KCC B Vs ACC
The game had to start 1 hour late because of the dampness in the pitch. And because of the same reason, we elected to field first after getting lucky this time as far as toss is concerned.
We started off really good with Rahul and Gopi opening the bowling for us. They kept a tight line and length and the run rate below 4. The mounting pressure forced their batsman to commit mistakes and go for risky singles and that gave us a chance for the first wicket. Santosh, one of ACC’s attacking openers was run out of an impeccable throw by energetic debutant Mithil. ACC Score 16/1 at 4.2 overs.
Gopi soon stuck in his 3rd over when Bharath dived to his front at the first slip to take a stunning catch fumbled by Krishna. ACC were 20/2 in 5.4 overs. Bharath and Srujal then replaced Gopi and Rahul respectively and maintained a tight line and length. The ACC were still below 4 runs an over and the pressure was mounting on them. In a desperate attempt to accelerate the run rate they lost two quick wickets one fabulously caught by Parag at mid off of Bharath’s overs and the other caught and bowled by Srujal. That was a stunning caught and bowled. ACC were soon tottering at 36/4 at the end of 12.4 overs. Srujal was a little inconsistent in his line and length and also since we were running short of time, Mahesh was given a chance to bowl. From ACC’s side Rod and Rahul stabilized the innings playing some confident shots but living on edges now and then. Barring a few occasions the fielding display by KCC was one of the best seen in the recent past. 5th wicket fell when ACC were 74 when Rod tried to upper cut a leg spin from Mahesh. Anand reacted towards the ball’s direction even before it was dispatched and took a stunning catch. The debutant Mithil was given a chance to go with the ball and he impressed everyone there with his pace and bounces. Sometimes he would ball a few short pitched deliveries and wides, but would learn quickly to correct them. Although he wasn’t lucky in getting any wickets in his full 5 overs that he bowled spread over 2 spells, he would be a very good prospect for KCC as far as the fast bowling department is concerned. He would need time to learn but I am sure he would do much better in the games to come.
Rahul from ACC was soon out of Mahesh’s next over when he lofted a ball directly in the safe hands of the VC. ACC were 89/6 at the end of 22.2 overs. Then two new batsmen, Gerard and Dushanan played what we call some good intelligent shots going for singles and doubles and not going for slogs. Nobody knew that, at the end, this inning would turn out to be the big difference between the two sides. They added 68 runs for 7th wicket almost run a ball and helped ACC to come back in the game. This wicket was crucial in taking ACC to a respectable and fighting total at the end. They were bowled out for 166 at the very last ball of 40th over. Rahul ensured that we would get these 5 points no matter what.
Lunch was offered by ACC as per the custom they have been following and it was a delicious one. Mahesh and Bharath opened the innings for KCCB. Mahesh was sent in to open the innings to see off the first few bowlers as we were having no idea about their bowling department. Mahesh was out in the 4th over, but to some extent the logic thought was successful. Bharath was joined by Anand in the middle and they looked like repeating KCC vs PCC game just a few days back. Anand was taking time to settle down when Bharath was scoring all over the park. 9th over saw Bharath dispatching two of the deliveries for boundaries and the same was repeated by Anand in the 10th over. KCC was going over 5.5 runs per over and it looked like an early finish. This dream was shattered in the next over itself when Bharath was caught at the short leg trying to glance one of the deliveries onto his pads. It was almost similar to his dismissal a day back for KCC-A. Gopi came in and he started in an emphatic fashion. KCC was doing well and soon were 70+ in the 14th over before GOPI was hit plumb with an incoming delivery. KCC score read 76/3 in 14.3 overs.
The rest is a history. From 76/3 in 14 overs KCC were begging at 95/6 in the 20th over. Anand tried to hold one end but was out for LBW yet again. Barring Krishna, no one realized the situation and the condition of the game. Some were out for reckless shot selection and some for their own atrocious decisions. Most of them had forgotten that 20+ overs were remaining and we just needed 70+ runs. Krishna remained NOT out for 16 runs and a huge SIX over the covers was a highlight of his innings. KCC were finally bundled out for 124 in the 28th over loosing the game to ACC by 42 runs. What seemed to be an easy win turned out to be a disappointing loss at the end.
