ODDs cap off a great season for the Tigers as 6th Grade and ODBs just miss out.
6th Grade took on Cockburn at Coker Park, won the toss and batted first. We got off to a great start as Shamez and Steve took the score to 32 before Shamez was trapped LBW for a great knock of 22 from 29 balls. Deepak Saini carried on his good form the semi final, making a fine 46 from 79 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours, but wickets tumbled around him as the next 6 batsmen could only muster 3 runs between them. Deepak was the 9th wicket to fall as we posted a below par score of 90. Cockburn batted out the day to finish on 2/45 overnight. Sunday bought about new hope as their 3rd wicket fell early with Steve Hall breaking through and when Liam Bastin struck we had them 4/64 and then a brilliant run out by Sid Mokala had them 5/73. But it wasn’t to be as they lost one more wicket at 6/89 and then struck the winning runs shortly after. The fairytale finish didn’t eventuate but it didn’t take away the amazing season 6th grade had this year, rising from bottom of the ladder last season to the top by a long way. Well done 6th Grade TIGERS!!
ODB also took on Cockburn away at Enright Reserve. It was the clash of the top 2 teams as we lost the toss and batted first. It was a bad start as we lost our 2 top batsmen for 14 runs, but a 60 run partnership from Yesudas Kuriakose and Asish C Thomas got us back on track. Ashish fell for 37 from 37 balls and then Muhammed Ajmal Pallithadathil Nazer added 21 while Yesudas hung in there. Yesudas fell for a well made 58 with 5 sixes as we were 5/140. Quick wickets fell but our last pair added 22 runs to get us to a good total of 9/177. Our bowlers were on top at the start taking 2 quick wickets to have Cockburn 2/13, Jouhar Khan and Libu Louis Jainy both striking. But the Cockburn bats ground out good partnerships to pass our total in the 37th over at 4/178, Libu Louis Jainy taking 2/23. It was still a great season for the ODB boys especially with the crucial loss of Captain Nithin at the end of the season. Well done ODB TIGERS!!
ODD took on Canning Vale away at Clifton Oval. we lost the toss and bowled first. Vinish Payyappilly struck first bowling their opening bat, but then we started bowling too many wides as they reached 32 for 1. Jobin Thomas would strike, taking the next 3 wickets to have them 4/46. The game would take a big change with the introduction of Melvin Thomas who took a wicket with his 1st, 3rd and last ball of his first over to have Canning Vale reeling at 7/57. Subin Thomas came on and took a wicket and then Melvin would take his 4th to have them 9/68, but a last wicket stand of 15 held us up until Melvin took his 5th wicket to have them all out for 83. Melvin Thomas leading the way with 5/12 and a great spell from Jobin Thomas taking 3/12. The chase got off to a great start with Eldose Paul smashing 24 from 25 balls with 4 fours, but his wicket at 1/27 would bring 2 as Safil fell first ball, 2/27, Abin Raj dug in to add an important 21 off 47 balls as wickets fell around him, and when he fell at 6/68 we were looking shaky. An untimely run out and then Jobin being bowled had us 8/73 and we were on the edge of our seats, cheering to every run. Melvin and Subin would guide us home, thanks to some dropped chances, to victory at 8/84 as the Tigers and their supporters invaded the oval to cheer them off. A fantastic win with a stand out performance from man of the match Melvin Thomas. Congratulations ODD, premiers for 2023/24.
Cannington Tigers Cricket Club 