Swiss Cricket Mr. Pickwick T20 Cup report

Cossonay 87 ao (19.3 overs) tied with Berne 87 ao (16.5 overs)

In the most dramatic of finals, Cossonay fought back from the brink of defeat to tie the Swiss Cricket Mr. Pickwick T20 Cup final with Berne to share the trophy & prize money at Winterthur on Sunday 6th October 2013.

Berne captain Tissa de Zoysa lost the toss and Cossonay captain Yeti Sinh immediately chose to bat first on a wet but drying outfield.

Cossonay made a good start, but Berne's first breakthrough came in the 4th over, Cossonay opening batsman judged LBW off of Anish's second over. However, Cossonay recovered and it wasn't until the 11th over that Berne took their second wicket, triggering a sudden collapse, Cossonay losing 3 wickets in one over for just the addition of two runs. At 54-4 Cossonay's 5th wicket partnership appeared to have steadied the ship once more. However, with the overs passing and Cossonay trying to accelerate, Cossonay managed to add only 16 runs in the final 5 overs, their innings eventually ending with the 3rd ball of the 20th over to set Berne a target of 88.

Berne started well, keeping up with the pace set by Cossonay and by the end of the 5th over were on 26-1. Cossonay's next breakthrough came in the 6th over, the second of eight catches, Berne 31-2. The next wicket wasn't lost until the 13th over, with Berne seemingly cruising to victory on 76-3 and requiring 12 runs for victory from 7 overs and seven wickets in hand. But as the sun shone, so did fortune, for Cossonay.

Cossonay's Nikhit  Srinketh had two catches off his first over (77-4) which Arjun followed with another two wickets for 5 runs in one over, taking Berne on to 83-6.

Cossonay brought back Nikith Sriniketh who had another spectacular over taking two further wickets for just one run (84-8). Arjun gave away just one run in his 4th and final over to keep Cossonay's hopes alive, albeit doing nothing else but what seemed to be delaying the inevitable. However, a clean bowled first ball off Nikith Srniketh's third over, left Berne requiring 3 runs off 3.5 overs, but with just one wicket in hand. A hard run two runs brought the scores level. Requiring one run for victory, the third ball of the 16th over witnessed a rush of blood from the Berne number 11, resulting in another clean bowled wicket and a tied match. What a game!

Did you miss the final over? Well, thanks to Rajan Thambehalli you can watch the video of the lost over of the Swiss Cricket Mr. Pickwick T20 Cup on YouTube! 

Cossonay's Nikith Sriniketh was awarded the best bowler's trophy with a fantastic 3.3-0-9-4, and Cossonay's Sathya Nanayakaram the best batsman.

Both captain's shared the prize money, Mr. Jon Southworth COO of the Mr. Pickwick Pubs, presented both captain's with the trophy at the end of the game.

Power Cricket Club 82-8 (12 overs) lost to Olten 85-3 (10.1 overs) by 7 wickets

In the day's earlier game Olten beat Power by 7 wickets in a reduced-overs match to claim the third place prize of CHF250.

Olten captain, Sheeraz Sufiyan, won the toss and unsurpringly elected to bowl. Having been put into bat Power Winterthur CC got off to a shaky start against the pacey Olten opening bowlers, which included Shane Fletcher (the BIG West Indian). Power lost wickets at regular intervals and it was only through the efforts of the Swiss National team captain, Afzaal Sikandar, whi made a unbeaten 32, that Power Cricket Club were able to muster a respectable 82 ao in a contest reduced to 12 overs.
Olten CC were set a run rate of 6.5 runs per over to clinch victory. They got off to a flying start, JK making a quick fire 30 off 18 balls while Murali made 16 not out off 14. Ali finished off in style with 18 not out off just 9 balls.
Olten CC, having scored 85/3 in 10.1 won the match by 7 wickets and 11 balls to spare.

Further information on the Swiss Cricket Mr. Pickwick T20 Cup competition is available from Mr. Abraham Koshy and photos from the 2013 Swiss Cricket Mr. Pickwick T20 Cup are available from the SCA website gallery.