The Shanghai Cricket Club defeated the Beijing Cricket Club in Beijing on Sunday to reclaim the China Cup, defeating the hosts by 31 runs.

In Recent Times
Having far greater numbers of ex-pats from which to draw cricketing talent, one might expect the Shanghai Cricket Club to always be favorites to beat Beijing. However, Beijing have turned the tables on Shanghai and stand at five victories to the SCC’s two; and in the words of newly appointed SCC Club Captain Sanjay Anugula, “show us what’s wrong with Shanghai cricket.” Sanjay has taken a no nonsense approach to redressing the situation, naming Waqar Khattak as team Captain and Tim O’Connell as his number two and instigating regular Dragons nets with a fitness first directive and a motto of “Fight for every ball!” This touring Dragons XI  includes only five from the last match with the six debutants having shown great commitment to the early season training. So, whereas before, the process of selection was a simple case of getting the best individual players ( often an unchanged squad ) to show up on match day and have a go, there now exists a dynamic and inclusive process that engages all Shanghai club cricketers to come along and join in the sprints, the fielding drills and the nets as a whole resource from familiarity, unity and Shanghai pride come together in the spirit of a singular force far greater, it is hoped, than XI handy players might muster.

In the most recent outing, the late Damian Johnson took the BCC side south and although by his own admission, did not have the ideal side to take on the SCC Dragons, he led them to a convincing win. The hallmark of Damian’s leadership was passion towards his players and dynamic application to each ball bowled. Possessing a true cricketing brain and tireless enthusiasm on the field, he got the very best from his side, leading from the front, joining in the bowling effort to rest his attack, constantly tweaking the field by foot here and a yard there, giving everyone a go and although being an extremely competitive character, never lost his cool or sense of fair play, respecting the umpires decision and upholding the best traditions of the game. Tragically Damian passed away within days of securing the third consecutive win at the end of 2012 and so it was, with his memory still so fresh in the minds of everyone involved, that the 2013 match got under-way at the Beijing Dulwich College ground where he had spent so many afternoons of his too short life, giving his all to this great game of cricket. BCC confirmed before the game started that the traditional ‘Man Of The Match ‘ award would be re-named the ‘ Damian Johnson Memorial – ‘Spirit Of Cricket Award ’ from this day on.

The Ground
Familiar to many China cricketers as the home of the BCC league and their annual International Sixes, Dulwich College Beijing has a country ground feel, curtained by trees from the highway and any chance of a cooling breeze. Known for it’s thick grass that pulls the speed from ground shots like wet cabbage, batsmen with the ability to get under their drives and take the airborne route will find more satisfaction than those hoping to caress the ball to the rope. It’s a ground for hitters and for those with endless stamina to scamper for their runs while equally determined fielders use the conditions to turn fours into twos and threes into ones, if they have the will, if they have the legs. While the windless humidity cooks every man’s marrow, the Gobi desert marches closer, sending forward it’s warning to all mankind that our time is short and our time is now.

These twenty two men in white come together on this day from the world beyond China and from centuries of delicately recorded legend, statistics and memories which consolidate in each man’s mind so much that their thoughts bare a  weight to be carried to the middle and back. From the scorched earth of the sub-continent, green-topped England, the shark coast and African Highveld to the land masses of Oceania and the island chains of the Caribbean, cricket comes to this new frontier.

And with each game there comes to each man’s soul the promise of resurrection or ruin; a new beginning, a clean score-sheet, a sharpened pencil and an empty page to which twenty two are invited to leave their mark on the great wall of time. This is who they are and this was the 2013 China Cup.

