Main Umpire: subhashis Leg Umpire: harish
Report:
COCC humble league leaders HPCC, confirm their reputation as
giant killers.
HPCC drove down to Columbia, SC, hoping to keep their clean all-win record for
the season intact. COCC on the other hand badly needed to win this one to
salvage any hopes of making the play-offs. However, to their bad luck, a couple
of their key players were missing for this very important game. Nevertheless,
the mood in the camp was far from somber.
On an overcast morning, COCC won the toss and elected to take first strike. A
very positive move by the team management, considering the cloud cover and
therefore the possibility of the ball doing a bit in the air, at least for the
first few overs. However, COCC lost their first wicket off the second ball of
the innings, that of Pranav. This brought Bharat to join Vivek at the wicket.
Both of them batted very sensibly, mixing caution with aggression and built a
partnership which was to be a very important one for COCC. Bharat after playing
a few beautiful shots got out against the run of play for a very well made 30.
Their association yielded 54 runs to the total, the importance of which cannot
be stressed enough. Abed was then sent in as a pinch-hitter but, was
unfortunately run-out before he could get going. This brought Martyn to the
crease. He and Vivek wove together a brief partnership to bring COCC back into
the game and were not separated at the drinks break (taken at the end of 15
overs). As often happens after a break, Martyn lost his concentration and was
bowled through the gate by Qaiser to a regulation incutter. This resulted in a
mini collapse as COCC lost a few quick wickets to some ordinary cricket. This
brought Raju to the crease to partner Vivek, who was doing exceedingly well to
hold his end up. Raju played some excellent cricketing shots and in the process
put together a quick but very important partnership with Vivek. At this juncture
a tired Vivek got run-out for a very well compiled 44. This partnership lent a
semblance of respectability to the final COCC score and helped them reach 182
for 9 in their allotted 30 overs. While this was by no means a winning total it
definitely was a fighting one.
Play resumed after lunch with HPCC looking at a manageable 183 for victory.
HPCC’s plan - not to take things easy and to go for the runs from the outset
seemed amply clear as they sent a pinch hitter at the top of the order. COCC
opened with Martyn and Walton. Both of them bowled aggressively and looked like
taking a wicket all along. Both got a decent amount of lateral movement and
bounce on this pitch. The pinch hitter in the opening pair led a charmed life
due to some ordinary fielding by the home team. All along, though, the fielders
were exhorting the bowlers and they in turn were responding magnificently.
Finally, their efforts bore fruit when Bhaiya slashed at an away going Walton
delivery and the resultant edge was taken comfortably at slip by JD. A sharp
catch indeed. This was just the breakthrough that COCC needed to bring the
spring in their stride back. With a view to keeping the pressure on, the opening
bowlers were bowled unchanged for the first 8 overs. Both the bowlers bowled
their heart out but were unlucky on several occasions when they beat the bat but
were unable to find the edge. Walton, infact was bowling so well that he was
allowed to complete his spell without a break. A brief partnership ensued before
drinks were taken at the end of the 12th over of the innings. At this juncture
HPCC were well and truly in control of the game. On the resumption of play, spin
was introduced into the attack in the form of Abed. The very first ball caught
Mushtaq plumb in front. This wicket raised COCC’s hopes of making a comeback
into the game. A couple of tight overs later a freak dismissal got COCC another
important breakthrough, the pinch hitter finally ran out of luck. In trying to
force Abed away on the onside off the backfoot he accidentally tread onto his
wicket to be out hit-wicket. At this point Keyur was introduced into the attack
and he yielded almost immediate results with two back-to-back strikes. The first
one was a regulation caught behind(Ajay) dismissal while the next one was a
straight forward LBW verdict. This brought the HPCC skipper to the middle with
his team in a spot of bother. He batted positively and took on the off-spin of
Abed in one particular over, and scored three much needed boundaries. By now it
had started drizzling a little and the cat and mouse between the bowlers and the
batsmen continued until a short sharp shower sent everybody scurrying for cover.
On resumption from this nature enforced break, Keyur struck again and this time
it was Ghias who miscued a shot to give Raju at point a simple take. The fall of
this wicket galvanized COCC. They had now smelt blood and were ready to move in
for the kill. With the fall of every HPCC wicket, COCC tightened their noose on
the game and HPCC relinquished theirs. Abed and Keyur continued their good work
at the bowling crease and wrapped up the remainder of the HPCC innings. Between
the two of them they accounted for 8 wickets to finish with figures of 5/25
(Abed) and 3/18 (Keyur). HPCC were all out for a final score of 125 in 22.4
overs leaving COCC victorious by a margin of 57 runs.
All in all, it was a wonderful performance by the entire COCC unit with almost
everybody chipping in. The standout performers though were Vivek(44), Bharat(30)
and Raju (25) with the bat and Abed (5/25) and Keyur (3/18) with the ball. Keep
up the good work guys!!!
And finally, a word of thanks to Subhashish and Harish from SPCC for an
outstanding umpiring job. The weather conditions did not make their job any
easier either.
COCC
AJAY