July saw the belated debut of the Sharks new uniform, wins for the T20 squads and 3rd XI, a sponsors day for Auto Craft, a couple of losses, the first of the summer’s heat cancelled matches and a Sharks BBQ; in short another fun packed month for the Sharks!

Following a prolonged period of negotiation, waiting and customs issues the Sharks were finally ready to don their new uniform, including hats that had the strong and distinct smell of fish sauce, on July 5th at the 1st JCL T20 match of the season against the Tigers. The weather was hot and humid at SICG, but the teams were fortunate that the day was overcast which kept the temperature just the right side of bearable for what would be a hard fought match. The Tigers opened the batting and were looking in trouble at the end of the 4th over with only 19 runs and three players removed, including Sabaorish removed for a duck by a peach bowled by Kento and sent straight into the gloves of keeper Marcus. The Sharks were hoping the removal of ‘The Sabao’ would be a winning move…at this level though, nothing is easy and the Tigers fought back against the attack from our bowlers reaching the end of their innings with a score of 143/8. The Sharks innings started well and at the end of the 4th over they were in a better place than the Tigers at the same point, being on 27/2. Batsmen 3 (Rithvik, 18 off 13) and 4 (Takady, 24 off 26) put on a good show, but a wobble in the middle order saw some cheap wickets and accusations of questionable decisions. Batsmen 9 (Timmy, 29 off 23) and 10 (Kento, 8 off 13) restored some calm and brought the game within reach but the Tigers bowlers managed to stop the rotation of the strike in the last 2 overs and smother the game, winning the game for the Tigers by 17 runs.

Sunday 6th July saw a Sharks double header at the riverside grounds, with the 2nd XI playing KKR on ground 1A and the 3rd XI playing AQCC on ground 1C. This day did not have the benefit of the clouds from the day before, and by the end of the day both teams were cooked, suffering and with a few cases of heatstroke following a day in 35 degree heat. All games in Sano had reduced overs that day, with the 3rds playing 30 overs and the 2nds 35.

The 3rd XI were fortunate enough to win the toss yet again, and so took the strategic option of batting first to let AQCC cook in the field. In the heat the batting was slow, with the added challenge that the 20cm high grass made anything but the hardest hit shots non-scoring. The side held out until the 29th over, but the heat, pressure of having to slog to score, and quality of the AQCC bowling was too much in the end, the side reaching 112/10 (including 51 extras, proving that just holding your wicket and letting the extras come is a viable strategy). The 3rds strength is its bowling lineup and after some icewater and shade they got to work, starting with a maiden over from Vik. From then on, barring the horror of 9 wides, a no-ball and 8 off the bat in a single over, the 8 Sharks bowlers acquitted themselves well and kept the scoring tight whilst removing the opposition. Shige was the leading wicket taker with 3 for 8 runs whilst Hamdan was the cheapest bowler taking 2 for and amazing  0 runs. In the end the 3rds took out AQCC before they had completed their chase, winning by 16 runs.

The Victorious 3rds – First Sharks win in the new Uniform

After a quick pack-up many of the 3rds then headed over to riverground 1A where the 2nd XI were battling with KKR. When the 3rds arrived Tim and Muneeb were busy batting whilst a heat exhausted squad sat in the shade, having lost the toss and been forced to bowl first. The squad told of a tough innings in the field, with KKR batters fiendishly hard to remove and the heat draining all their energy. Of the 7 bowlers 4 took wickets, with Mahesh taking 3, Muneeb and Rithvik taking 2 each and Umar taking one. KKR battled through to the end of their innings finishing on 195/8. Rithvik and Sud had opened the Sharks batting, and by the end of the 8th over they had got the score to 59, mainly through Rithvik who had hit 6 boundaries by that point. Rithvik batted on until the 16th over, when he was runout on 51. Tim and Muneeb gave a strong mid order fight putting together a partnership of 49 before they were both bowled in the 28th and 29th overs respectively: at this point the Sharks had 159 runs and needed 45 to win. After Atiq was removed on 8 (score 161) Nick came to the Creece and made a heroic stand whilst other Sharks fell around him, hitting 22 off 19 balls. The finish was a nail-biter going down to the last ball, with the Sharks needing 3 runs. Captain Rui hit a good ball, but it was fielded and the team could only manage 2. The Sharks lost by 1 run. Back in the Sharks camp, as players recovered with icewater and Mahesh`s biriyani, the team had mixed feelings – down after loosing, glad to have put up such a strong fight and had such fun, and vowing never to play cricket in this heat again.