Shanghai CC	Beijing CC
Jacques Erasmus (wk)	Irfan Choudhry
Oliver Austin	Chiranjaya Udumullage
Darren Manning	Muhammad Sajjad
Sanjay Anugula	Noor Parkar (cpt)
Razzaq Mehmood	Usman Malik
Sajid Anwar	Kavisha Lokuhitige
Jon Newton	Mohamad Basha
Waqar Khattak (cpt)	Saeed Anwar
Alex Cumming	Martin Wareham (wk)
Vinay Kumar	Nasim Ullah
Pratik Gadecha	Cameron Frayne
	Nasir Javed (12th man)

Conditions and the Toss
Thick moist haze hung in the air as the players arrived and went out to examine the wicket. We discovered an area of cracked concrete under the mat just about on a length and so all were prepared for erratic bounce and of course, taxing swing. Waqar and Noor threw up the coin. Waqar called right and ordered the Dragons to pad-up!

The Game
At 10:24 umpires Darryl Titre ( BCC / Dominica ) & Tim O’Connell ( SCC / England ) got the game started and so Cameron and Nasim began the first bowling partnership against the SCC opening pair of Jacques Erasmus and Ollie Austin. The ever dangerous right armed fast-medium seam of Nasim brought about the first dismissal as Ollie was caught by Irfan in gulley trying to squeeze one through. Jacques fell amid controversy quickly afterwards as a bouncer from Nasim seemed to graze the side of his helmet on it’s way to keeper Martin Wareham. Jacques returned to the tent given out caught behind for 7. Darren Manning was unlucky with a bounce that rose up and clipped the bat shoulder off Usman that again found Martin’s gloves as the Dragons found themselves on 18 for three after 8 intense and accurate overs.

With Sanjay and Razzaq at the crease, the Dragons enjoyed a period of harmony and runs. Sanjay picked off many a straight over pitched ball with nicely timed leg glances along the ground and over the top with Razzaq supporting with some clean strokes and the willingness to scamper for singles. They added 44 by the time Razzaq was caught by Chira off Irfan for a valuable 15. Sajid Anwar joined Sanjay in the middle and really got things moving quickly. Dragons breathing fire. Sajid hit three gigantic sixes as his tally quickly rose but then as a fast 40 runs had been added, Sanjay fell victim to Basha ( bowled ) having added 36 masterful runs. Sajid was in great form by now and the Beijing bowlers were feeling the pressure turned back on them. 102 for 5. Jon Newton played a great supporting knock to Sajid who was seeing the ball very well as he cruised past his 50 with the time at 12:45. Jon was caught by Sajjad off Usman for hard-earned 11 from a partnership of 43 bringing the total to 145 for 6.

Waqar joined his club team-mate Sajid and they put on another 40 runs before Waqar’s entertaining innings of 16 was ended by the umpire agreeing with Basha’s appeal for LBW. Dragons 185 for 7 with Sajid keeping the heat on Beijing. Excitement was now growing in the Dragon tent as the 200 landmark approached but shortly after Alex Cumming arrived at the crease Sajid’s great knock came to an end in the hands of Usman off Sajjad for 74. More drama shortly followed as Alex got a dodgy bounce that flew off his bat shoulder and into his face as bowler Sajjad followed through and caught caught him. Bruised and bloody Alex made no drama out of the incident and soldiered on so bravely in fact that the injury became enough of an amusement to earn him a new nick-name. ‘Puff The Tragic Dragon’; caught off his own face for 5.Vinay got the Dragon’s tail wagging and Pratik added some stylish strokes to make a last wicket partnership of 25 that saw the Dragons innings end on 223 for 10 in the 48th over. Vinay caught and bowled Usman for 14 and Pratik not out 4.

Chasing The Dragons
At 14:35 the BCC openers got off to a flying start. Irfan and Chira took no time to get settled and busied themselves with some spectacular hitting off Razzaq and Sanjay that took them past 50 after 45 minutes. The Dragon’s total was suddenly looking like an easy reach as Waqar marked out his run and Vinay warmed up his left arm and his fingers.

