Scorecard

Villa Park meets their nemesis Windy City in a cold and hostile play off environment, with weather playing a big role. Windy City won the toss and went back to their basic game plan, to get VPCC out cheap and early and chase the target with the experience bats they have in their arsenal. VPCC who admires swinging the bat first in any given condition sent in their ace Zeyad Imtiaz to tag along with usual partner in crime Mujtaba Baqir. Both started off well considering the play off atmosphere and extra pressure of playing one the best all time team in ACC set up. Hashim Raza (2) who was having his share of trouble with the no balls made early in-road in VPCC batting line up, as he got Mujtaba (9) and ever-dangerous Sohail Rehmani (0) in quick succession. That united the lethal pair of Imtiaz brothers to stabilize the innings in the big game. Both batsmen played mostly with straight bat and hit occasional boundaries. As launching pad was set up for Zeyad Imtiaz (34) to blast his way to another big score he fell to perilous Danish Ali (1). Haris (28) joined by Fawad Agha (14) to calm the nerves of Villa Park dug out, but before the pair got any more comfortable Mir Ali introduced Sunny Khan (2) into the bowling attack. Sunny struggled with his line as he bowled 10 wides but also strangled the Windy City grip on the game by claiming back to back wickets of big guns of VPCC, Haris Imtiaz and Uzair Ali (0). Another prize package for Villa Park this season Arsalan Ali (2) joined Fawad Agha to the crease but the pair failed to put their usual flare in running between the wickets, as Arsalan was sent back by a direct hit from the boundary by Mir Ali. Fawad Agha showed is usual patience and hung around long enough with the tail to take Villa Park score to respectable 122 runs. Mir Ali (3) cleaned up VPCC tail quickly before they could bat full quota of their overs.

It was like history repeating itself, as on couple of occasions Windy City has sent VPCC packing in play-offs after chasing mediocre targets. VPCC took the field reminding them selves the effort they have shown through out the season. Haris Imtiaz (3) took the new ball with Ahmed Bakhshi (2), who was back in side after more than 2 months off time from cricket. Haris bowled the hostile first over in which he demolished Mohit Saini’s stumps to give VPCC a dream start. Ahmed bowled with control and decent pace to support Haris well. Next man to be dismissed was Akbar Khan (0) who received a nasty short ball which rose quickly to the shoulder and took the glove and popped up to Sohail Rehmani at first slip. Ahmed Bakhshi fed off the energy and removed the dangerous Kashif Butt (17), as Mujtaba Baqir took a high and pressure catch at fine leg. This was the crucial juncture of the game as two most experience batters of the side Hashim Khan (13) and Mir Ali (10) joined the crease. Both established a very sensible partnership leaving most of the thunderbolts VPCC bowlers bowled at them. Muhammed Ahmed (2) also known as Lahori Express shared the ball with Fawad Agha (1) to ensure that bowling radar only goes up. Accurate bowling and brilliance in the field was VPCC policy that day. During the middle of all the drama M. Ahmed delivered a match changing over which claimed both set batsmen in one over with out giving a run. All of a sudden VPPC players had extra spring in their feet, every one was chirping a bit louder. To make things a bit tougher on Windy City the Champion off spinner Zeyad (2) claimed Sunny Khan (3) and Danish Ali (1) (courtsey of a marvelous catch by slick Furqan Qureshi) to shift the game in Villa Park favor. Still mighty Qasim Khan was at the crease trying to perform same role, which Fawad Agha performed in the early part of the game. VPCC bowlers did excellent job to contain the usually fluent bat of Qasim. Along with Sameer (3), Qasim (25) established a mini partnership, but before things got out of control Haris Imtiaz came back to remove the danger of Qasim by knocking his off stump over. This took the life out of Windy City’s camp, and almost ensured a win for Villa Park. But it is never over until it’s over, VPCC sent back last two batters quickly again showing off their brilliance in the fielding when Arsalan took a diving catch inches off the ground and Ahmed Bakhshi crashed the middle stump of Saddiq Khan. VPCC camp and players erupted in joy as they had waited 6 year to beat Windy City in play-offs.