By Jonty Ralphsmith
Officer B Grade cricketer Abhi Sharma dismantled Melbourne Sixers on Saturday, taking seven wickets in a tireless 15-over spell into the breeze.
Entering the attack after the Sixers lost an early wicket, Sharma didn’t take long to find his rhythm, delivering two consecutive maidens to build up pressure before eventually dismissing Shantha Hewavitharana.
The left arm pace-bowler claimed the other set batter, Ranjith Mangalanathan, three overs later, before the Sixers steadied and grabbed the momentum.
Despite the fall of early wickets, the Sixers looked destined for well over 200, seeing off the initial threat of Sharma when he returned into the wind.
But he remained disciplined and eventually got rewarded.
The Bullant made a mess of the lower order, claiming the last five wickets for just 10 runs to reduce Melbourne Sixes to just 152, with Officer currently sitting at 1/6 in response.
“You know what you’re going to get from him every single time,” Officer skipper Wayne Duke said.
“He’s pretty consistent stump to stump, a left-armer who hits the right zones.
“His line and length doesn’t allow runs to flow and batters can’t get in to him.”
A selfless teammate who plays roles that the team and match situation demands, Sharma is an experienced campaigner who forms the backbone of the Officer bowling attack.
After opening the bowling last season, Sharma is now content bowling first change as the club has promoted the responsibility of the new rock onto newer faces as the higher grades undergo a transition.
“He’s one of the guys we turn to straight away if a batter gets on top because he is able to rein it back in,” Duke said.
