Ravi Suri
Batting first, Crescent were all out for 247 in 38 overs. JECC chased down the target in 39.3 overs with 3 wickets in hand.
Scorecard: http://www.dreamcricket.com/clnj/scorecarddisplay.aspx?gameid=8737
We won a few close ones, I can recall Middlesex where Chinmay and Avi played terrific cricket, Venki against Miracle, Dilip’s bowling against Indus. This game against Crescent was a team effort and a perfect run chase. The best aspect of this game for me was the ‘never say die” ATTITUDE of JECC.
We showed this spirt against HCC the last game where Dilip dint allow shoulders to droop and led the team well in a loss. This game too we were up against it. But for a let off of frustration where Dilip and I disagreed over the distance between batsman and slip fielder (lot of heat got generated) the emotions were kept in control.
Toss: We lost the toss and Crescent opted to bat.
Bowling:
They opened with Salim Bhai and a Sri Lankan batsman about whom
Dhanu cautioned us saying he is a big hitter. The caution was taken lightly and
what followed was an eye opener. First ball from Venki the SL batsman stepped
out nonchalantly and hit him for a big six over midwicket. That shot signaled
big trouble given that it was the first ball of the game. Next ball Venki held
it back and the batsmen went for a wild slog and skied it to mid-wicket. Dilip
was probably not prepared for such a poor shot and tried his best to get under
the skier, but was a few yards away. To prove that was a costly escape, the
batsman hit the next ball for another six.
Sid came in next over and got Salim bhai out first ball.
Another SL batsmen a left hander replaced Salim Bhai, and he was struggling
initially. The left hander escaped a close LBW shout and when the right handed
SL batsman faced Sid, the mid-wicket fielder Venk was moved a few yards to his
left. The very next ball was swung hard and straight to Venk on the mid-wicket
fence. A foot either side of Venki was six, the ball went straight to Venk who
could not close the deal.
We immediately felt this was going to be a tough day.
After that let up both batsmen scored freely particularly the big hitter was
bashing us all round the park. They were scoring minimum 7 to 8 runs an over
and never allowed any bowler to settle down. Sid was bowling extremely well
with no luck, beating the bat and finding catches going in no man’s land. Ron
was brought in but was hammered like all other bowlers.
Dilip came in and we thought
we had the first break when the hard hitter hit Dilip to mid-wicket boundary
where Ron took a great catch, only to be adjudged he was an inch outside the
line and the umpire declaring it a six. Parallax error made it look like he was
within the boundary. Finally we take a catch and see the umpire declaring it a
six. We were just about to hit boiling point when Dilip had the hard hitter
play in the air again to mid-wicket. This time Ron ran a few yards in and took
a brilliant catch. Ron was tested twice in two balls and took both catches
extremely well. Dilip bowled a brilliant spell to give us hope in the game
again.
Crescent was 140 for 2 off 21 overs at this stage and we were looking at
the barrel. Just as we were thinking we
got their best man out, in walked Basit. We had not seen him before and had no
idea of his batsmanship. The first ball he faced he flicked over midwicket for
2, next ball he rolled his wrists to send the ball flying to deep midwicket,
and followed it up with a lofted shot for six over long off. All three shots
were breath taking, out of the world and depressing for a team who were already
“Jayasuryad”.
We were wondering what is in store for us, Crescent was
looking at 300 or more at this stage. Dilip our talisman for past few games,
did the trick again. Albeit this time the big palms of Sid played a crucial
role. Dilip pitched one short, Basit bashed it with brute power, the ball was
flying to mid-wicket region, Sid stuck his hands out, the ball caught his right
hand and Basit was left in disbelief. The wicket and outfield and the start
Crescent got combined to continue the pressure on us.
Venki bowled a good
second spell, Dilip rotated his bowlers, bowled a terrific spell himself. The
fielders were giving in their best and overall we did a great job despite the
odds to restrict Crescent to 247. We delayed the bowling power play to end and
this strategy paid off. I don’t know what made Dilip delay this but end of the
day this delay in bowling power play meant the batting team had to take both
the power-plays together and could not sustain the momentum.
Manoj fielded well, bowled spiritedly got us a wicket when
needed, Ron was brilliant with those two catches, Naga was awesome behind the
stumps, a very smart stumping. Sid took a blinder of a catch. Dilip bowled a
spell which kept us in the game, Venki was good in second spell.
Batting: Chasing 248 to win is a daunting task. We set about
it without any pre conceived notions. Dhanu and I opened and told ourselves we
need to repeat the HCC opening stand. The first over I faced was useful and the
bowler bowled 2 wides one of which went to the boundary. Rest of the over
helped me get my eye in. I took a single of the last ball and was facing a Sri
Lankan bowler with a Malinga action.
Dhanu told me this guy was very quick and
I should watch out. The first ball he bowled was pitched on my legs and I was
able to flick to get 2 runs, next ball he pitched short I pulled for four, next
ball I nicked to be dropped by the keeper a tough one between him and slip.
