CLNJ Semifinals
JECC lost to Warriors by 6 wickets.
Scorecard: http://www.dreamcricket.com/clnj/scorecarddisplay.aspx?gameid=2674
Batting: The scorecard says it all. Irresponsible batting display by the entire team let us down in the most important game of the clubs history. We had a definite chance of winning this and the championship. When the task at hand demanded a cautious approach to batting on a wet pitch, our batsmen went for glory and attempted big shots only to get caught in the deep. Cricket does not work that way where runs only come in sixes and fours. The set batsmen threw their wicket away just because a couple of others did. We forgot that this batting lineup bats all the way till no.11. Most of the batsmen went out in the same way letting down the entire team.
A couple of dubious decisions by the umpire made the matters worse, but in the end a very bad performance with the bat by JECC. Bowling wasn’t unplayable, but infact was dibbly dobbly stuff by Anoop and co. who were just looking for us to hit the ball in the air.
Bowling: With a target of 93, we needed a performance like the previous game. Suneel and Rushi promised just that and put up quite a fight. A wicket in the very second ball by Suneel got us started and Rushi followed it up with another wicket in his over.
But it was all downhill from there on..Catches were dropped early on for the opening slog hitter and with a couple of big hits from him the game was out of our hands. Simple catches were dropped that made the shoulders droop and made the bowling look helpless. Himanshu came on later to bowl a very good spell but was unfortunate as his catches were dropped too. Our bowling was way better than theirs but fielding was non-existent to make us lose without a fight.
Verdict: With a batting lineup that looks so good on paper, we should be scoring 150+ each time we go out to bat. 94 was a saving grace in the end but not a fighting total.
Seven catches and a couple of run outs were missed. Had we taken atleast 4-5 of them the match would have been ours. All of them were catchable and it was just the loser attitude that rubbed off on everyone.
~End of the season~
The loss was a bad way to end the season but we had some positives to keep track of throughout our journey.
** Going into Div 1 is a true bonus but we would have liked to be in the championship game atleast. This thought process is a long way for a team that was just satisfied to be playing in CLNJ and a playoff berth was a cause for celebration. It is credit to our self belief that we are disappointed not to win the semifinal – very unlike the past JECC teams.
** New additions this time were a big positive to our club. Les, Amit, Sekhar, Lucky, Preetham and Sekhar – you guys were a big boost to us this year and we are looking forward to a bigger role for you for the next year onwards.
Les’s batting was very classy and he truly is the best batsman in the team. Atleast four wrong umpiring decisions went against him but otherwise a solid performer and a true team player.
Special thanks to Amit for his uncomplaining and excellent wicket keeping throughout the season. He was rock solid behind the stumps and made important contributions to the batting.
Our teammates from the past, Rushi and Himanshu were very big additions this year. Rushi’s MVP like performance in every game that he played made us a force to reckon with in the league. Had he played more matches, he would have improved his stats to be a top player. His competitiveness rubbed on most of us and we should improve our game going forward.
Lucky, Sekhar and Preetham gave us the boost in batting and team spirit but we do expect more from them next year, given the optimum chances.
**We all have played well as a unit and I feel happy that we ‘gel’ together well as a unit instead of petty politics and issues that face other teams.
Let’s keep it that way and look forward to a better season next year.
NOTE: We were looking to plan a end of the season get together..so please email your suggestions. Paint ball was one, football game another..
We will wait for Murali and Ganadeep to get back so any thing around the first week of Oct should be OK.
