Champions League T20

Skipper of the protean Warriors, 27 year old David Jacobs spelt a good day for his unit with his all round show. Playing Victoria Bushrangers, one of the favourites at the ongoing Champions League T20 – Jacobs started off with his pacy innings of 59 from 39 balls, which was followed by two sensational catches and some smart field changes later.

Winning the toss, Warriors skipper David decided to bat first on a bouncy Port Elizabeth turf. For a rather inexperienced unit like the Warriors, losing early wickets for cheap could’ve spelt doom for any chances of winning. But the 27 year old David from Transvaal played the experienced Victoria pace duo of Dirk Nannes and Andrew Mc Donald with a calm head and emulating the temperament of a seasoned pro. The Warriors skipper started firing from the very first over as they plundered 17 runs off Nannes’. And just to prove to the naysayers that it wasn’t just a quick flash in the pan, Jacobs collected 12 more off the next over from Shane Harwood.

After the initial mayhem, Victoria skipper David Hussey made a change in plans, as bowlers were instructed to reduce the pace off the ball and bring slower ones. The ploy worked and the Bushrangers kept the Warriors opening duo and especially David quiet for a couple of overs. The Warriors skipper for the first time in his innings looked uncomfortable against Nannes’ slower ones which clocked 140+ kmph. But Harwood’s next two overs bled 31 runs as the Warriors resorted to attacking tactics.

It was only after the first five overs that the Victoria pace attack found a chink in the Warriors armour and after Jacob’s run out in the tenth over things went a bit awry for the Warriors. And by the 13th over the Warriors were left reeling at 97 for the loss of 4 wickets. Only 16 runs being added in 3.2 overs since the dismissal of the skipper. Mark Boucher and Johan Botha added 40 runs for the fifth wicket and ensured the skipper’s efforts didn’t go in vain as they managed a competitive total of 158.

Victoria had their aces in place with an experienced batting line up. But a double strike by Makhaya Ntini, a veteran of over 100 tests removed both the openers with just 20 runs on the board.

A third wicket stand of 39 between David Hussey and Aaron Finch seemed to launch Victoria’s counterattack as Finch assaulted the Warriors’ spinners adding runs at an amazing nine runs per over. But Jacobs, the Warrior’s skipper wasn’t done yet as he covered ground from extra cover to wide mid off to pull off a stunner to dismiss Finch.

Spinners Nicky Boje and Johan Botha made correction to their mistakes, and deceived the tail with extra pace and flight. And as runs dried out at the death overs things looked bleak for Victoria. At the end of 20 overs the Victorian Bushrangers were left 28 runs short of the target.

By: Soubhik Ray

Tags: Champions League T20, CL T20, CLT20, Cricket, T20 Cricket, Twenty20 Cricket, Victorian Bushrangers, Warriors