When I woke up last Sunday, I didn't imagine that the match would be as exciting and long-lasting as it was.
To stay in the race for the championship, the last few matches left are very important. In other words, we can't loose any.

We had a late start and after the toss (third time winning it) I opted to field first because restricting them for a low total, would make chasing it easier.
Keeping it simple is the best strategy I think and off we went. Zahid Shahjee (hereafter Shahjee) and I opened the bowling.
After a few overs and clearly they were targeting Shahjee, I cleanbowled one of their openers with an outswinging yorker. 27/1 after 5.
The new batsman looked solid and kept going on where the other one left and for a change hit me for a boundary. The batsman knew I didn't enjoy that and a few balls later got him plump in front of middlestump hitting his backfoot. Second successful yorker. I can tell you, it feels amazing. 35/2 after 8.
It was time to change the bowling after 12 overs so Zee and Omar came into the attack. The changes worked. They couldn't play Zee because of the pace and targeted Omar but instead handed him two wickets in his second over. One caught by himself in his follow through on a low full toss. The other, again a full toss, caught by Mehran at mid on. Very good advice by the Vice-Capo Zeddy to move Mehran back a bit and I put him back ten. Have to admit that even though on the field our view on things is different, Zeddy thinks like a batsman and I like a bowler, the combo works fine. 72/4 after 16.
To get the opener out, our secret weapon Khurram replaced Zee. In his second over, he bowled him and what a relief that was. The thing with Khurram's bowling is that nobody knows, not even he, what the ball does after release: cut, swing, do nothing, short/full with bounce or no bounce. Regardless of this, he's an important asset. 113/5 after 23.
The combination of Khurram and the usually very accurate Asif, worked for just a few overs but then the batsmen read every ball they released. From 116 in 24 they went to 159 in 27..
Those couple of overs were very expensive, part due to our bowling and part due to the very positive approach by the batsmen.
So they had to be replaced. Guy showed his offspin skills and first ball, first wicket, bowled one of their main batsman. The longhop this time did the trick. 159/6 after 28.
I came back from the other and in my second over, second spell, got their captain bowled by an offcutter hitting top of middlestump. Captain gets captain. 169/7 after 32.
Guy kept going from one end and after a few runs added, he struck hard. One caught at cowscorner by steady Asif and the other at deepmidwicket by Omar. 201/9 after 37.
In the end we didn't get them all out but restricted them to 220. It was quite funny when the last ball was hit for a single, I heard them shouting "hum jeet ghay" (we won).
So, I just had to say something back. After leaving the field I just said to their captain: "Is that all you guys made? This is atleast a 250+ pitch...am disappointed". I'm always up for some good old bashing and their captain could see the funny side of it.

Bowling figures:
Abid: 10-39-3
Guy: 7-33-3
Omar: 3.2-27-2
Khurram: 4-25-1
Mr extra: 61.........

So, batting. This is the exciting part so you guys could have left out reading about the bowling.
As usually, Zeddy and Asif opened. Both looked very relaxed at first. Zeddy got a either a bit too relaxed and just couldn't get himself going. Result: plump in front of middlestump. LBW given.
In our league, to get a LBW decision means the ball has to hit the batsman in front of middlestump, can't be swinging, should hit the backleg/hit the batsmen without him moving. You see, getting an LBW decision is more precious (because of the demands) than just plain cleanbowling someone. 40/1 after 8.
With Saqib in form the singles were taken quicker. Asif, being Asif didn't really want to go for singles so just smacked a few boundaries to reach his first half century with ACC without a fuss and equal balls.
The change to bring on a spinner paid off (for the opposition) and Asif played a skier and was caught at mid on. 86/2 after 14.
The quickrunners pair Saqib and Amir were on the crease and it looked very promising. Singles were turned into doubles and doubles into threes. A mix-up also occurred but as quick as they are, there wasn't much to worry. What was worrying when Saqib too mistimed a shot and was caught. Another wicket for their captain. 116/3 after 19.  Still ahead on the runrate and wickets in hand we didn't worry at all.
With Khurram in form for the last couple of matches, we expected atleast some fireworks but that didn't happen. 121/5 after 20.
So it was up to me, the captain to again score the winning runs just like last time against Kikkers. Amir explained to me that I didn't need to hit out since we had many overs left.
I agreed but I forgot to say to Amir that it also counts for him. Next ball he got bowled after trying to hockey sweep a full delivery onto his stumps. 121/5 after 21.
The sun was shining but as soon as Amir got bowled, I felt a bit cold. The sledging, although in Hindi and very funny, didn't relax me anymore. With Mehran now in we tried to support each other and just tried to have fun. I know I did and smacked a few boundaries. Mehran too followed my lead and went for the runs. Lucky for him he didn't follow all my lead as I charged the bowler on what seemed a beamer but hit the stumps. The square umpire called no-ball and a discussion started. I knew about the no-ball but not the tiny detail about charging. I had to walk and I did. 155/6 after 25.
I didn't see any fat lady singing and I refused to give up. Exciting part was that many of our ACC members were there to cheer us. Actually, I think they just had to urge to watch an exciting match after a long time so ACC3 is the team to follow....It could also be because of the time, 7:30pm, and still not finished.
Guy and Zee couldn't do much against their openingsbowler and got bowled. Being helpless on the other end, Omar came in and Mehran found a quick runner in him. This partnership proved to be very important as the scoreboard passed the magic 200. The opener came into attack and silenced the crowd: Omar played a half shot straight to square. 202 on the board.
With still Zee and Shahjee to come, this didn't scare Mehran at all. They were just told to give Mehran the strike as much as possible except Zee. His task or the only thing he can do, is swing the bat.
It worked for the first ball Zee faced: boundary. Cheers all over. After seven balls faced, got bowled. Silence of the crowd. 210/9.
Still 11 runs short and our own Shahjee got in, our only hope.
Every wide and a single was cheered as if it were the winning runs. Shahjee blocked his way out and gave strike to Mehran as much as possible.
The crowd wanted Shahjee to finish off with a six but as mature as he is, he blocked and stood there to survive.
Finally the moment of truth came and a good delivery was played towards cover for a quick single. We won! What a match.
On the forefront it was Asif's quick half century that did the damage but the youngster, Mehran, Saqib and Omar, made sure that we won this game in the end.
Wish every game could be as tight as this one, with the same fighting spirit from both teams.

Batting
Asif: 54 (7x4)
Mehran: 45* (4x4)
Saqib: 35 (2X4)
Abid: 17 (3X4)

Man of the Match:   Mehran "Shoaib Akhtar" Khan

A. Malik