Next ball was pitched up and I lofted it over cover for six, next ball I skied
to cover for the fielder to miss-judge. But overall in that over we got 12 runs
and more over I was timing it very well. We were 20 for none in 2 overs an
ideal start. From thereon I went on to play my best innings for JECC scoring 41
the best of my shots being the square cut for six. Almost everyone who went to
bat hit a MEMORABLE shot, shots to really remember for the season. Dhanu got
out soon and Ananth joined me. After a repair job I got run out to a call fully
my fault. There was no second run in it and I ran without thinking a direct hit
made matters worse. At drinks we were 89 for 2 off 14 overs.
Ananth was in full flow by then, he was joined by Naga. The
best part of our chase was we dint allow double breaks and we ensured
partnerships kept us going. Naga played a very matured innings and got his
singles doubles and the boundaries. Meantime Ananth was unleashing his stroke
play. The trade mark shots of Ananth were in full bloom. Probably the shot of
the season was the flat drive to square point area, a flat six off a left arm
spinner. I find no words to do justice to this shot, so will just say that
those who dint see that shot missed something. Shots like these have a telling
effect on the fielding team. The bowler loses focus and will never be the same
again.
I have been screaming my head off about game awareness in my
past few reports. All the batsmen on show today displayed a great sense of game
awareness. Naga was brilliant in his support of Ananth, I took a support role
moment I saw Ananth becoming the aggressor, I was the aggressor till Ananth got
in his flow. Similarly Dilip played support before taking lead role, so did Sid
and as did Naga.
Ananth got out against the run of play and Sid replaced him.
Ananath scored 55 some of the shots were stunning and one of them is for this
season’s memory. Naga took the lead role and hit some lusty blows an on drive
being the stand out shot. There was so much power and timing in that shot that
the long on fiddler had to just move 5 yards to save the boundary, he could
hardly cover two yards. Naga –Sid partnership was perfectly paced, Naga got out
to Salim Bhai after hitting a brilliant boundary to long off, he stepped out to
be bowled.
Dilip joined Sid and two played sensibly. Sid ensured we
were striking at about 6 runs an over. There were not too many wides bowled, the
bowling was pretty disciplined and fielding was good. Sid hit some lusty blows
in scoring 32 before getting caught. Dilip was all along his cool self and
despite not connecting the first 3 to 5 balls he faced, Dilip hardly showed any
nerves. Hari replaced Sid and we still needed 65 runs from the lower order in
about 9 overs. That’s a steep chase, but captain cool, was getting into his
stride. Hari and Dilip added 18 runs in no time, after which Hari got out.
A
match winner in ability, spirit and commitment; Venki replaced Hari. Dilip by
this time was controlling the innings, an effortless lofted shot over cover for
six added to the day’s memorable shots. This shot again like Ananth’s shot
punctured the flow of the opponent. Trust me it is moments like these which
take the wind out of the sail on an opponent. We were smelling victory with 35
from 24 balls required. Venki was looking like sealing the deal when he got a
ball to bounce to shoe lace height and was bowled. We were reaching a make or
break situation when Jairam joined Dilip.
First ball Jairam faced was past his
bat before the blink of an eye. Next ball was smashed for four to point. Equation
was brought down to 24 from 18, an IPL like situation was developing. Come the
tough time, the tough get going; Dilip hit two boundaries in the 38th
over to bring the equation to 13 off 12 balls.
Next over Dilip was at it again and hit a boundary to bring the equation
to 8 off 9 balls, the first time in the game the runs and balls equation was in
favor. Some smart running and lusty blows along with calm heads brought the
equation to 2 runs of six balls. Jai and Dilip finished the game, with Dilip
hitting a boundary to finish the game in style.
A chase which swelled every
JECC member’s chest swell with Pride. A word of appreciation for Jai he went in
high pressure situation his keeping was not upto scratch today, he dint live up
to his batting hype last two games, bit cometh the hour, cometh the man!! He
gave valuable support o Dilip when the real deal was on!!! Great win team,
proud of you!! Every one played with
heart and mind in sync.
Emotions run high on such a run chase. First we are bashed
all-round the park, then we have the kick of bashing the opponent> the game
goes about at a break neck speed. You don’t have time to think about the
previous ball or shot or wicket. Both teams need to be on top of their
respective game(s). The team which plays better over the entire duration of 80
overs wins. It was heartening to see us bowl fewer wides. It was a great feeling
to see all our batsmen apply themselves and at same time score at required
rate. The quality of cricket was terrific, honestly and without bias I can say
the stroke play from our batsmen today was mind blowing. So many high quality
shots were played, some of the very best this season. The wicket was a beauty
to play on and no wonder we saw such good cricket. This win bodes well for our
play off’s, going into the crunch games on a high is a great feeling.
Till we meet again, Cheers!!
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