Main Umpire: Parag Leg Umpire: Batting side
Report:
Apologies for the long report!
The Wolfpack drove down to Gastonia, NC, for their 5th game of the 2004 season
expecting a tough opposition from the defending MACC champions. The Charlotte
Lions had already won 4 games with only one loss and another 6 points from a
forfeited game. The Wolfpack had 3 scalps under their belt but had experienced a
disappointing loss to Charlotte City Cricket Club a couple of weeks earlier. It
remained to be seen whether they had really learnt enough from that loss,
despite their encouraging performance against SCCA in Round 9.
The Gastonia wicket looked promising for both bowlers and batsmen alike, and the
large outfield threatened to test the fielding. It also turned out that GCC were
going to be unable to provide the assigned umpires for the game and after some
brief discussion, Parag of CCCC was entrusted with the responsibility. The kind
soul had come down to enjoy the game on an unusually sunny day, but now found
himself straddling the bull instead. The game got underway at 11:30 a.m. with
the hosts putting the visitors in to bat. N.C. State’s openers were going to
have their work cut out for them and it became quickly evident that they would
have little room for error. Vishwas was the first to return to the pavilion
adjudged LBW off a quick one from Chetan Patel with the score at 28 (6.2 overs).
Krishnakanth wasn’t spared any time to get his eye in as the wickets rattled in
the very next over (2/30 in 7.1 overs). Sushil, at the two-down position, lost
the race to the ball as a direct throw from Gaurang sent him packing (3/47 in
10.1 overs). So far, every effort to accelerate the scoring had met with very
stiff resistance as the Lions got a stronger hold on the prey.
Amit, who had been patiently trying to keep the scoreboard ticking, had seen the
remaining top order disappear quite quickly. Perhaps feeling the pressure, he
missed the line as another quick one from Chetan darted in and knocked off the
wickets. With the entire top-order now in the barracks it was left to Vamsee and
Vinay to stem the bleed. The pair remained resolutely at the crease, buying the
Wolfpack some precious time to rally their defenses. Their partnership promised
to take the fight back to the hosts as they came to terms with the spirited
bowling. Even as they struggled to penetrate the field, a few welcome deliveries
found their way to the ropes as the partnership climbed past the 50 mark. But
Shashi made another clever change, bringing in Parimal to entice the batsmen to
give in to the dark side. Vinay soon went for a swing that wasn’t there (5/107
in 22.5 overs) and returned disappointed. The next two batsmen didn’t trouble
the scorers much as Gopal and Parimal brought the Lions back on top.
But Nihar had other plans in mind as he and Vamsee put on another 27 runs
charging up and down the wicket. If boundaries were going to be tough to get,
they looked like they were going to do it by just burning some rubber. Ashish
then had Vamsee hole out to Chetan as he tried to put one over the fence (8/138
in 28.2) and Nihar fell to another deceptive one from Parimal (9/143 in 29.1).
The Wolfpack was bowled out in the penultimate ball for 148; the first time that
all the wickets had fallen in their innings.
Play resumed after lunch with the Lions looking at a manageable 149 for victory.
The heat was going to make fielding very, very strenuous; something that had
probably crossed Shashi’s mind after winning the toss. The Charlotte Lions’
opening pair came out with a plan and set about the bowling methodically. The
Wolfpack would have to keep a tight line…..a very, very tight line. Krishnakanth
and Abhishek were entrusted with the new ball, and although they got a little
movement they were unable to force any mistakes. The boundaries were coming at
regular intervals as the veterans put away anything that was even slightly
short, wide or full. The sixth over got a breakthrough as Abhi let one rip
through the batsmen’s defenses, shattering the twigs. Parimal was out just as he
was beginning to look menacing (1/28 in 5.6 overs). But, Shashi kept on as
though nothing had happened. With Nishit providing solid support at the other
end, the boundaries continued coming. The Lions were still going at almost 6 a
piece.
Anirudh figured Vamsee was having another one of his ‘good’ games, top scoring
once again for the Pack. So he handed him the ball. The runs started to dry up,
and if they did come, it was at a price. The wickets started to fall as Nihar
joined Vamsee from the other end. Nishit was the first to go as Vamsee ripped
one onto the stumps (2/66 in 12.5). Nihar choked the runs at the other end as
Vamsee claimed the prize wicket of Shashi who had amassed 43 off just 48 balls
(3/73 in 14.4). Then Nihar joined in as Chetan tried to free his hands, but only
succeeded in sending one high enough to let Vamsee lap it up at Point, diving to
his right (4/79 in 17.1). Nikhil was brought on in the 20th over and started off
with a maiden. Vamsee continued with a single-minded determination as he packed
in the off-side field. 8 runs off the 22nd over came as a welcome respite for
the Lions but they failed to capitalize as a quick one from Nihar narrowly
missed the stumps but was collected by Anirudh for a smart stumping (5/98 off
22.3). The Lions batting had failed to convert as the senior partners succumbed
to the pressure being built by the Wolfpack fielding.
Abhishek was brought back in with a sore hamstring, to finish his quota in the
25th over. He promptly delivered with another wicket, getting Gopal bowled off
the final ball (6/115 in 25 overs). Ashish followed him in soon after as he saw
Amit take a spectacular catch centimeters from the grass, becoming Nikhil’s
first victim (7/115 in 25.1). Abhijeet and Bharat were both new to the crease
and really feeling the heat. Nihar had Abhijeet bowled off the second ball of
his final over (8/117 in 26.2) and almost had Bharat too, as the last ball
whistled a hair’s breadth from the off-stump. The Lions now needed 31 off the
last 3 overs and must have thought it a tad dicey as the field spread out to the
fence. The next two overs yielded 17 runs. But 14 off the last 6 balls were
going to be tough with the boundaries drying up. The moment was reminiscent of
the 2002 season. Only, it was the Wolfpack that needed those runs in the
previous encounter, and had come up 10 runs short. The pressure was too much as
Gaurang edged the third dot ball straight to the keeper (9/135 in 29.3). Pankaj
(PK) could only get a single, bringing Bharat back on strike. There was nothing
more to it. The Lions needed 13 off the last 2 balls and Bharat had to go for
it. The ball went straight up off the top edge and landed neatly in the keeper’s
gloves (10/136 in 29.5) getting Nikhil his 3rd wicket. The Lions had fallen just
13 short off another victory.
The Man-of-the-Match is often an easy choice. But the team performances in this
game made it an exceedingly difficult proposition. Nihar’s quick-fire 20 and 3
wickets for only 16 runs definitely made him a strong contender. Nikhil’s
frustratingly tight line that may have forced more dismissals than the 3 he
claimed put him in there. Shashi of CLCC, played a captains knock with the top
individual score. But it was Vamsee’s determined batting that set the stage for
a defendable total and his spirited bowling that started the CLCC collapse,
earning him the MoM once again.
It had been a tremendous contest. Hard fought by both sides, showing terrific
sportsmanship. Each side gave the other the respect they deserved. Wickets were
celebrated by fielders who knew their worth and the runs were cheered on by the
batsmen that recognized the toil. The result was almost irrelevant……almost. The
Charlotte Lions had once again played like champions, but the Pack had done just
a smidgen better. The defending champs were gracious in defeat as both teams
were treated to a scrumptious meal, courtesy of Mr. Lakhani. Sincere thanks to
CLCC for being great sports, to Parag of CCCC for doing a smashing job of
umpiring a close game and to Mr. Lakhani, who we believe enjoyed the cricket as
much as we enjoyed the food.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. – Thomas Paine.