MAJESTIC INNINGS BY SHABZ HUSSAIN

Shabz Hussain image
SHABZ BLASTS SOUTHILL PARK - 163 NOT OUT FROM 60 BALLS

TWO CENTURIONS FOR ICKWELL

MAMMOUD HITS MAIDEN CENTURY

In a memorable innings of pure class, Ickwell skipper Shabz Hussain played one of the greatest innings to be seen on the Green last Sunday against Southill Park.

On a beautifully warm and sunny late summer’s day, with a perfect pitch for batting thanks to groundsman Peter Onion, the many spectators were treated to a display of batting they will never forget. It was magical!

In a breathtaking innings of pure class Shabz scored 163 not out from just sixty balls, including 17 fours and 12 sixes. But this was certainly not a big slog. It was a characteristic Shabz innings of controlled shots played with power and with an easy flow of the bat.

The “wagon wheel” of shots kept by scorer Helen Papworth, shows just how many of the runs came in the slot between mid-on and mid-off. Anything pitched up was driven down the ground with the straightest of bats and with what seemed to be effortless power. One of these drives was the longest six hit seen on the Green in years.

In contrast once the bowlers dropped short they were delightfully put away being either square cut or pulled for four. The Southill Park bowlers were at a loss as to where to bowl!                                                                                        
When Shabz came to the wicket, after Ross Fensome had unfortunately been run out, the score was just 143 for four.  With nineteen overs remaining this looked to be a fairly normal match heading for a fairly ordinary score.

Mammoud Khan was already at the wicket and in his best form of the season. He played a delightful innings with many fine shots particularly off the back foot. He went on to make a well deserved 111 which was his maiden century for Ickwell.

But his innings was to be overshadowed by this unbelievable display of controlled hitting from  Shabz Hussain. Nineteen balls for the first fifty and another twenty-four to get to a hundred. Then just sixty for his total of 163 not out.  In total 150 runs came from the last ten overs of the innings to give Ickwell a massive final total of 408 for 5.

his pair established a record fifth wicket for Ickwell with their stand of 224. It is also the second highest stand for any wicket for Ickwell. Ickwell won by 165 runs to help keep them in third place in the Premier Division.

But to complete the story this was not the only big score for Shabz this weekend. On Saturday in the Huntingdonshire League game against Burghley Park Ickwell batted first and got off to a disastrous start which left them at 74 for 6 after only sixteen overs.

Then Dave “Robbo” Robertson, 88, and Shabz  put on a  record partnership of 174 for the seventh wicket and this took the game out of reach of the home side. Shabz’ 109 came off ninety balls and contained three sixes and fourteen fours, His hard hitting completely demoralised the opposition as they saw the game turn full circle. Ickwell finished with 307 for 9.

Two centuries in one weekend is another feat not previously achieved by an Ickwell player!

 

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