Positives from the game:
- Fielding was immaculate. Most of the catches were taken. Krishna was superb behind the wickets and one of the stumping was the proof. Parag did a fabulous job at mid off and short cover although he is practicing as a wicket keeper. Singles were saved, quick throws resulted in 2 run outs and I believe we did everything we could in this department.
- Rahul is back full time as a opening bowler and he bowled decently although was not lucky enough to get as many wickets as he should have got.
- Mithil was more than impressive with the ball as well as in the fielding department. One of the quickest in the above two areas.
Negatives from the game (And why did we lose it?)
- Can you guess the series represented by the numbers 2, 6, 8, 8, 0, 8 and 3? If you don’t even after looking at the attached score-sheet then you would never understand the big difference between the win and the loss? These were the number of wides bowled by each of the 7 bowlers respectively that were tried. A total of 35 and we lost the game by 44. Compare this to 14-15 that ACC conceded.
- Running between the wickets were as poor as it would ever get. Excepting Gopi, Bharath, Anand and a few, no one calls for runs and as soon as they would hit, they would quickly leave their end leaving their partner at the other end gasping and puzzled. If we don’t learn even this basic concept, it would always be tough and there is no need to talk about easy singles when we can’t convert easy ones. Even the practice is not going to help much in this case.
- Playing across the line: Few of us got out because we played across and that too when we had just went there. If the bowl is coming straight without any swing or spin, you might afford to do that, but if it is turning even a bit, it is always going to be suicidal. We have to learn a very simple fact that, we must play with straight bat at the start of our innings. The first 10-15 balls must be played with caution and with full face of the BAT. Once out eyes are set, then we are in a position to play whatever shot we want to.
We would try to give chances to as many of you as we can during this week’s practice session so that you get a chance to sort out the above simple and basic problems that we commit almost every time. A Bharath or a Gopi will not bail us all time from the danger situation. Given a chance we have to Grab it and then rise to the occasion.
KCCB Vs PCC Game 2 Summary
On a beautiful January morning, the game had to start well on time, as the opposition was Phoenix Cricket Club (PCC). We had lost our first game against them very badly and a few of our shortcomings were exposed. Also we had a better understanding of their bowling attack and batting abilities. The important statistics were:
PCC has not been beaten so far by any of the team in their 6 games that they have played.
Greg, one of the finest batsmen from their side was unbeaten all the time.
It was easier to know the toughness of the task at hand but never mind I went on for toss and again went on closer to defy the probability logic. 6 losses out of 8 times. We had discussed that we would bowl first had we won the toss as they have successfully chased in all their previous games. Perhaps they also knew their strength well and asked us to BAT first.
Krishna looked confident to open a tough inning along with our regular opener Bharath. The fast and furious Andy P started bowling for PCC from the far end. Bharath lofted him over the third man area in the last ball of his first over and we started off in a good fashion. Krishna looked like doing well but in the very first ball of the third over by Andy P he found his stumps uprooted. Anand went on to his summer tournament position i.e. number 3 to try his luck and find his form with the bat. It looked like both Andy P and Srinivas from PCC were making most of the wet pitch and moisture in the air with odd bowl swinging a little bit and surprising the batsmen sometimes with faster deliveries. Bharath also slowed down and slowly got into a comfortable groove and Anand started off shakily. It was only when a lollypop full toss was offered to him onto his leg stump, which he lofted over the square leg region for an easy SIX that he looked a bit confident. First 8 overs were seen off without the loss of any other wicket with 32 runs on the board. The plan was to see off Andy P’s over but he would never stop. He continued bowling with more aggression and more pace well supported by Srinivas from the other end. By that time the batsmen too were well set and determined, so they started playing a little more freely taking singles and doubles now and then and occasionally tapping odd balls to boundaries. At the end of every over from Andy P, the captain Andy C would ask him if he wants to rest and he would refuse it vociferously and making the batsman hear that he want one of them in the pavilion. Guess what, he was soon into his 8th over, the last possible from him. He was given a different taste from both the batsmen in this over. 1 boundary by each of them, which he loved by clapping for the batsmen J. At the end of 16th over, we were 77/1 and drinks break was on card. We had executed our first basic plan to see Andy P off fantastically and the second task was to not lose any wicket till break. We did that emphatically, going for singles and doubles and occasionally converting a few doubles into triples. The running between the wickets was good but the calling was even better. Bharath completed his 50 in emphatic style. It was a pleasing experience to see him bat from the other end. Every time a ball would be over pitched, he would just reach to the ball and present a full face of the bat and the rest will be an automatic thing. He did it so many times with ease. In between, pushing the balls to the area between points and third man and running hard for runs. He must have scored evenly all over the ground and it was such a chanceless innings that it looked remotely impossible for him to lose his wicket. Innings break and the scorecard read 109/1. Needless to say, with Gopi and Rahul still to come, it looked like an easy 250.
