Overcast conditions at Mannofield greeted Shell CC and Aberdeen All Stars for the eagerly anticipated Oxy Cup final showdown. The energetic groundsman constantly looking skywards for any signs of precipitation and impending doom. Despite a few light drops the game went ahead uninterrupted.

 

Both teams resplendent in coloured clothing, Electric blue for AAS and Black aided by the washing machine effect, cunningly removing the Shalimar logo to reveal the Shell pecten. Aqeel winning the toss and electing to bat first. Irfan and Shahid getting some last minute practice in the nets and displaying some high class strokeplay…could they continue this form out in the middle?

 

A bright still evening greeted both teams at Linksfield Arena with new shiny team shirts being distributed by Captain Aqeel. Names on backs, sponsors logo’s on the front with the Shell pecten being carefully hidden under the Shalimar branding. Some Shell CC players being overambitious in terms of size needs….”I thought these sizes would have been more generous.” was heard many times…..Captain Aqeel winning hearts and minds….unfortunately this wasn’t applied to the toss with Bons electing to bat.

 

On a lovely evening at allan Park, AAS Captain Indy won the toss and elected to bat. Mohit & Ash opened the innings for AAS, Mohit falling in the 2nd over, clean bowled by Sojan. This brought Amith to the crease, Ash fell to Sojan's next over, stumped by George for 12. Himanshu joined Amith, and straight away hit Bimal for a boundary to deep extra cover, but, Himanshu also fell to Sojan in the next over clean bowled. Indy came in with the score sitting at 29 for 3. Amith & Indy steadied the ship with singles and steady boundaries. This brought a bowling change for the strikers, Bijil coming on to bowl 3 wides in his 1st over, Bijil got his radar fixed in his 2nd over to clean up the opposition skipper Indy for 15 runs. Mayank walked in, and then walked out after 2 balls without troubling the scorer's App. Amith, finally fell for 23, Gipson cleaning him up in the 12th over. New batsmen Abhilash & Prashant Srinivasan set about their task, Abhilash lifting Gipson for a handsome six to deep cover. In the 15th over, Prashant S felt it was time for him to cut loose, he smashed his namesake Prashanth Gopinathan for 3 brutal sixes, 2 over straight long-on and one over deep cover. Prasanth fell 4 short of his 30, to a brilliantly c&b to Savan. Next walked in 'Boom Boom' Abrar who started by muscling Savan to cow cornber for a boundary, but fell shortly after to a lovely delivery from Savan, cleaning him up. Abhilash, Kamal & Talwinder pushed the AAS score up to 144 with quick singles and a boundaries in each remaining over. Sojan finishing on 3 for 13 and Gipson 2 for 19 the pick of the bowlers.

 

Today we see AAS meet Strikers at Allan Park for a place in the Final. AAS are in a good run of form, but, Strikers have been biding their time.

 

AAS will be hoping Abrar & Himanshu can do the damage with the ball & bat.

 

Strikers will be hoping Varghese is on form with the bat & ball..... so it should be a good game.

 

It's not just the weather that has heated up .... .so too has the top of the AECL League.

 

Currently AAS, Strikers & Shell are tied on 6 points at the top of the table. AAS holding a clear advantage in the win margin.

 

But, Strikers have a game in-hand over Shell & AAS.