Yesterday, when Rahul came up to me and told me about the next match of the 'Kinvah Corporate Cricket Challenge', I didn't know that it was actually the semi-final match. Infact, it was only when I got to the ground that I realized that we were playing this semi-final against rivals - Cap-Gemini.
The reason I mention our opponents so clearly here, is because the previous two encounters between our teams have always yielded very tight results. The first happened in the BGS ground, where I was told that the 100 run partnership between Umesh and Ajay B sealed the match for us. The second, and obviously more infamous, meeting happened at the RSI ground for the 'Royal Challenge Corporate Trophy' where we were chasing and had to score 2 runs of the final over, but ended up loosing 4 wickets for nothing and lost the match!! (for more details on that match, please refer Rahul's blog below)
This time around, however, things were much different. This Saturday, we decided to go out there and "play our natural game". Here, let me say that whenever you here any International or Domestic cricketer say the above phrase, what he actually means is - 'We had no strategy!!' or in many cases - 'Our strategy was so pathetic, that I prefer saying that we played our natural game instead!!'.......In our case though, the reason we had no strategy was mainly because, we are all too lazy!
This fact was quite obvious because when the organizer called our captain for the toss, we looked at each other for 5 minutes, wondering who will be the captian today, before Ashfaque obliged with the honours, won the toss and decided that we would bat first. To follow that up, Ajay B had absolutely no idea untill the last moment that he was actually opening the batting with Ajay S and soon we had 2 other batsmen padded up not knowing when they had to go bat. Eventually, it was decided that Umesh would be the captain and after that he did a wonderful job of marshaling the troops.
The lack of strategy from our end, was more than made up by our opponents, who ran a full round, warmed-up, got into a team huddle and opened the bowling with a spinner. A strategy that worked beautifully, cause our ex-captain Ajay S was back into the dug-out in the first over itself, to give Anil company with a little chai cutting.
Our other main stream batsmen tried to up the tempo, but managed to regularly leave their stumps open or find the fielders. Umesh and Puneet tried to build a partnership, but Puneet succumbed to a suicidal run. Pinkesh and Rahul lost their wickets trying to score a few quick runs and it was left to the tail enders to play out the stipulated 20 overs. Anil (8 runs), Sujit (3 runs) and me (2 runs n.o), somehow managed to stretch the innings to the last ball and we ended up being bowled out for exactly 100 runs in 20 overs.
As we took to the field, we hardly had any scope of winning. Infact we were all looking forward to finishing the match and having some sumptuous snacks at Shri Krishna Bhavan at the earliest. Our opponents, however, had different plans. Again their opening batsmen strolled out with a pre-defined strategy and smashed their way to 48 runs without loosing any wickets. Eventually, it took one of Ajay S's super-flight balls to get us our first wicket. The next batsmen lost his stumps to Yadav and the suicidal runout in our innings was complemented by an even more suicidal runnout in their innings. Soon they found themselves at 50 odd for 3 wickets.
At this juncture, we still did not have any hope of winning, but kept our cool and encouraged the bowlers to keep bowling the good balls. It was at this time, that captain Umesh pulled out his trump card - Spinners.
Ajay had already picked up a couple of wickets, Sujit and Pinkesh picked one each as well, which included a brilliant catch taken by Umesh. The target wasn't too high and the runs kept coming and soon we were in a situation where the opposition need only 5 runs from 6 overs, with 3 wickets remaining.
Enter Pinkesh who bowled a straighter delivery to get rid of the left hander. A tight over ensured that 3 runs were needed with 2 wickets remaining. Sujit bowled, what was to be the last over of the match. He bowled a short ball first up, which the batsmen pulled and the ball traveled in the air in the direction of Ajay, who took a superb catch running to his left.
3 runs and 1 wicket remaining. Sujit tried a straighter one, which slid down the leg slide and was given a wide.
2 runs and 1 wicket remaining. The pressure on the batsman was clearly visible. Sujit bowled the next ball. It was a straighter one, which the batsman did not pick up. The ball skipped the bat and hit the pad in-line with the stump. All of us let out a huge appeal and as the umpire started raising the dreaded finger, our celebrations had already begun!!
It was yet another close encounter and this time around, we emerged victorious. It was a great come back for our team and we did not even try to hide the joy on our faces.
Sujit, who picked up 3 wickets for 16 runs was adjudged the Man of the Match, but the bottle of red Kinvah wine was enjoyed by the whole team. This was a momentous victory for us and as I recollect, it was the first time that we had emerged as winners in a closely fought battle.
Cap-Gemini was quite stunned with what had happened and it was the sight of them, huddled under a banyan tree, outside the ground, still wondering what really had hit them, that made this a very sweet revenge.
The score now stands at:
Open-Silicon 2 - 1 Cap-Gemini
Now, as we look forward to yet another final, I would summarize yesterday's match by saying that it was the 2 crucial runs that I scored in the last over that made the difference in the end.
Ok, I know all of you will oppose this, but what the heck - this is my blog. If you think otherwise, write your own!! :)
Cheers
Dundee
No comments:
Post a Comment