WANDERERS CLAIM DSL TITLE

Mar 29, 20224 min read

In a dramatic and history making day on Saturday , the Dubai Wanderers claimed their first DSL title in a 16 run victory over the Rhinos.

This doesn't tell the whole story for a club that was formed a mere 10 months ago and at that stage had just four guaranteed players. Fast forward and DWCC has seen more than 35 players represent the badge across all competitions and a first year to be proud off, capped off with this fine win on Saturday against the much fancied Rhinos, who won the toss and asked Wanderers to bat first.

It looked an inspired decision after three overs as Wanderers openers Jack Luffman and Clint Berkenshaw cautiously found their feet on a tricky, grassy pitch. However, their experience and excellent running between the wickets ensured that the scoreboard continued to tick over and then when Berkenshaw unleashed his first huge six of the innings it was all one way traffic.

The pair complement each other well, with Luffman favoring the legside and square of the wicket , while Berkenshaw looks to score in the arc wherever possible. The pair passed the 50 stand and then the 100 stand as a huge total looked on the cards. Berkenshaw, in particular, looked well set for a century and it was somewhat of a surprise when he found the hands of deep extra cover for a superb 73 form 48 balls, an innings that included three massive sixes. The pair had put on 131 and it was the only wicket to fall in the innings as Brannon Varley joined his chairman to eventually post a score of in excess of 200. The Rhinos had bowled well at the death and reduced the batsmen's boundary scoring but the running between the wickets and Luffman's ability to find the gaps made sure runs were still accumulated. The left hander, who passed a late fitness test on an injured toe, finished unbeaten for a fine 91 from 80 balls, Varley 27 not out from 22.

Defending a very competitive 202-1, the Wanderers well regarded bowling attack had again done its work at the top of the innings. None more so than Nav Naidoo, who bowled four of his five overs for less than 10 runs, his final over saved for what would become a crucial death spell, and claimed two crucial wickets, including that of last week's semi-final centurion Vibhor Yadav with a pacey ball that trapped the opening batsman plumb in front and the number three form a well taken catch by skipper Dave Adams.

Kamran Shaheen was not to be outdone and he had the dangerous Asif well caught at slip by Luffman, as the Rhinos were reduced to 42-3.

There is no respite when facing the Wanderers attack and the pace trio of Berksnahaw, Varley and Jay Parmar gave nothing away and continued to chip away at the middle order. Varley claimed two wickets including the dangerous Faisal Baig and Berkenshaw claimed a well taken caught and bowled. The pressure had been built thanks to some fine bowling and fielding, led by the ever energetic Thinus Steyn, wicket keeper Ben WIllgoss and Adams, and at 98-5 and then 116-6 the game was in control. Avi Karia bowled four excellent overs against the wind and was rewarded with a wicket that took him to the top of the league wickets thanks to another catch, his fourth of the innings, from Luffman.

The Wanderers sensed victory, but so did the Rhinos' tail, and when Danysh Hiader smacked four sixes in an over off the bowling of the unlucky 16 year old Ethan Dsouza the game was somewhat back in the balance with 28 needed from three overs.

Dsouza is a calm, cool and extremely talented young cricketer and having not got to the crease with the bat and his over not going quite how he would have liked, the gathered crowd and his teammates sensed he would still have an impact. And that he did, just eight balls later when Hiader called for a two after sending his drive to the deep cover boundary and desperate to get back on trike. Dsouza attacked the ball, picked up one handed and sent an exorcist of a throw into Willgoss behind the stumps who, much like Jos Buttler in the World Cup Final, gathered magnificently well to run their man out...by the barest of margins. A sublime piece of cricket.

Naidoo completed his fifth over finishing with outstanding figures of 2-14 and, fittingly, it was then left to Berkenshaw, Wanderers' club coach and talisman, to rip out the stumps of Rhinos' number 11 and send his team into ecstasy!