Sharks add more misery to Panthers

On Saturday the Chairman’s Panthers played the Captain’s Sharks in the fifth game of the seven game series.

Simon Lavendar reaching his fifty with this shot
Simon Lavendar reaching his fifty with this shot

The Panthers were on the prowl to try and claw their way back into the series, since they were losing three to one up to till this game.

The Sharks batted well and if not for the brilliant innings from the blade of Simon Lavendar who made ninety two runs which included ten fours. He played wonderful cover drives and gallant pull shots along the way. Lavendar also managed to bat right through the whole innings. Andy Naudi was the only other batsmen to get past the double figures making twenty eight runs which included a couple of boundaries.

The Panthers had plenty of catching chances which they did not hold on to,  had they taken the catches the Sharks may not have made it past the century mark. Kevin Krishna and Sarfraz Ali were the pick of the bowlers taking a couple of wickets each. Robert Krishna, Haroon Majeed and Nowell Khosla all took a wicket each. The Sharks totalled a modest 159 runs from their overs.

In reply the Panthers opened with Joy Ghoseroy and Sumair Khan. GHoseroy after making a couple of runs was caught and this was all in the first over of their innings. Khan went on to make fifteen runs. Ranjit Gokarn made seventeen runs and both batsmen were caught in the tenth over, one of the catches was taken by Matthew Gillard who judged it well. After these two only Haroon Majeed looked like making any runs, he top scored for his team with twenty one runs which included three fours. The Panthers were bowled out for 73 runs.

For the Sharks John Grima was the main wicket taker with three, Gordon Hewitt took two, while Anthony Slater and Mike Caruana took a wicket each. 

The Sharks win the game and take an unassailable lead of four to one.

Next Saturday the sixth game of the series will be played, with the Panthers playing for pride.

The Sunoco cricket academy/nursery will be from 9:00am till 10:30am.