Griffins topple EMCC to move on top

 Griffins back to winning ways and moved on to the top of the UKMC point table in a week where league leaders Global did not play. Sudhees, Jimmi and Stalee were the chief architects of this commanding victory over the arch rival EMCC. Griffins continued to ride the luck with coin and they chose to invite EMCC to bowl first. This was the seventh time griffins batted first in the current league in as many match by showing great trust to their bowlers and bowlers responded once again with a resolute 49 runs win. 

Score: Griffins CC 166 all out 29.3 overs, (Jimmy 44, Sudheesh 28, Shiya 3/27, Sujith 3/30) beat EMCC 117 all out 25.2 overs (Manu 30, Sujith 20, Stanlee 3/12, Jimmy 2/11, Anooj 2/11) by 49 runs. 

Once again Griffins top order failed explode as they were handed a perilous start to the innings and stuttered at 40 at the expense of three top ordered wickets, realistically it was four down as Anooj was hit on his arm and retired hurt. Dinesh handed an unwelcoming first over by Sujith and his innings lasted just three balls before being caught at the wicket for naught. Shaan and Stanlee scored a couple of boundaries but could not convert their start and both fell in the same fashion, leg before wicket for Sujith and Manu respectively.

Jimmy joined Sudheesh, once Anooj retired hurt, and the pair started to steady the sinking ship slowly by picking ones and twos. Sudheesh was strong in defense and anchored the innings whereas jimmy played counter attacking innings filled with blistering shots all across the ground. Sudheesh consumed 58 balls for 28 runs but his patient innings was the difference between the teams. This further helped Jimmy to free his arms and play his natural shots with flair.

But it was against run of play Sudheesh defense has been broken by Shiya The wicket of Sudheesh sparked a collapse as griffins lost three quick wickets including their captain Manu for a duck who adjudged LBW while playing across the line.  Amidst the wickets tumbled around Jimmy shifted gear and made the most the remaining deliveries he faced. He was unbeaten on 44 from just 37 balls, constituted five fours and towering six over mid-wicket, when he lost last partner. Only Kannan made a useful contribution down the order by scoring a quick 13. Griffins lost wicket number 69 in seven match and eventually dismissed for 166 but it was far too many for their bowlers to defend this time.

EMCC innings started no better than their opponent as the top order batsmen failed to carry on the advantage offered by the bowlers. The left arm new ball pair of Stanlee and Ramees found good rhythm and swing from the very first delivery that made them unplayable in the first spell. Griffin did not wait for long for the first as Stanlee stuck with third ball of the innings that cartwheeled Arun Parmesawaran off stump for a duck. Captain Riyas was the next to go for a fist ball duck once again the right handed batsman off stump was in the air when had no clue for an in swinger.  The Griffins pace ace continued to operate with aggression and paid the reward. An over later, this time it was Rakesh who did not offer shot, Stanlee stuck the EMCC opener in front of the wicket eventually snaffled the best bowling figure in the match.

The introduction of Abdul joined the party immediately by bowling through the gates of Shiya for 13. At 40 five the match was firmly in Grififns hand, requiring an outstanding partnership between Manu and Sujith. The pair played for some astonishing shots over the ropes that kept the Griffins bowlers on toe. The partnership frustrated Griffins and led the fight to Griffins camp. Manu slammed Shaan two sixes in his one off over that leaked 22 runs and brought up their 50 runs partnership. But sooner Manu skied a catch to Ramees at deep mid-wicket while he searched for an aerial route. Jimmy and Anooj cleaned up the tail with two wickets apiece, joseph too contributed with the wicket of Sujith.

EMCC would have been bundled out before the drink break had the Griffins butter fingers not been put down five catches in the first seven overs. The hard earned win was fifth in the 2016 season helped griffins to move on the top of the UKMCL point tally with 113 point from 7 matches.

Griffins Media team