With the summer heatwave continuing into another week throughout England, the heat was also on with the Royals taking on the Knights at the beautiful Cheam CC venue. Looking to comeback from the heartbreak suffered in their previous game, the Knights were once again being asked to chase by the Royals who elected to bat first. 

Toiling hard in the field, the Knights struggle to make any breakthroughs early on, as the veteran Big Batsman Nasir Ahmed and Ali Raza settled in quickly and started to unload their strokes all around the park. Senior talisman Abdul Qadir provided the first bit of relief for the Knights by removing Ali Raza for 41 (30 balls) in the 12th over with the score at 98-1; The best opening stand in this year’s tournament so far. Nasir still going strong was joined by the technically gifted Abid Ahmed who continued to remind everyone of his dominance at the crease, this time with a wonderful 49 off 22 balls (222 strike rate), scoring his runs with 7 fours and 2 sixes. The Abid and Nasir show brought back golden memories of the once upon at time, prime UK players rolling back the years, with Nasir also recording another emphatic hundred (103* off 65 balls). 

A daunting score of 208-2 was posted by the Royals. Abdul Qadir’s figured of 1-23 in 4 overs (16 dot balls) must be commended whilst all the other bowlers were put under the pump. 

 

Knowing this track rewards good stroke play, the Knights took their chance by sending up their heavy lifters in Fawad and Imran Qaiser to open the innings and give their side a start that could make the chase a lot more simpler if they come off. Imran couldn’t replicate his excellent work from the previous week having fallen early this time against Anas, however Fawad Bajwa was looking in good touch. A good second wicket partnership between Fawad and Waseem lasted 46 runs with Fawad doing the bulk work. The momentum was starting to build in the chase, but Sadeed Ahmed (2-35) had plans to ruin the party for the Knights by taking the wickets of Fawad and Waseem in his first two overs, and denting the score for the knights at 88-3 in 10 overs. 

With the league requiring the emergence of young talent to step up and bat in the middle overs, Labeeb Ahmed has shown promise in this regard as the tall, young right hander held one end up, rotated the strike and scored 8 boundaries and one six for his 60 off 43 balls. However, good bowling by the Victorious Royals ensured that they did not let this game slip by keeping the other batsmen around Labeeb quiet. Eventually, the Royals secured their first victory of the season with 32 runs more than the Knights could manage to chase.

On a day where Rohit Sharma produced and absolute masterclass against the mighty Australians, it was pleasing to see one of the KCL Batting legends (Nasir Ahmed) produce a great knock of 100 to give his side a great victory. The Knights have now lost their opening two fixtures of the season, and the experience of Waseem Ahmed who has traditionally been a good leader will now be required to bring his team back in the running going forward.