Johor humble Sabah in National Division 1 50 Overs League.

Johor had easy wins in both matches of the National Division1 50 overs League at the Johor Cricket Academy Oval inspite some anxious moments on the second day. Torrential rains reduced the encounters to 25 and 30 overs respectively.

1st MATCH. (3rd July 2010).
Johor won the coin and had Sabah batting on a slightly damp outfield. Openers Neil Hartstein and Mansalah Musa started cautiously to the pace of Gul Nazar Khan and accurate seam of Rakesh Mahadevan. The score at 21 runs in the 7th over, Mansulah Musa's thin edge was brilliantly snapped up by schoolboy wicket-keeper Syukran Ahmad. Two runs later, Neil Hartstein (15 runs) was run out by a Rakesh swipe at the stumps. Thereafter, it was a Sabah parade into the pavilion thanks to some fine exhibition of wily spin from Arif Abbasi (4 wickets for 11 runs) and skipper Eszrafiq Ab Azis (2 wickets for 11 runs). Sabah could only manage 68 runs in 18.2 overs.

Johor openers Arif Abbasi and Rakesh Mahadevan went for runs and were cruising well till the flashy Arif Abbasi skied a short delivery from Haaerul Marsudin to Muhamad Afiq for 15 runs and Johor's score 23 runs in 4.5 overs. Schoolboy international Syahadat Ramli joined Rakesh and the duo batted brilliantly for Johor to pass the Sabah score.

SCORES
SABAH 68 RUNS ALL OUT IN 18.2 OVERS
JOHOR 70 RUNS FOR 1 WICKET IN 13.5 OVERS

RESULT:- JOHOR WON BY 9 WICKETS

2nd MATCH. (4th July 2010).
The Toss won by Sabah had Johor batting. The match started with some very anxious moments for Johor as they lost the first four batsmen for a paltry 16 runs on the board. Rakesh Mahadevan was run out on the 9th ball of the day while Syahadat followed with a duck and scoreboard reading 9 runs. Skipper Eszrafiq Ab Azis lost his cool and played early to a slower ball from Haerul Marsudin to be caught by Mohd Fazil Mohd Wali. Arif Abbasi was next in the pavilion cleaned bowled by Roslan Mokti. Silence engulfed the clubhouse and with overcast skies, many a loving connoisseur of Johor cricket would have been in silent prayer hoping for the skies to pour. But a lion hearted fifth wicket partnership of 84 runs between Aliman Ahmad and Vickneswaran salvaged Johor to a respectable total of 120 runs. Aliman was next to go caught Neil Hartstein off Haerul Marsudin for a valuable 44 runs. Gul Nazar Khan, a prodigee of Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, walked in with his casual flair and took guard. After facing the first six balls rather defensively, Gul went beserk in typical Afridi fashion belting the leather all over the Oval. He was particularly harsh on Mohd Afiq Jabri hitting 31 runs in 3 overs and then continued the onslaught on the bowlers who took over. At the end of the stipulated 30 overs, Gul had 5 sixes and 4 fours to his 67 runs not out off 32 balls. Earlier, Vickneswaran was 6th out for a personal 38 runs which included 4 fours and a six while Hazrul Zainal was 13 not out at the close of Johor's total of 197 for 6 wickets.

Sabah's reply was not without anxiety as they found difficulty playing spinners Arif Abbasi (2 wickets for 23 runs), Syahadat Ramli (4 wickets for 26 runs) and Eszrafiq Ab Azis (3 wickets for 19 runs). Wickets kept falling and except for some short periods of resistance by Mohd Fazal Mohd Wali (24 runs) and Muhd Afiq Jabri (15 runs) there was nothing spectacular Sabah could do. They were all out for 110 runs in 24.2 overs.

SCORES
JOHOR 197 RUNS FOR 6 WICKETS IN 30 OVERS
SABAH 110 RUNS ALL OUT IN 24.2 OVERS
RESULT:- JOHOR WON BY 87 RUNS