Abandoned!...The end is near...

Yet another game was abandoned for Mumineen I. Tamarac Sports Complex was swamped on Sunday morning and it wasn't possible for any cricket to be played on it. Mumineen I and Mumineen II split the points 3 apiece. There will be no game next week because of the holiday, Eid-ul-Adha.

Points Table After Week 6

Muttaqeen I - 33 Points
Mumineen I - 24 Points
Nur-ul-Islam - 24 Points
Mumineen II - 21 Points
Alliance - 18 Points
Muttaqeen II - 9 Points
MJAM Arrival - 6 Points
Unity - 3 Points

With all teams having 1 game left, other than Mumineen I and MJAM Arrival who has 2 games, it will be an interesting week of games on November 13th. Mumineen II will be playing against Nur-ul-Islam, with Mumineen II needing a win to qualify into the playoffs. Alliance would have to beat MJAM Arrival and need a loss from Mumineen II to make it to the playoffs. Nur-ul-Islam had defeated Alliance in their match, therefore giving them an advantage and clinching the playoffs. The 2 top dogs in the league, Mumineen I and Muttaqeen I will also play each other for the first time, since last seasons semi-final game. Both teams are undefeated and will be looking for a win to crown themselves as first seed.

IJSCL Fall Season 2011 - Mumineen I Vs. Nur-ul-Islam @ Margate Middle School - Game 3

Mumineen I was set to face the biggest challenge yet, Nur-ul-Islam. The toss was one by Nur-ul-Islam and they decided to bat first. Openers Alastair and Spike had a very good partnership going, but it was ended by a miscommunication from the batsmen and Spike was run out for 17. An over later, Alastair was also removed. Nur-ul-Islam had a solid rate going, as they were 76/2 after 7 overs. Some solid bowling from Imran and Zahid pegged back Nur-ul-Islam and kept them at bay. They soon found themselves 81/5 after 10 overs. The run-rate was gradually falling down, but Altaaf, who was set in, started hitting the ball very clean. Mumineen I had held down Nur-ul-Islam to only 142 in their 20 overs, considering the position they were in before.

Nur-ul-Islam 142/9 After 20 overs

Batting
Altaaf Mohamed - 36
Alastair Khan - 25

Bowling
Imran Sadick - 4 0 29 3
Anoop Basdeo - 4 0 24 2

Openers Razak and Anoop were off to a fair start with the chase, but Razak was bowled in the 4th over for 7 as Mumineen I were 19/1. Altab was in next, but for the first time this season, he was out bowled as well. With 2 quick wickets, Mumineen I knew they needed to find a solid partnership to win the game. Imran was next in and decided to play some big shots, which uncontrollably lifted the run-rate. From being 19/1 after 4 overs, Mumineen I lifted their rate to 73/2 after 7 overs. One over featured 27 runs from it bowled by Saddiq. Imran was finally out bowled for a very quick 50. Mumineen I were 123/3 after only 11 overs. Anoop was soon run-out and fell short of his 50, but some sensible batting from Nazim and company, saw through the run chase and led Mumineen I to their 3rd consecutive victory.

Mumineen I 144/5 After 15.2 Overs

Batting
Imran Sadick - 50
Anoop Basdeo - 42

Bowling
Vivian Khan - 3 0 20 2

Mumineen I's next game will be against Mumineen II at Tamarac Sports Complex, in which should be a slobberknocker as usual.

Points Table after Week 5

Muttaqeen I - 27 Points
Mumineen I - 21 Points
Mumineen II - 18 Points
Nur-ul-Islam - 18 Points
Alliance - 12 Points
Muttaqeen II - 9 Points
MJAM Arrival - 6 Points
Unity - 3 Points

IJSCL Fall Season 2011 - Mumineen I Vs. Alliance @ Margate Middle School - Game 2

It was an overcast morning at Margate Middle as Mumineen I hosted Alliance for their second game of the season. It has been a few weeks since the last Mumineen I have played. One week was missed due to a wedding and the following was missed due to a rain-out against Muttaqeen II. Alliance had won the toss and surprisingly took the ball first instead of the bat as rain was set to come down and make the pitch very difficult to play on later. Openers Imran and Razak were on a mission to give a good start and that is exactly what they did. Mumineen I were off to a flyer as they were 54/0 after 5 overs thanks to some clean hitting from Razak and more notably Imran. Imran fell to the first delivery of the 6th over bowled by Masood. The following over, Razak was out caught straight on by Tallim. 2 overs later, Nazim was gone and an over following Nazim's wicket, Zahid was caught as well. Mumineen I were quickly burying themselves in a hole. From being 54/0 after 5 overs, they were 73/4 after 10 overs. Aseef and the always dependable Altab, held the innings down and batted sensibly. After a critical 27 run partnership, Aseef was caught at the boundary by Masood after a fantastic 20. Shaheed was next in. Altab and Shaheed both finished the innings off with 47/0 in the last 5 overs, despite some miss-hits by Shaheed. (Da chap ah get ol). Mumineen I finished with a score they thought should've been much higher, but nonetheless they still accepted it.

Mumineen I 147/5 After 20 Overs

Batting
Altab - 48* (This guy won't ever get a 50 again. 8th score of 40-49 in the past 2 seasons.)
Imran Sadick - 30

Bowling
Shamzad Hoosein - 3 0 16 2

Mumineen I knew how strong of a batting lineup Alliance possessed and knew they needed early wickets. A few loose deliveries were being put away, but they wickets were coming for Mumineen I. The fielding was looking even worse than the week before as overthrows and not backing up the throws came. It was a day of butterfingers as many catches were dropped and also a few catches were not called for. With only half of the score on the board, Alliance had already lost 6 wickets, but Naieem was still at one end. He decided to turn the game around with some great shots and was finding partners to help him. In the 18th over, Naieem was finally pinned down and that finished it off for Alliance, as they only had tailenders left.

Alliance 137/10 After 19.0 Overs

Batting
Naieem Abdool - 55
Tausief Mohamed - 16

Bowling
Nazim - 4 0 29 3
Zahid - 4 0 27 3

Mumineen I's next game will be against powerhouse, Nur-ul-Islam, in which should be a fantastic game @ Margate Middle School.

Points Table after Week 4

Muttaqeen 1 - 21 Points
Mumineen II - 18 Points
Nur-ul-Islam - 18 Points
Mumineen I - 15 Points
Alliance - 6 Points
MJAM Arrival - 6 Points
Muttaqeen II - 3 Points
Unity - 3 Points