When the game resumed after the short drinks break, the batsmen decided to play more freely. As they attacked, PCC became circumspect and defensive by pushing most of the fielders to boundary lines in an attempt to save boundaries. The batsmen understood this quite well and they changed their game plan accordingly and they ran for singles and doubles. Sometimes they took singles with ball on the pitch itself and that too with ease. Needless to say, the frustration of PCC was obvious and there was some blaming game going on among them, with elder guys cooling the aggressive youngsters down and making them realize that that was not going to fetch them any wicket. Anand was now looking good and decided to go for big ones. Boundaries came freely and sometimes took chance to dance down the wicket and loft it over but failing most of the time to clear the ropes. Thanks to one more similar lollypop, one more SIX was awarded to Anand. Soon he rushed to 80s and then onto 90s leaving his partner behind in 80s. When it looked like the century was on the card, he misread a ball for its bounce and found his bells off. The innings included 91 off 84 balls with 8 fours and 2 SIXes off the lollypops and making most of the shortest part of the ground. The second wicket partnership was worth 191 runs in about 175 balls. I am not sure about the records being broken but I am sure it would definitely be among TOP this season. 199/2 in 32nd over.
Gopi was all raring to go and making most of the situation. He went there and started off well. He didn’t last long but within a short span of time he scored 17 off 9 balls, which included two GOPI style towering sixes. One of them over the head of the bowler was the best. His short quick-fire convinced the batsmen that 250 were easily on card. Rahul went there and started off cautiously. Bharath continued playing his shots and soon rushed to his 90s. Just when everyone was getting ready to cheer for his century, a little misunderstanding between Rahul and Bharath found later heading back to the pavilion on 96. It was a sad end to one greater inning by Bharath. I am sure that he has now proved to be a find of the season for KCC this year. Rahul, Srujal and the debutant Venkat did the rest and took the innings to a greater height of 278/5 at the end of 40 overs. Rahul scored 26 of 21 balls and Srujal remained unbeaten on 15 off 12 balls.
PCC started their chase to 279 by sending Andy P and Carls to open the innings. They tried to be aggressive but found themselves nowhere before an immaculate spell from Gopi and the debutant Venkat. Gopi was constantly beating them with accuracy and Venkat was fiery with his pace and bounce. I was initially reluctant to give Venkat open the bowling, but trusted my instinct and suggestions from VC and Gopi that worked to the best level. Gopi soon clean bowled Andy P and dented their chances further. Venkat was unlucky in not getting the wickets but was quite successful in applying the pressure from the other end. Number 3 batsman was Greg who was unbeaten till now. He and carls played some shot and counter attacked us. Srujal and Bharath replaced the opening bowlers. Bharath went for few runs but Srujal maintained a tight spell and was finally rewarded with a wicket, which could easily be called a golden one, the one of Greg. Srujal became the first one to get Greg out this season. He got him clean bowled when Greg tried to play it off the pads only to find the ball coming into his middle and leg stump. He was dejected on getting out as if he had thought that he would never get out. It had to be leveled this way perhaps. Srujal strikes once again in the same over by getting plumb Dinesh and the score card read 55/3. A throw from Srujal in the next over found a place to rest which was nothing but Carl’s face and it perhaps fired him and Bharath had to pay the price in the next over when he was hit for a SIX and a four in successive deliveries. In the next over of Srujal, a beautiful and immaculate throw from the deep mid off by Rahul got Carl ran out with Krishna doing an excellent job behind the stumps. The scorecard read 69/4. Bharath was removed from the attack and Mahesh was given a chance to give them a taste of leg spins. He bowled a superb wicket-less spell. Just when they were getting set, a bowling change just before the innings break as suggested from Krishna brought Venkat to have a bowl again and he got his first victim of the season. The batsman was beaten off the sheer pace and bounces. It was his 5th ball of the 5th over. At the end of innings break, scorecard read 97/5.
