Jain takes four, new player S. Undries stars for both teams

PDCC 139(42.2) def Brisbane Legends 91(26.2)

H Shahid 37, R Chinthamuneedi 28, S. Undries 22, N Jain 4/21, A Panju 4/24, T Pham 2/22

Another fortnight, another game. In this week’s edition of the C grade wrap up that no one really cares that much about but, for some reason unknown to man, can’t stop themselves from pressing that tiny thumbnail on their phone, we go back to the southside home base of Kianawah park.

The conditions were more what I imagine Nathan Morgan’s summers were like growing up, or my swimming pool and the Tingalpa wicket was a deep green, no because of the grass but from the synthetic turf. But amongst all this unfamiliarity there was one consistency, Rob Corrigan losing the toss and being sent in to bat.

The usual mix and match combo of Panju, Douglas and Sharma had to be put on the back burner with the future king of Toowoomba, Raja Chinthamuneedi (returning for his first game in some time) pairing with the in-form run scorer in Hassaan Shahid.

The pair seemed to be working, at least for the first over. Before the slippery conditions took their first victim, causing a 30-minute postponement as time was given to let the pitch dry.

The resumption of play saw the two push along at a steady rate before Raja had his throne rattled as he played through a delivery early. Panju and Shahid continued in the same way before Shahid didn’t get enough on a lofted drive to mid-on, leaving the Doctors at 2-94 after 25 overs.

But this wouldn’t be a PDCC batting innings without a collapse. With wickets falling at regular intervals, the only resistance came from Jake Schmidt as the team fell around him, succumbing to a total of 139.

Now the key to the crumble was the inability to play the swinging ball and dealing with the slow pitch. Which while terrible for batting, is a pretty good thing to have bowling, particularly against a team that isn’t known to make a lot of runs.

And boy did we exploit the conditions. And by we, I mean Nilay Jain. After a missed opportunity that rocket past yours truly at second slip, he took matters into his own hands and had the ball on a string, moving it as he pleased. He bowled the first, trapped the second in front and bowled his other two and in between, no one had any idea how to deal with him.

He was well supported from the other end by fiery bowling from MS Tahir who was curing any constipation the batsmen had as they cowered at the venom being sent their way. Just ask Gus how his hands are going, if you want an indicator of how much pain those batsmen were in.

They were 4/26 in no time, and it didn’t look like they were going to make 50 let alone the required total, but with a change in bowling they were able to put together a partnership. But the bowling change won out in the end, with Panju taking his first scalp and Pham following shortly after. The two would go on to claim the rest of the wickets as the Legends crumbled to a meagre 91, 30 of which were extras.

The next game will prove the biggest test of the season to date, pitting the undefeated Doctors against the undefeated Valley District. Until then, go back to your normal lives.