KCC Match Summaries 06-07 season

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 3^rd 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. 5^th 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 7^th 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 40^th 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 4^th 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. 9^th over saw Bharath dispatching two of the deliveries for boundaries and the same was repeated by Anand in the 10^th 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 14^th 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 20^th 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 28^th 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.

posted by Anand @ 3:43 PM