THE STAGE IS SET !

Going into this fourth installment of the IJSCL season there was heavy debate on who the odds on favorite to walk away with the trophy would be. Each team felt they had the right to be considered the cream of the crop. Amongst the the six teams, they're two teams that continued to come up in conversation over and over. Two teams that a wide array of others felt had enough to quote unquote separate themself from the pack. It's only fitting these two teams shall meet in the semifinals of the IJSCL tournament. These two teams are Muttaqeen and Mumineen I.


ACT I
These two teams met earlier in the season, week 2. Muttaqeen were the "new kids on the block" but filled with veterans of the game and having to face the seasoned two time Champions, Mumineen I. Muttaqeen quickly showed why they would be a force to be reckoned with as they simply bulldozed Mumineen I in a stunning meltdown by M1. The game saw Kaiume Mohamed from Muttaqeen lead the chase of 137 in a phenomenal 12.1 overs. Mumineen I's only bright spot, and what would later turn out to be their most consistent batsmen, Altab Mohammed made 47 in a losing effort.



ACT II
Guns were blazing in this one as both teams knew the implications were high. With playoffs right around the corner and teams still lurking.. a win over the other would be proven..huge. In a total 180 degrees from their first encounter M1 shocked Muttaqeen with a superb bowling performance, bowling out Muttaqeen for just 113 runs in 16.5 overs. To add insult to injury there was a early blitz from openers Anoop Basdeo and Asad Razak pushing M1 62/0 after 6 overs. In the end M1 secured the victory with only 15.2 overs in the books.



INTENSIFIED
This game was truly heated further as both sides in the spirit of competition went a little overboard. It saw one essential player on each team suspended for 2 games and became the talking point across the league. While both teams have great respect for one and another, it's quite certain there would be no love lost between the two.




PRESENT DAY
The 4th Season of the IJSCL has closed it's final chapter. It now begins the Epilogue known as the Playoffs. The tallies have been marked. The scores have been counted. M1 has kept their #1 ranking as Muttaqeen has secured the fourth and final playoff spot.

In a game that will highlight statistically the top batsmen in the league, Alistair Khan and his runner up Altab Mohammed. A game that will include a total of 7 players scoring 50 or more in one inning. The top wicket taker in the league, M1 skipper Aseef Amin and one of the top catch takers Kevin Bubhna. This game promises to be one for the ages.

Both teams will go in there thinking they are the team to beat. Both teams will feel the pressure of knowing they are only one game away from the Championship. One win away from the trophy. One minor week away from cementing their names into the IJSCL history books. Captains Fahron Persaud and Aseef Amin will surely sit down and bring their best 11 troops to march out on the field and claim what each believe is rightfully theirs for the taking.

For one team they will celebrate the joys of making it to the final and for the other sorrow for having come this far only to fall short. We are less then 24 hours away from this spectacular event. One that will go down undoubtedly as the greats.

May 15th, 2011 will go down as D-Day for these two teams. Which one shall rise to the occasion and which one shall falter to the bottom? The time for speculation is over, the strategizing, the planning, the smack talking...it's all over. It is time to go out there and let it all hang out on sport's biggest sanctuary, the cricket field.

The time has come and is upon us. Sit back and enjoy the fireworks, SATISFACTION....GUARANTEED!