Lalchandani blows away opposition

HKCC's Gopal Lalchandani rolled back the years as he claimed 6-15 in the fourth round of Saturday League matches, played in wet and blustery conditions on 24th September 2005.

Typhoon Damrey may have skirted the territory but strong winds and periodic downpours affected all Saturday League matches and completely washed out the first round of the 2005-06 HKCA Sunday League and also the first match of the 2005-06 HKCA Women's League. Of the six Saturday League matches played, three were decided on run-rate calculations.

Playing against his HKCC clubmates, in a match at Po Kong Village Road, Gopal Lalchandani used the conditions to best effect as he claimed six Witherers' scalps. After dismissing Witherers for 136, Centaurs were in a comfortable position at 115-3 when the match was abandoned with Centaurs declared the winners thanks to their superior run-rate.

A similar result ensued in the other match being played at PKVR, where Lamma were the benefactors of the conditions against Saracens. Batting first Saracens were restricted to 139-7 with A Mehmood the only batsman offering any resistance with a hard-hit 72 not out. In reply, Lamma were teetering slightly at 117-6 but their superior run-rate assured them maximum points.

Gap Ramblers were the only team to bat with any assurance in the bowler friendly conditions, with Jeremy Collard (69) and Mark Kratzman (70) taking a liking to the LSW Warriors bowlers in the match played at HKCC. Gap Ramblers' total of 259-9 was more than 100 runs better than the next highest score posted on the day. Usman Shahzad claimed four wickets for LSW Warriors but they came at a cost of nearly eight runs per over. In reply, LSW Warriors had reached 102-4 when play was abandoned but they were well behind the required run-rate.

SubCont scored the most comfortable victory of the day as they romped to a nine-wicket win over Mainlanders at Mission Road. Sanjay Patnaik claimed 4-21 as the Mainlanders were dismissed for 110. Despite the loss of an early wicket, SubCont eased to victory with undefeated half-centuries by Krishnan and Rahul Sambhus.

Another low scoring match was played at Sandy Bay, where HKU beat CCC by five wickets. HKU's Tahir Khan claimed 4-13 as CCC were dismissed for only 73 runs. The HKU batsmen struggled but eventually reached their target for the loss of five wickets.

At KCC, MCC St George's scored their first win of the season as they beat Crusaders by four wickets. Aftab Ahmed was the chief destroyer for MCC St George's as he claimed 4-9 from his two overs. Mumtaz Yasir's (79 including 9 sixes) blistering assault on the Crusaders' bowlers propelled MCC St George's to their target of 152 for the loss of six wickets.

After four rounds of the Saturday League only four teams have an unbeaten record - Gap Ramblers, Lamma, SubCont and Tartars.

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