The 2nds, after a hard fought loss

The next Saturday, July 12th, saw the JCL T20 team vs the Titans on SIGC1. Despite apprehension about the heat in the week before, the teams were in luck and it was a pedestrian 26 degrees, with some cloud and even a little light rain. Dhugal was captaining the squad, with regular captain Abhi on leave; Dhugal playing his first match since becoming a father. After winning the toss and deciding to bat, the instruction from Dhugal was clear – score off every ball. Openers Dhugal and Ghufy came out the blocks meaning business running at more than 10 runs an over. When Dhugal was removed in the 8th over he was on 48 runs having faced only 23 balls. Ghufy stayed in whilst Ben, Nikhil and Tim were removed around him, cruising past 50 in the 13th over and finally being bowled in the 17th on a mammoth 87 from 54 balls. In the end all the batters contributed something, with no ducks, the Sharks reaching a respectable 183 after 20 overs. The Sharks had been expecting an aggressive response from the Titan’s batters, but an aggressive bowling and fielding attack decimated their lineup from the first over. In the end they were all removed by the 12th over on a total of only 61. As the shell-shocked Titan’s left the field, the Sharks could congratulate themselves on an excellent performance in the field – 3 wickets for Manav, 2 for Bhuvith, 1 each for Ben, Kento, Tim  and Muneeb plus 2 catches each for Ben, Takady and Tim. Many of the Sharks then headed to the nets for a practice session which was to last until SICG shut at 6.

On Sunday the Sharks were in action again, this time in a Japan Cup encounter against the Falcons at Sammu. A number of players from the day before were in attendance, hoping to keep the sides perfect record intact. Also at Sammu were the staff from the Shark’s sponsors Auto Craft, being treated to their annual sponsors day. Unlike the day before there was little cloud and the temperature was back up to 32 degrees. Both sides were hoping to bat first to get the advantage of wearing their opponent out in the field, unfortunately the toss went to the Falcons. Fortunately the Sharks fielding and bowling was as good as yesterday and the Falcons fell like flies, surviving only to the 18th over and managing only 85. Muneeb took 3 wickets and a catch, Ben 2 wickets and a catch, Rithvik and Manav 2 wickets each and Nikhil 1 wicket. Rahul and Abhi took impressive catches that got some cheers from the watching crowd. The batting was clinical when it came, Nikil (24 off 23), Ben (26 off 18) and Ghufy (23 off 16) doing most of the work. Takady was not out on 5 when the game ended, Ghufy also not out, with the Sharks on 86/2.

Guests from Auto Craft

Following their 1 wicket loss earlier in the month the 2nds were looking for a win again on the 19th, against the Rising Stars on riverground 1A. The match was again shortened because of heat, although this week it was only 32 degrees (balmy!). This time the toss went with the Sharks and the 2nds got to bat first. Despite the shortened overs the side didn’t quite make the end of their innings, being dismissed for 149 in the 34th over. Mahesh was top scoring batsman with 49, whilst club president Marcus, batting at 2 contributed a respectable 23. The Rising Stars chase was touch with wickets falling aplenty, including 3 ducks, unfortunately the bowlers could not dislodge batsman Irfan who got to his 50 with a 2 that took the Stars past the Sharks total at the end of the 29th over, the Sharks having needed only one more wicket to seal the match. The Sharks bowling attack was notable for having Marucs (usually a wicket keeper), who took 2 wickets. Whether his decision to bowl was a result of bowling in the SIGC nets the week before was not known, but whatever the reason it was a good choice.

Much to the disappointment of the teams the planned July 26th Div 1 encounter between the Sharks and Tigers was cancelled because of excessive heat (39 degrees) in the Sano area; that weekend all matches were cancelled in Sano for both days of the weekend. The lack of games on Sunday 27th was not an issue for the Sharks, however, as they met in Kasai Kaihin park for a BBQ with their family and friends. By all accounts the event was a great success, with softball cricket, good food, beers cooled with the Sharks stubbies and much paddling and fun. A great way to celebrate the end of July, the start of summer proper and some good wins for the Sharks.

Hold on to that tent!

At the end of the month the Sharks were top of the table in the Japan Cup EK Div 1, 2nd in JCL Div 1, 7th in JCL Div 2, 3rd in JCL Div 3 and 4th in the JCL T20 Group B.