It was a case of what might have been as the Wanderers' attempt to beat DSL title favourites Titans was curtailed due to bad light meaning a 10 run defeat, once the DSL method had been initiated.
At this juncture, Titans needed 14 runs from 18 balls with just four lower order wickets remaining when it was deemed too dark for the game to continue so the crowd was deprived what was becoming a tense finale to a game that had already been reduced to 22 overs per side thanks to a late start.
Wanderers had gone toe to toe with the big guns all afternoon and had posted a challenging 151 after batting first at the Sevens Stadium. Most of the Wanderers' batting line up had got starts but the innings was based around Clint Berkenshaw, with 39 from 28, and Sid Jhurani, 35 from 20 balls, who both played some eye catching shots down the ground before losing their wickets in the bid for more runs towards the ending of the innings.
In reply, Wanderers' bowling effort took a turn for the worst in just the third over as vice-captain and attack leader Nav Naidoo pulled up in his run-up with what looks like a fairly serious glute issue that may keep him out for a week or two. A bowler down against the league's batting powerhouse didn't deter Dave Adams' men and they struck soon after.
A sharp piece of thinking in the field from Thinus Steyn meant he out ran the Titans' number one batter to run him out. From that point, the game ebbed and flowed as Adams rotated his bowlers to good effect.
Kamran Shaheen and Ash Connick, bowling his off-spin in the power playe and death overs, each took a wicket but it again was the all rounder duo of Berkenshaw and his apprentice Jhurani who had really put the pressure on the batting line up. Berkenshaw varied his pace and tactics throughout his four over spell conceding just 25 runs and was unlucky not to take a wicket, while Jhurani claimed 3-23 in his five over spell of tight left arm spin.
Unfortunately the end that everyone wanted never transpired and Adams and his gallant bunch of men were left wondering at what would have happened over the course of those remaining three overs.
On Saturday the Wanderers face Exiles in the final Fab Four game before the knockouts begin, 1pm start at the Sevens Stadium.
For full report clink here https://cricheroes.in/scorecard/2467254/Wombats-DSL-Premier-3A/Dubai-Wanderers-DSL-vs-AAA-Titans-DSL
Sid Jhurani had another fine game for the Wanderers scoring 35 from 20 balls with the bat and taking 3-23 with the ball. #UTW
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