There can be no greater spectacle in cricket than the side-on view of a fast-bowler running in. The game’s tempo born of his effort and passion. Does he use the game or does the game use him to carry it faster and closer the utmost peak of it’s worth? Not by choice but by calling, bound by instinct to work harder than others to gain the prize of dominance and protect his own, he goes hard because he can, not because he always wants to. In like a Cheetah from the scrub, across the plain, body cruising, eyes fixed on the target as he builds his speed into the crease, the batsman waits and tries to resist the charisma of his enemy’s spectacular attack. A bullet down the channel, a blistering length ball to kick into the ribs or a rocket to dig out from under his toes, who knows? Speed beguiles, makes a mask to fool, the repetition deceives and the slower ball cuts through the still wake of the rushing past to orchestrate a triumphant symphony of crashing stumps.

Waqar Khattak delivers all of this with the most beautiful natural action and at the age of 35, has been sustaining it for years. Pakistan, what a bowling legacy you gift to the world! Waqar removed Irfan ( gloved by Jacques ) and then the newly arrived number three Sajjad lost his stumps from the earth with only 5 more runs on the board. A strike bowling captain with the blinding pace, the will and the skill to destroy, he broke the back of the Beijing top order and set Vinay up to brilliantly bowl the menacing number 2 Chira and cut Beijing back to 63 for 3.

Noor and Usman brought Beijing back into the fray with some delightful stroke play and resilience. The sun made it’s presence felt from behind the thick grey mist as the final acts of the play drew closer and possible endings were imagined by both sides, each with a great chance to win. Usman and Noor rallied and added 40 despite many taxing overs of swing from Darren Manning and support from the other Dragon bowlers. At 103 for 4 chasing 224 with 6 wickets in hand and plenty of overs to come, anything could happen and it did. Sanjay came back and had Usman snaffled by Jacques and then as the Dragons kept the pressure on, the new batsman Kavisha dropped his bat short of the crease and was run-out with only 5 more runs added. Noor was joined by Basha and Beijing began another incredible fight-back adding 28 before Jacques’ active mittens held onto a swinging edge from Darren Manning to end the Beijing captain. Noor gone for 24. BCC now 134 for 6. 90 runs behind.

Watching the match with Ian Syer, I recall the excitement building, the esky lid rattling and the ciggy packet disturbed by both of us as Basha set about the Dragon bowling. BCC President let out many a deep chuckle as their number 7 started to launch the little red ball all across the big grey sky and into the vast green spaces beyond the boundary as the BCC tail wrapped itself around the chase like a python. Although Ian has seen many huge hits over the years, he still manages to express his boyish adoration each time a ball sails over the fence and far far away. So much so in fact that the man remains inspired to continually organize the annual BCC sixes where this style of spanking is the bread and butter of a three day event.

Waqar clean bowled Saeed for 4, lusting after a big straight hit. As BCC’s 150 came up in the 33rd over, Pratik was introduced to the attack and immediately removed their keeper Martin at number 9 with Waqar’s helping hands of 9 good fingers and a broken one. Four balls later Pratik bowled new bat Nasim for 1 leaving the rampaging Basha and young Devil Cameron as the last men standing with the burden of chasing the remaining 59 runs. Basha was a very solid bat but he would not allow Cameron to keep the strike, preferring to go after the runs himself. He marshaled this strategy well and added some memorable tension to the final stages of the game. All watching and playing knew Basha had the skills and enough balls left to get to 224 BUT could he protect Cameron and himself from the Dragons?

In the 43rd over the answer came with a straight ball from Razzaq that nailed the young man’s wood to the grass and sealed victory for the Dragons. Beijing all out for 192, Basha not out 40 and the engravers of Shanghai looking forward to adding a new line to story of the China Cup.

Noor and Waqar unanimously agreed that The Damian Johnson Award would this year go to Sajid Anwar for his huge personal contribution to the game. Speeches were made and thanks given to the BCC for their excellent arrangements and ground side catering with a final statement from Waqar that the SCC looks forward very much to the 2014 re-match in Shanghai, as do we all.

Download the Scorecard.