Mumineen I Vs. Nur ul Islam @ Southridge - Game 4

The toss was once again lost by Mumineen I. Nur ul Islam decided to bat first as they saw the Mumineen I side with only 7 players on the field. A few quick wickets were early by Mumineen I. A partnership was formed by Cliff and Hazo for Nur ul Islam, which caused the Mumineen I bowlers to get aggravated with the open holes in the field. After wicketkeeping the first 10 overs for Mumineen I because of the absence of Omar, Altab came in the Mumineen I attack. It was looking as if Nur ul Islam was going to build up a great score with Cliff and Hazo batting comfortably. Altab had other plans. He took the wicket of Cliff. After Cliffs wicket fell, a dramatic collapse dented the chances of Nur ul Islam making a good score. Altab took another wicket in his same over when he got Cliff out, and he was on a hat-trick being assisted by some 2 superb stumpings from the backup keeper. Altab never had a chance to get his hat-trick, but the Mumineen I team itself did. Aseef came into the attack on the next delivery and caught & bowled Hazo from his first ball. Nur ul Islam had fell to 93 All Out. Altab was the bowling leader with 4 wickets being taken.

Not only did Altab do damage with the ball, but his bat saw its way through the innings to bring Mumineen I to its 3rd victory of the season. Nur ul Islam never caused any pressure on Mumineen I with their bowling. Many boundaries and quick runs were taken by the openers. The rate was high at all times and wickets wasn't being lost. A wicket finally came for Nur ul Islam, but Mumineen I already had over 62 runs on the board. Aseef came in a finished up the chase with Altab. Altab was once again not out with a solid score of 37 and Aseef was not out with a quick 17. Mumineen I won the game by 5 wickets, since their were only 7 batsmen on the side. It took them only 12 overs to do so. With this win, Mumineen I shows how strong of a team they are by taking apart a team with only 7 players. Big names such as Razack, Omar, Brian and Iqbal weren't available. Razack was actually available, but it was a "lost" cause. It seemed the Southridge distance took a toll on him as well.

Since the Mumineen I game was done very early, some of the players decided to stay back and watch the game going on the other field. Unity had decided to bat first and put up the largest score in the young history of the Inter Jamaat League, with a mammoth score of 193. In the 20 overs format, that is just about 10 run per over required! Believers lost some key wickets early with Tariq and Shahaan getting out. A guy named Zaheer, who played for Mumineen I, decided to come in and play a spectacular innings. He led the charge and fight back for for Believers with a good 54. The support was still there with Asif and Deewan batting. With a few more Believers wickets dropping, the rate started rising heavily. As this happened, Believers had a weapon still in their bag, the left-hander, Talim. With 66 needed in the last 5 overs, Talim came in and played a masterful innings. A few towering shots put all of the spectators right off their seats. Talim scored freely with loose deliveries and extensive shots that all went for boundaries. Talim was out in the 18th over. In the 2 overs that were left, Believers needed 24 to win. One of the top bowlers for Unity, Zahid bowled the 19th over, and the game was flipped over. Asif took Zahid for 3 big sixes in the over. By the time the last over came, Believers needed only 5 from 6 to win. Asif helped beat the runs out in the end. This was probably the best game since the start of the Inter Jamaat League. A new record score was achieved. 194 by Believers will be a tough score to beat.

Zaheer - 54
Talim - 46
Asif - 37

Standings after week 4

Mumineen I 3-1
Believers 2-2
Alliance 2-2
Mumineen II 2-2
Unity 2-2
Nur ul Islam 1-3

Mumineen I Vs. Believers @ Southridge - Game 3

Mumineen I was in for their 3rd game of the season and was seeking to get to a winning, record. The toss was one by Believers. Believers captain, Zaheer, decided to bat first. It was a very slow start for the openers, Zaheer and Naeem. Mumineen I opening bowlers, Quadir and Altab made it very difficult for them to bat. With the pressure beginning to form, Quadir picked up a vital wicket of Zaheer, when he was caught at long on by Brian. This brought in Believers' best batsman, Tariq. A partnership was being formed, until Tariq was caught. The game started to take a turn for the worse for Mumineen I as Talim came in for Believers. He quickly raised the run-rate as he came in. Talim and Naeem started to score freely and quickly as a 4 over span went for 50 runs. Naeem was bowled at just about the right time for Mumineen I by a hanging delivery from Shaheed. The momentum quickly changed as a few more wickets fell in a short time from the bowling of Brian. It was changed even more when Talim was removed by a splendid catch by Aseef. The batting collapsed with Brian and Javed's spin bowling. In their total of 7 overs bowled, 5 wickets were taken and less than 20 runs were given. Believers finished off the innings 126/9.

