Result: DDCC won by 6 runs
How close can you get to a WIN and then let it go? Thats exactly what happened, when CTCC played their
first game against an average DDCC team. Game didn't start with a good note though, people being confused
over who's playing and who's not. All is well that ends well. Once final 11 were drafted, everybody got
along with the game. Rajat (Oraganiser/Captain) won the toss and elected to field.
DDCC Innings
The decision almost backfired when DDCC got off with a good start, with Vasu hitting 2nd ball of Vijay
through mid on for 4. Vijay brought CTCC back into the game in his second over, when Dinesh was found plumb
front of middle stump. Purav opened with a descent spell at the other end, but was unlucky to get any wicket.
Vijay stuck again in his 3rd over when Chamesh was bowled on a duck, but not before Apporva was run out a ball
before that. DDCC immediatly went defensive. Vinay came in as the first bowling change, and adding to the agony
made DDCC captain, nick a fuller length ball to Vijay at gully. Abhay bowling at other end was keeping a straight
line and was rewarded in his second over with prized wicket of Vasu. Prabhu edged one to the keeper off Vinay and
walked to pavilion. And it looked all over for DDCC with score realing at 43/7. But Yogesh and Arpit had some other
plans. They stuck to there task not taking any risk, defending all good balls and getting runs on loose ones.
They took the score to 78 before Purav stuck in his second spell. Yogesh still not giving up, got into another
partnership with Vihar taking score past 100. It was then Vihar returned a full toss back to Vinay to get caught
and bowled. Sameer was the last to go in similar fashion, but this time the bowler was Purav. DDCC ended their innings at
101. Highest scorer, Mr. Extras 33, and then Yogesh 30. (Well played). CTCC was right into the game after 7th wicket,
but they didn't capatalized on the situtation and gave away just too much. But it was still an achievable target.
CTCC Innings
Santosh and Neeraj opened the innings for CTCC, with a required run rate of just above 4. Santosh was off the
mark on the very first ball. CTCC recieved a vital blow when Neeraj was bowled around the wicket first ball,
by DDCC captain Avinash. Rajat promoting himself up the order replaced Neeraj. Both Santosh and Rajat played
sensible cricket, keeping the scoreboard ticking and keeping run rate just above the required run-rate. After
a valuable 33 runs stand for 2nd wicket, Rajat was bowled by a slower delivery from Arpit, when he played the shot
too early. He made 15(24) with atleast 3 catches dropped (Lucky Him). And thats when started the downfall of CTCC.
DDCC started getting wickets regularly, with Kapil bowled next over from Arpit with CTCC at 50/2, Chandresh getting
run out next over (lethargic running really) on a duck with score reading 51/3. Samar and Santosh gave CTCC another
hope with a stand of 18 runs, before Samar was unlucky to be given caught behind.(well, we all heard the nick, didn't we).
Abhay entertained with some lusty hitting, but meanwhile Santosh's nerves got better of him and he popped a simple
catch to Chamesh, after making patient 23(45), CTCC 79/6. Game was evenly poised with 23 runs required, 4 wickets remaining,
6 overs to go and Abhay doing his thing. Another 6 runs added and the inevitable happened. Abhay given out caught Chamesh
when ball popped up from his thighs no bat, but umpire thought otherwise. Vinay went in with an injured shoulder, faced
three balls and got his hand to a ball boucing and leaving the leg stump, caught at short fine leg. Vijay ran himelf out
in the next over without bothering the scorers. In space of 8 balls, score went down from 85/6 to 85/9, everybody giving
in to pressure. Kaushal just sticking at one end and just 17 runs required. With 4 overs to go and bowlers helping with wides,
we always had a chance. Kaushal hit a big six over long on to take the score to 93. But he couldn't keep up with the pressure
either and threw his wicket on simplest of a delivery, in the 23rd over 7 runs short of victory.(Really irresponsible shot)
Given that it was the first time the playing 11 were playing together as a team, it was not a bad performance at all.
With a good bowling strength (of course, we have to work on extras), and descent batting line up, all we have to do
is lift our standards. We all should get together and come up with a team plan, which was missing from the first game.
We all did good, but we can do better. The league is not over yet, there are 7 more games to go. Most important thing is
to go over the team selection procedure.
Comment of the game : "Umpiring Rajat se kerwao ya Purav se kya farak padta hai - Samar"