Azeris Play Gallant Innings

Azerbaijan may not yet be a top flight cricketing nation but it showed on Sunday 2 June that it has some gifted players who one day may lead an Azerbaijan XI onto the international cricketing stage.

Photo © ECC

The match, played between Azerbaijan and the Rest of the World was the first time the major part of any cricket team had comprised all Azerbaijani nationals. Captained by Talegh Bagiyev, a postgraduate student and chairman of the Anglo-Azeri Youth Society, Azerbaijan took the field as the Rest of the World, led by British Ambassador, Andrew Tucker, chose to bat first.

Photo © ECC

Opening pair, Jim White and Paul Thorley put on a useful 27 for the first wicket before Thorley fell to a fine catch taken by Azerbaijan's star player, Jeyhun Novruzov. Jeyhun was rarely out of the picture as he took four of the five catches held by the Azerbaijan side and returned figures of 1 for 19. Top-scorer for the Rest of the World side was Arif Hashmi, falling for 46, bowled as he danced down the wicket attempting to hit Tural Bagiyev out of the ground. Faisal Ishaq added an aggressive and entertaining 34,whilst John Connor and Andy Tucker both got into double figures but were deceived by the flight of deliveries from novice Tural Bagiyev. The Rest of the World ended their 24 overs on 178, the second highest score coming from extras. For Azerbaijan, Baku old-timer Amer Mir was the pick of the bowlers, returning a miserly 1 for 20 from his allotted 6 overs.

Photo © ECC

When Azerbaijan went in to bat after lunch, it quickly lost its captain but Amer Mir went stylishly on to top score with 98, being dubiously adjudged lbw by experienced Bangladeshi umpire Lutful Kabir. The square-leg umpire, Sean Halliday, appeared to wince at that poor decision.

Sean Barry, a New Zealander engaged to an Azerbaijani girl, was the only other player in the Azerbaijan side to get into double figures but tail enders Tural Bagiyev, Akif Maharramov and Tural Novruzov fought valiantly to push the Azerbaijan score to a respectable 140 for 7 after their allotted 24 overs. Paul McIntyre only bowled two overs but, with 2 for 2, had the best overall bowling figures.

Photo © ECC

Andrew Tucker held aloft the champions' trophy, the Windies Cup, on behalf of the winning side, and Jeyhun Novruzov narrowly beat Amer Mir to winning the cup for best player on the Azerbaijan side. Arif Hashmi was adjudged to have contributed most to the Rest of the World's success with his steady batting performance.

The match was sponsored by Lufthansa, British Airways, Moores Stephens and Salans. Refreshments were provided by the International Women's Club.

Games are played every Sunday (except in August) at The International School of Azerbaijan starting at 11.0 am. Further details can be obtained from Alum Bati on abati@salans.com