Match Reports
U-13 Premier Division Champions
USRC versus Pakistan Association – U-13 Premier League Division Final
Friday 5 April, 2019 at PKVR Reservoir
While Hong Kong paid respect to ancestors during the Ching Ming festival, our most successful junior group competed against Pakistan Association in the final of the top U-13 division. For many of the squad, this was their 5th final for USRC in 6 seasons — they maintained their winning ways and secured another championship victory.
Batting first, USRC were made to work hard for runs on a warm day. Good contributions of 25 each from Rohaab Umer and Soban Muhammad allowed the team to fight to a respectable 97 for 8 from 20 overs. There were some nerves at the change-over break — would this be enough runs?
Spirits rose when Muhammad Sardar took an excellent reflex catch to send PACC’s star batsman back in the second over. But then wickets became hard to get, and tension mounted. However, fantastically economical 4-over spells of bowling from Aashir Khalil (0 for 9), Angus Minett (0 for 14), and Parwinder Singh (0 for 17) all contributed to pegging back the run rate, and pushing the pressure onto the Pakistan batsman. Usman Ahmed returned to the attack to take two wickets in two balls in the 16th over, with the cartwheeling middle stump of the second dismissal sending USRC spirits rising.
The runs required became too much for our opponents, and some committed fielding kept USRC in control, finally securing a victory by 3 runs.
At the end of a long season this was a superb, hard fought performance by the squad. After claiming two U-11 championships, this represented a third winners’ medal in 6 years for the core of the squad.
USRC versus Pakistan Association – U-13 Premier League Division Final
Friday 5 April, 2019 at PKVR Reservoir
While Hong Kong paid respect to ancestors during the Ching Ming festival, our most successful junior group competed against Pakistan Association in the final of the top U-13 division. For many of the squad, this was their 5th final for USRC in 6 seasons — they maintained their winning ways and secured another championship victory.
Batting first, USRC were made to work hard for runs on a warm day. Good contributions of 25 each from Rohaab Umer and Soban Muhammad allowed the team to fight to a respectable 97 for 8 from 20 overs. There were some nerves at the change-over break — would this be enough runs?
Spirits rose when Muhammad Sardar took an excellent reflex catch to send PACC’s star batsman back in the second over. But then wickets became hard to get, and tension mounted. However, fantastically economical 4-over spells of bowling from Aashir Khalil (0 for 9), Angus Minett (0 for 14), and Parwinder Singh (0 for 17) all contributed to pegging back the run rate, and pushing the pressure onto the Pakistan batsman. Usman Ahmed returned to the attack to take two wickets in two balls in the 16th over, with the cartwheeling middle stump of the second dismissal sending USRC spirits rising.
The runs required became too much for our opponents, and some committed fielding kept USRC in control, finally securing a victory by 3 runs.
At the end of a long season this was a superb, hard fought performance by the squad. After claiming two U-11 championships, this represented a third winners’ medal in 6 years for the core of the squad.
DLSW Cheetahs versus USRC - U13 Premier League
Sunday 3 March, 2019 at KGV School
Our U13 squad completed their regular season on Sunday, and secured a place in the semi-finals of the Premier Division competition.
Batting first, a solid opening partnership from Nivedh Nambiar (16) and Rohaab Umer (24), provided the foundation for some strong hitting by Soban Muhammad (29) and Muhammad Sardar (29), which took the team to a respectable 120 for 5, from their 20 overs.
Needing ‘a run a ball’, DLSW were quickly put under pressure through early wickets. Usman Ahmed led the attack, finishing with 5 for 10 from his four overs (our first five wicket haul of the season). The bowlers were well supported by Sobhan (3 catches), Nivedh (2 catches) and Jack Caves (2 run outs). Some late order resistance took DLSW into the 16th over, before they were eventually dismissed for 50.
The result was another good performance by the boys, who have developed tremendously this season, recording 11 wins from 17 completed matches (compared to one solitary win last season). Three weeks of training await, to further develop their skills and game ‘smarts’, before a well-deserved semi-final.
Sunday 3 March, 2019 at KGV School
Our U13 squad completed their regular season on Sunday, and secured a place in the semi-finals of the Premier Division competition.
Batting first, a solid opening partnership from Nivedh Nambiar (16) and Rohaab Umer (24), provided the foundation for some strong hitting by Soban Muhammad (29) and Muhammad Sardar (29), which took the team to a respectable 120 for 5, from their 20 overs.
Needing ‘a run a ball’, DLSW were quickly put under pressure through early wickets. Usman Ahmed led the attack, finishing with 5 for 10 from his four overs (our first five wicket haul of the season). The bowlers were well supported by Sobhan (3 catches), Nivedh (2 catches) and Jack Caves (2 run outs). Some late order resistance took DLSW into the 16th over, before they were eventually dismissed for 50.
The result was another good performance by the boys, who have developed tremendously this season, recording 11 wins from 17 completed matches (compared to one solitary win last season). Three weeks of training await, to further develop their skills and game ‘smarts’, before a well-deserved semi-final.