Talim - 55
Naeem - 27

Mumineen I were required about 6.6 runs per over to win. Opening batsmen, Brian and Razack went in. It was a fair start from them, until Brian was bowled by Zaheer. Altab was next in. Altab and Razack put on a very good partnership. Razack and Altab kept the run-rate in range with some safe and clever shots. Razack was out for 28 by a stunning catch from Zaheer at long off. Aseef was next in. Aseef and Altab had an important partnership. The rate started out slow as Believers had some tight bowling with Zaheer and Talim in. As they came off the attack, Aseef started to see the ball very well and hit a few boundaries that brought Mumineen I up. A good catch at deep point removed Aseef to stop the bleeding...temporarily. Shaheed was next. With some flashy shots from Altab and poise from Shaheed, Mumineen I saw victory in the 19th over. It was a very good team effort. Altab top scored with 40. This brought Mumineen I to a record for 2-1. They will be facing another new face in this league, Nur ul Islam, who is lead by former Mumineen I player, Hazo. The standings after week 3 in the Inter Jamaat League are...

Mumineen I 2-1
Mumineen II 2-1
Unity 2-1
Alliance 1-2
Nur ul Islam 1-2
Believers 1-2

Mumineen I Vs. Mumineen II @ Tamarac Sports Complex

This was the first game being played by Mumineen I, since their first game was a forfeit. It was a great morning for cricket and both sides seem to be ready for a great confrontation. The toss was won by Mumineen II and they decided to send in a Mumineen I side, who didn't have much playing time in the past few months, to bat. Mumineen I had a great start with the return of Brian and Iqbal opening the batting. A 32-run partnership after 4 overs was broken up by Fazal Deen as Iqbal attempted a sweep shot that kept to low for him. He was bowled for 7. Next came in a new face to the Mumineen I roster, Abdul Razack. Razack and Brian found batted very well and scored freely. Brian had brought up his first ever 50 with consecutive boundaries off the bowling of his own father Kam. After a staggering 97-run partnership, Brian was run out after a collision with Azeez from the non-strikers end. Brian scored a very mature 52. Since Brian was out, Razack decided to take the game upon his hands. With only 4 overs remaining, Razack went after all of the bowlers and decided to lift the tempo and so he did. Razack was bowled for a well played 70. With Shaheed and Omar finishing off the innings, Mumineen I had a massive score of 165/6 in their 20 overs.

Mumineen I - 165/6

A. Razack - 70
B. Khedroo - 52

F. Deen - 4 0 23 1
M. Wahab - 1 0 4 1

Mumineen II was in for a big chase. They were required to go at 8.5 runs per over to win. Mumineen I showed their rustiness in the field very early. Plenty of misfields were shown early. Brian had a wayward start in his first over, but then started to deal with deliveries and in no time got Mumineen II in early problems. He first bowled his dad...Kam then bowled Rahmath two deliveries later. This brought in Bud and the game started to go away from Mumineen I very quickly. Siraj and Bud put away just about everything Mumineen I threw at them. The game had once again flipped as Quadir bowled Bud for 27. In the following over, Mumineen II was pegged back even more as Shaheed bowled Siraj. Fazal Baksh and Afzal were the two new men in and Mumineen I knew they had to break this partnership early. The two batsmen looked to be scoring well and was taking the game away from Mumineen I again, until Brian had a fantastic run out from his own bowling. More wickets started to fall again. When Fazal Baksh fell that seemed to be the end of it, but Mumineen II still didn't want to surrender as Fazal Deen and Basheer put up a fight till the end. Aseef was the bowler in the final over as only one wicket was left and the target score was 12 runs away. A few wides put some pressure on Mumineen I and then a no ball 4 put even more pressure. Two runs were required from three deliveries, but Mumineen I, who has always had that way of finishing a game off with a win, did what they did best and finished off the side. Aseef bowled Fazal Deen and the game was over. Mumineen I had escaped with the win by 1 run! Throughout the innings the Mumineen I fielding and bowling was off. The catching was good, but judging and scooping up the ball was poor. Practice will be enforced and Mumineen I will come back a much stronger team in their next game against Believers at Southridge Park.

Mumineen II 164/10

F. Baksh - 37
Siraj - 30
H. Amin - 27

S. Lall - 4 0 22 3
A. Amin - 3.4 0 29 2

Thus far, these are the standings after 2 weeks in the Winter 2010 Season of the Inter Jamaat League

Unity 2-0
Mumineen I 1-1
Mumineen II 1-1
Nur ul Islam 1-1
Believers 1-1
Alliance 0-2

Mumineen I Vs. Unity @ Southridge - Game 1

Mumineen I had a terrible start of their season as they forfeited against Unity. Mumineen I only had 7 players available to play, but vice-captain Aseef, did not want to take part in a very far drive to play with only 7 people. It was a disappointing effort. Mumineen I is still searching for the right players to be committed to play under any circumstances. If their isn't any sacrifice in going out to play, then there shouldn't be anything to play for. Mumineen I next game will be against Mumineen II in a Finals rematch.

NEW SEASON BEGINNING 10/3/2010

The 3rd season for the Inter Jamaat League will be started this Sunday, October 3rd, 2010. Two new teams have been added, Nur-ul-Islam and Believers. Mumineen I will try and defend their title once again and try to make it a three-peat. A few of the Mumineen I players have left to play with another team to form a squad. Openers, Sheik Azeerulla and Zaheer Ali are two to just name a few. Mumineen I will open their season against Unity at Southridge #1.