
Whilst the duo were the more recognizable contributors, the Republic’s other spinners performed their task asked of them as all the 9 Botswana wickets to fall went to the slower bowlers. Botswana’s 183-9 was a competitive total, especially when their first 3 bowlers went on the offensive from the first delivery. But Anish, with 66 not out, and Mendis with 79, ensured victory in 47.3 overs.
The game was replayed after it was washed out on 24 May 2008. With overnight rain having crept onto the wicket, skipper Chaminda Ruwan elected to field. Singapore propped up the spinning department, leaving out pacer Arun Vijayan to field Rizwan Madakia, Dharmichand Mulewa, Narender Reddy, Anish and Mendis in an attempt to accelerate the over rate to ward off the possible effects of rain.
The plan worked, but it was young Anish who was instrumental in showing the way. He followed up his 3-21 in 10 overs against Jersey on 23 May 2008 to pick up even better figures of 3-20 off his 10 overs. Mulewa, Reddy took 2 wickets and Rizwan and Mendis got 1 each.
Anish and Mendis mere united at the crease with the Republic being put in a shaky 24-2 in 9.4 overs when Reddy and Ruwan were dismissed. Things could have been worse, with Mendis and Anish being dropped twice each. But once they got into their stride, the batting was eye-catching. Mendis, who made 79, was the more elegant of the 2. He flicked, cut and pulled the balls, piercing the field with so much grace, looking incapable of being dismissed.
But he was finally accounted for when he crashed a short delivery and was caught at the square-leg boundary for a well-compiled innings of 79 in 126 balls, including 6 fours.
Anish did not get out. He nudged the ball to fine leg. He guided the ball to third man. He dropped the ball short and ran hard. He hit the Republic’s only 6. He was simply outstanding, hitting 3 fours in his unbeaten 66 in 94 balls.
“We got the 2 points we wanted,’’ said team manager Mahmood Gaznavi. “It was a superb all-round team effort. The boys worked hard and played with the only objective in mind which was to win. We know net run-rate can play an important part and we would have liked to have met the target a little sooner but batting was not easy, especially in the opening stages and against a Botswana attack that can trouble even accomplished batsmen.”
Brief scores : Botswana 183-9 in 50 overs (Mulewa 2-50, Anish 3-20, Rizwan 1-23, Reddy 2-23, Mendis 1-4). Singapore 184-7 in 47.3 overs (Mendis 79, Anish 66 n.o.). Full Scorecard
Japan v Jersey at Les Quennevais 2.
Jersey won by 8 wickets
Japan 124-8 (50 overs) M Hague 4-26
Jersey 125-2 (34.1 overs) P Gough 59*
Afghanistan v Bahamas at Les Quennevais 1.
Afghanistan won by 5 wickets
Bahamas 46 (24 overs) G Naid 5-7 inc hat-trick, Hassan 2-12, D Ahamdzai 2-14
Afghanistan 49-5 (6.3 overs) M Ford 3-5
USA beat Norway by 10 wickets
Norway 85 all out (31.1 overs)
USA 87-0 (14.5 overs)
Nepal beat Mozambique by 219 runs
Nepal 238-7 (50.0 overs)
Mozambique 19 all out (14.5 overs)
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