They resumed their batting with new batsman in Sanjay and Rakesh. A mishap between two soon resulted in 6th wicket with score reading 102/6. At this juncture, Rana and Sridhar were given chances to bowl and they did offer some freebies to these batsmen and they scored good runs in those three overs, as many as 29 runs. But the idea was to give them chance and prepare for the next matches. Sanjay and Sameer batted well and they shared the biggest partnership of 79 runs for PCC before Rahul was given a chance to have a bowl at them and he stroked in the first over itself by clean bowling Rahul. Rest of the job was done by Mahesh, against whom, the batsmen really looked confused and tempted. Mahesh bowled Sanjay for 61, highest from PCC side and deserving one for Mahesh after a lot of hard work. PCC were finally all out for 195 in the 37th over.
Brief Scorecard:
KCCB: 278 in 40 overs (Bharath 96 off 108 balls, Anand 91 off 84 balls)
PCC: 195 All out (Srujal 2 W, Mahesh 2 W, Gopi, Rahul and Venkat 1 W each)
A good win and a very satisfying one given the nature of the opposition and the reasons I mentioned at the start of this write-up. The foundation was led by Bharath and Anand who played with great sense of maturity and courage, running for quick singles with a great understanding between them. The innings were well planned and consisted off small targets. In my opinion that was the highlight of the partnership. However a fiery spell from Gopi and Venkat was a crucial one too in the sense it had killed their chances almost to nil. Srujal has now become habitual of getting us crucial breakthroughs at crucial times and this time it came in the form of double strikes. A good piece of fielding from Rahul at the deep was another heartening thing, which must have saved at least 4-5 boundaries and made PCC guys really desperate. Krishna was excellent behind the wickets and perhaps this was his first mistake free game J. Barring a few occasion Vikram and Sridhar showed great improvement during the fielding and that’s something positive for the upcoming matches.
Way to go guys….Good Job.
KCCB Vs PJB Summary
We lost the toss but PJB gave us a chance to field first. Their decision was perhaps based on the fact that they were only 8 people, so they didn’t want us to make them run all round the park for full 40 overs.
We started off our bowling with Gopi and Bharath. They did bowl first tow overs decently but a few gutsy shots from their openers in Kulraj and Manjeet made us re-think our game plan. They were soon 41/0 at the end of 6th over and I decided to replace Gopi with Srujal. He started off well in his usual manner. Looking at the state of the affairs with our front line fast bowlers, I decided to give spinners a chance to try their hand. Since Himanshu K was playing this game, I turned the bowl to him. And he did it. The rest is story as Himanshu and Mahesh bowled in tandem sharing 6 wickets in between them, 5 of them belonging to Himanshu. Himanshu ended with a bowling figure 26/5 in 7 overs ably supported by Mahesh who got one wicket and ended up with 9/1. Not to forget Srujal who got a crucial wicket of Kulraj their opener who scored the maximum from PJB side scoring 22. Parag who was keeping for B team for the first time caught him behind thanks to a fine effort. He did an excellent job behind the stumps and looks like a good prospect behind the stumps.
They were bowled out a little after the innings break in 21.2 overs. It was decided to continue with the second innings without a break and we did that. It seems batsmen from KCB were in a mood to finish things quite early in a mood to celebrate New Year eve with their girl friends and boy friends J, so as soon as the innings started, the PJB bowlers got blasted all over the park. In the process, we lost 3 wickets, but PJB never looked being into the game by any means. If at all they might have some hopes, which was washed off completely by Gopi who hammered 5 fours and a huge towering SIX straight over the head of the bowler and onto the roof of pavilion at Glendale. He was unbeaten at 33 and Himanshu at 14. KCB was home in just 12.1 overs. Amazing stuff and a fitting reply to the previous game that we had lost to them.
Cheers to everyone.
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