Featured Match 1 JURA v CTU 11/3/2013

 JURA won by 27 runs

This was the first instance of a side gaining revenge for a previous defeat and it breathed fresh life into the title race. When the two teams met in their opening fixture the game ebbed and flowed and this one was equally keenly fought. CTU had looked  a class apart throughout most of their previous games and so even when their last pair came in needing 52, there was reason to believe they could fashion a victory. As it was, they fell comfortably short and their team suffered their first defeat. They actually scored eight more runs than JURA overall, but lost seven more wickets.

CTU came in from the cold, both literally and metaphorically, and one can only speculate how much this impacted on their performance. Certainly their fielding was below its usual high standards and they were also unusually wayward with the ball at times. JURA’s openers, Hanzaq and Chris, were calmness personified. They  took full advantage of CTU keeping their field deep, clocking up plenty of runs just in front of and just behind square and they were happy not to chase the wider offerings. The fact CTU spilled several fairly regulation chances shows that the batsmen did not completely abandon arial shots but nevertheless, JURA managed to amass 88 without hitting a single boundary.

After reaching 38 in four overs JURA looked well placed but CTU bounced back in the next four. The first wicket fell when Ty finally moved up from cover to short cover and caught Alex. Saul had bowled 3 wides in his first over but by gripping the ball across the seam he was later able to prevent it swinging excessively. This tactic can also lead to a heavier delivery that doesn’t bounce as much as those with a more orthodox seam angle and Alex was out again when he swung over the top of one that was well short of a length but still hit the stumps around three-quarters of the way up.

This meant JURA were just 52 after 8 overs and the momentum was back with CTU but Javid and Rich stuck to the plan and added a further 36 without loss. It was extremely judicious cricket. If the ball wasn’t there to hit then they didn’t try to. They worked many balls behind square and they called and ran well but although they were always alert they were never greedy and took no unnecessary risks.

JURA’s total was certainly competitive but it was far from job done for them. CTU’s openers, Charlie and AJ, took a more combative approach than their opposite numbers but the results were ultimately similar. Including a 6, Charlie and AJ scored 49 net runs but they lost two wickets, one being an outstanding catch by keeper Rich running to square leg.  Still, at 39 after 4 overs, CTU looked to be in the stronger position and JURA knew they would have to make something happen.

They did this partly through their fielding, for which brilliance has now become the norm. This may not have been absolutely their finest display but they remained assured and controlled at a time when it would have been easy to let the pressure tell. For their bowlers, Javid in particular stepped up to the plate. He achieved success without looking for dramatic movement or magic balls but by finding an immaculately straight line and full length. He was hard to work away even when the batsmen were only looking to nudge and nurdle for ones and twos. Consequently, more CTU wickets fell. JURA had had reason to fear that their middle pair only adding 14 would be where they lost the game but Ty and Saul made -2 net runs for CTU and suddenly the table toppers were in trouble.

52 proved too much for Trappa and Matt. They began in earnest and found the boundary but JURA were not about to choke. Maintaining an accurate line with the ball and concentrated focus in the field allowed them to pick up three more wickets and stymie any potential last gasp heroics. In the end, the game was up with something to spare and in the last over or two the only real issue was the size of the swing in the run rate. The result was probably satisfactory and unsatisfactory for both sides in equal measure. JURA have taken the title race down to the last week but they have not inflicted a telling wound in terms of run rates. CTU failed to wrap up the title but they know that, barring something incredulous, the matter is still in their hands.

Both sides deserve enormous credit for playing the game in exactly the right manner. It was fiercely contested but there were examples of genuine sportsmanship. Javid escaped with a warning for excessive backing up when batting - this may be etiquette but the laws allow for instant dismissal. Then CTU’s keeper AJ admitted to not having removed the bails cleanly after both umpires had agreed a run out should be given. Later, when AJ was batting he was involved in an accidental collision with Hanzaq that stopped him completing an easy run. JURA’s keeper Rich made no attempt to break the wicket, instead allowing AJ to make his ground. In the final analysis, none of those actions affected the result but, at the time, there was every chance they might have. 

Inns of : JURA

PAIR NAME	SCORE	NET RUNS		BOWLER NAME	OVERS	FIGURES
Hanzaq M Chris P	38-0	38		Ty	2	2-20
				Saul	2	1-17
Pete C Alex S	24-2	14		Trappa	3	1-21
				Charlie	2	0-10
Javid U Rich S	36-0	36		Matt	1	0-12
				AJ	2	0-18

                                              

RUNS  98      WKTS    2   NET TOTAL 88

Inns of : CTU

PAIR NAME	SCORE	NET TOTAL		BOWLER NAME	OVERS	FIGURES
Charlie AJ	49-2	39		Alex S	2	2-20
				Chris P	2	1-22
Ty Saul	18-4	-2		Javid U	3	3-19
				Pete C	2	2-12
Trappa Matt	39-3	24		Hanzaq M	3	1-33

RUNS      106      WKTS    9       NET TOTAL   61

RESULT :    JURA       WON BY    27 runs

Umpire & Scorer : B. Oliver