Yesterday's preview which gave predictions of a shoot out in the sun in Rush proved wide of the mark as there was not too much sun around and the match actually took place in Park Avenue, but I digress. Rush won the toss and with their long batting line up decided to have a bat. However things didn't go too well for them.
Stephen Doheny and Prashanth Viswanath opened up for Rush, Saad Ullah and Kevin O'Brien took the ball for Railway. The scored had moved on to 16 all scored by Doheny when he was bowled by Saad Ullah. Tipu joined Viswanath and three balls later fell lbw to Ullah who was bowling beautifully. Neil Rock to the middle next, but the score had only moved on to 21 when he also fell lbw to Saad Ullah for 1. Viswanath up the other end wondering what was going on. The experienced Jeremy Bray would surely settle things down. Six runs later he was run out by Dhram Singh for 2. The score now 27-4. Conor Mullen joined Viswanath and the pair brought the score to 45 when Mullen was caught by Ciaran Divney off the bowling of Hashir Sultan. Rush struggling at 5-45. Subramanya Ramnathpur had work to do when he joined Viswanath and the pair batted steadily to 88 when Viswanath was trapped in front by Kevin O'Brien for a well made 40 from 100 balls hitting 5 fours. Ramnathpur was joined by Shahid Iqbal for the best partnership of the innings, bringing the score to 138 when Iqbal was caught by Hashir Sultan off the bowling of Saad Ullah for 20. The tail now exposed and didn't wag too much. Alex Neary was bowled for 1 by Dhram Singh. Allan Eastwood caught Kevin O'Brien off the brilliant Ullah, his fifth wicket of the winnings, for 1. Ranil Dhammika rounded off the innings bowling Daniel Coffey for 1. Rush all out for 143.
Railway's bowlers all bowled well. But the plaudits definitely go to Saad Ullah, 9 overs 1 maiden 5 for 14. Kevin O'Brien 1-27, Hashir Sultan 1-28, Mohammad Tariq 0-27, Ranil Dhammika 1-19 and Dhram Singh 1-20.
No need for heroics for Railway to finally get their season up and running. Kenny Carroll and Abdullah Hafiz opened up for Railway. Alan Eastwood and Daniel Coffey took the ball for Rush. Eastwood got the early breakthrough when he had Hafiz lbw for 2 when the score was 11. Alex Stiles joined Carroll and immediately they settled things down and set about building a partnership. Stiles had scored 38 from 58 balls when he was trapped in front by Stephen Doheny, the score had moved on to 95. Kenny Carroll was batting beautifully at the other end. Hashir Sultan joined Carroll and the pair guided Railway home. Sultan hitting 20 not out from 41 balls. The imperious Carroll 79 not out from 98 balls with 9 fours and 3 maximums. Railway were home and dry with 8 wickets to spare.
Rush bowlers tried hard, but with not enough runs on the board it was a tough task. Allan Eastwood 1-30, Daniel Coffey 0-13, Subramanya Ramnathpur 0-23, Shahid Iqbal 0-14, Stephen Doheny 1-40 and Alex Neary 0-22.
Railway Union (24 pts)
Rush (1 pt)