The first day of the Div 4 champs brought Cyprus against Switzerland. Playing on their "home" ground on Happy Valley 1 this was a game that Cyprus needed to win. A good start would prove their abilities against strong opposition and settle the nerves of playing on a larger stage. Switzerland has been out of competition for over six years, but they field 18 clubs in their league and with such a broad choice of players they were strong contenders for promotion.

 

Cyprus won the toss and decided to bat first.It was a nail biting first few overs. A sharp slip catch was put down, increasing Anils and Kapilas jitters. But gradually the two settled and the partnership found its momentum. After ten overs and the end of the first power play just 17 runs had been scored. After 20 overs with the score on 41 and the two were still at the crease and settling into what looked to be a long partnership. It took a very fine throw from the square leg boundary to bring it to an end as Kapila was run out. The two had batted for 15 overs and taken the score to 47.

Anil was now joined by Kashif, who was content to support as Anil began to expand, first hitting fours and then sixes as their partnership blossomed. Kashif joined in with a couple of sixes himself before being caught in the 32 over off Sanjeevans bowling for 39.  The partnership had added 96 runs taking the score onto 143.

 

 

The Swiss were finding it hard to adapt to the heat, and their initial bounce had disappeared. This was a good time for no 4 Dileep to take the stage. In 8 overs he punched the ball all over the field, deflating the Swiss bowlers even further, taking the score on to 205 before being caught off Raja for 54.

 

 

Anil was still at the crease and now full of confidence;. He was happy to take on the flagging Swiss attack, powering the score onto 244 before being caught off Nazir. He had scored his maiden century, and chosen an excellent time to do it. He hit six sixes and six fours in a total of 103 runs, he batted for 45 overs, and had put Cyprus into an unassailable position.

 

 

Mike K (18) held the tail together for the remaining overs to bring the total to 277.  Raja Munawar had best figures for the Swiss taking 3 wickets for 43 from his ten overs.

The Swiss started cautiously, negotiating Mike K and Chris M speedy opening spell. As they tried to accelerate from their slow run rate, Sajid fell in the tenth over to an out swinging ball from Chris, caught spectacularly by Sawar diving behind the stumps.

 

 

Kawaja and Wessel tried to rebuild only for Kawaja (31) to fall in the 16 over with the score on 52, followed the next over by Wessel.

 

 

A fourth wicket partnership between Nazir (33) and Theaver (16) took the score on to 99 but then a succession of wickets falling to spinner Kapila, broke the back of the Swisss innings. It was all over but the shouting, despite a spirited swish from the tail form Raja (20) and Issadeen (10), the last pair finally falling in the 40th over with the final score 168. Kapila took 6 wickets for 40 from his 9 overs.

 

Cyprus Bat Anil 103, Kapila 25, Kashf 39, Dileep 54, Muhammad 2, Nalaka 4, Sawar 2, Nirshan 4, Mike K 19no, Chris V 3no, Chris M dnb.

Swisss Bowl K.Muhammad 46-1, Raja 43-3, Nazir 49-2, Taiq 35-0, Ullah 65-0, S. Muhammad 10-0, Theaver 26-1

Swiss Bat Ullah 4, Khawaja 31, Wessel 8, Nazir 33, Theaver 16, S Muhammad 2, Tariq 1, K Muhammad 16, Mudiyanselage 11, Raja 20, Issadeen 10 no

Cyprus Bowl Mike K12-0., Chris 24-1, Kashif 20-1, Niroshan 28-1, Kapila 40-6, Muhammad 19-0, Dileep 28-1

 

For complete scorecard visit http://www.icc-europe.org/EURODIV4/CARDS/CYPSWZ.shtml