This was Cyprus cup final, a game that if they won, would almost certainly bring the prize of promotion to Division 3. The opponents were Austria, who like Cyprus had won both their games and were on maximum points. They too knew that this game would decide their promotion.

So there were two very nervous teams that went through their practice routines on HappyValley 2. This pitch with its slow outfield has not offered many runs to date, so all the indications were for a low scoring game.

 

Cyprus batted first, with centurions Anil and Kapila holding their teams hopes in their hands. Over after over of very tight bowling restricted both batsmen, each single cheered enthusiastically by their team mates on the boundary.  By the fifth over there were only two runs on the board, by the tenth just 18, and then in the thirteenth with both bats trying to increase the rate, disaster as Kapila (14) was caught off Sharma at mid on with the score on 27. The celebrations among the Austrians showed they knew how hard a blow this was to Cyprus.

Kashif and Anil held their own against a varied and accurate attack, scoring when they could. Although the rate was painfully slow, first two and then creeping up to three an over, the two were determined not to give chances. By the 30 over the score was only 75 but most importantly both were still at the crease. In the next four they started to open up, taking on the leg spin of Lakmal, who had been such a destroyer of teams in previous games. In the 33 over Kashif was caught off Satish Kaul. Dileep came and went three balls later bowled by Satish. There followed a uncontrollable spiral of the type that Cyprus had hoped they had put behind them, a batting collapse. Anil batted determinedly through the rattle of wickets at the other end for his 40, but when he was out, caught off the ubiquitous Satish, Cyprus were left praying for another bat to take up the fight. But none could deliver With 6 the highest score from the middle order, the batting ground to its demise in the 44 over with 117 on the board.

It was a very dour mood in the Cyprus pavilion over lunch. Low scores have won matches before and all they could do was bowl and field like demons and trust their luck.

And they did bowl with all the heart they had. Chris M and Mike K had gave a splendid display of fierce opening bowling, Chris dismissing both openers by the tenth over with only 10 runs on the board.

 

 

Kashif bowled his heart out, and Kaplila and Dileep bowled their tight accurate spin.

But a third wicket stand between Australians Clemens Cathcart and Ben Loader, slowly took game away from Cyprus.

 

 

Cyprus may rue its missed chances, and there were too many, but the quality of these batsmen brought Austria their win. Cathcart (32) in support with Loader the striker, Austria went to 41 off twenty overs, 71 off thirty, and 104 of thirtynine, when an astonishing over from Muhammad removed them both.

 

 

But it was all too late, and in the 46 over the game were over, with Austria the victors by six wickets.

 

 

Cyprus batting Anil 40, Kapila 14, Kashif 27, Dileep 0, Muhammad 3, Danuka 6, Miken K 0, Nalaka 5, Chris V 0, Niroshan 3, Chris M 0 no.

Austria bowling Sharma 23-1, Peiris 21-1, Kasthuriarachoch 26-0, Kaul 25-5, Akhtar 11-2

Austria batting Simpson 2, Naeem 4, Cathcart 32, Loader 61, Kasthuriarachoch 0, Saluja 2 no, Grasinger 6 no.

Cyprus bowling Mike K 17-0, Chris M 18-2, Kapila 24-0, Kashif 31-1, Dileep 21-0, Muhammad 7-2.

 

For complete scorecard go to http://www.icc-europe.org/EURODIV4/CARDS/AUTCYP.shtml