Main Umpire: Rajesh Leg Umpire: Not Known
Report:
A great show of individual brilliances amidst sloppy fielding by
both teams saw today's game between DCC and ANZ end in a terrific last ball Tie.
Both team's must be cursing their execution down the stretch, more so by DCC,
but a befitting tie sent both teams satisfied with 4 points each.
Once again Mahesh had luck with the coin and elected to bat first. DCC had a
rare cracking start as Saurabh Aggarwal whipped ANZ’s bowling. Two sixes over
point were as spectacular as some of the other drives from his bat. Asutosh at
the other end played a anchor role. Together they raced to 51 in just 6 overs. A
momentary break to search a lost ball resulted in a concentration lap and
Saurabh missed the line to be bowled for a excellent 36 of 27 balls (4 x4s, 2
x6s-34 mins).
One drop specialist Pratik was going through his customary "get the hang of it"
mode and was just about to look set but a dubious caught behind decision
resulted in DCC losing one more important wicket. Rao ploughed a few balls down
the legside before a straight one got him on the pads in line with the stumps.
DCC suddenly found themselves in a hole at 63 for 3 (10 Overs) although the
run-rate was still well over 6.
Niranjan walked in and in no time started the on-slaughter to take the pressure
off. Some great shots were worthy of action replays at the pavilion and DCC
piled on more runs behind a battery of 4's and 6's. Niranjan was in no mood to
let the run-rate slip below 6 and ANZ’s fielders were sent for leather hunt
again and again. At the other end, Ravi played the ball to the merit. Bad balls
were duly put away on the outside the field. When Ravi (11: 1 x4, 1 x6) towered
a top edge and caught at mid-wicket by Jeff, DCC were at 106 for 5(15.2 Overs).
Seems that DCC going to be in troubles but a model support from the Captain
(Mahesh) ensured that one end would be secure. Pavilion viewers were excited as
well as nervous every time Niranjan faced the ANZ’s bowlers. While Niranjan
mastered the ANZACC bowling it was also a question of when the dynamite would
implode after the explosion. In the
23rd over a stoic innings of 55 (9 X4s, 1 x6) of 46 balls ended in a boundary
line catch and Niranjan exited after reviving DCC from the yard. Holding on to
wickets now seemed the order of the day and, in the process, slog run rate
slacked and the eventual collapse was complete with the last 4 dismissals doing
donation work to ANZ by giving away their wickets between the 26th and 29th
overs while adding only a nominal score. DCC inning ended in 28.5 overs with 182
runs on the scoreboard – a good defending total.
Chasing 182 was a daunting task and good accurate bowling by Niranjan and Pratik
made ANZ only 48 in 11 overs still 10 wickets intact. Saurabh brought in the
attack, Harman (32 Runs: 5 x4s in 50 balls and 61 Mins) and Satbir (26 Runs: 4
x4s in 36 balls) gave him a taste of his own medicine by cracking 13 runs in his
very first over.
ANZ’s opening pair now looked ominous but a clean throw from Niranjan, after
saving the boundary, saw the last of the opener. DCC bowled overs 12-19 with
great enthusiasm and got two quick wickets with clean bowled on 2 of their bats.
At one point DCC had a strong grip on the game as run rate of 9 required from
last 10 overs. But a series of dropped catches justifying this phrase “catches
win matches”. Dipesh and Shaluka partnership was growing stronger and DCC’s grip
on the game was loosening. And with the excellent and valiant effort from Dipesh
Anzacs were closer to victory with only 16 runs needed from the last 2 overs.
In the last over, Anzacs just needed 6 to win and 5 to tie. It looked like this
was the end! Shirish was called in to the most difficult job of the day to bowl
the last over. Shirish bowled with accuracy and intelligently, first 2 balls no
run scored. Heartbeats were racing as Shirish getting ready to bowl his third
ball ANZ steal one run and 2 runs from 3 and 4 balls of the over. So now
equation is 2 balls 3 runs needed to win, another dot ball and now it’s getting
even tenser. 3 runs required from the last ball, Shirish once again calmly with
all his cool delivered a nice bouncy ball but a top edge from Dipesh ran past to
fine leg. Rao fielded the ball cleanly and with Dipesh dead as a duck in
running, it looked like DCC would win with a run out. But Rao’s throw slipped
and Dipesh covered his ground and making Anzacs able to tie the game. Dipesh
scored (56 Runs: 6 x4s, 2 x6s in 42 balls and 77 Mins).