Main Umpire: COCC Leg Umpire: COCC
Report:
The Man of the Match is undoubtedly Glen Austrie. ‘Blistering
Barnacles’ ‘Thundering Typhoons’ ‘Holy smokes’ -
phrases that would aptly render his punishing knock of 48 in 15 deliveries. When
he went into Bat, TCC was well on top of things. SCCA required 93 runs to win in
62 balls with 5 wickets in hand. Glen turned the tables around real fast - his 5
huge (2 really really huge ones) sixers and 2 fours brought the equation down to
28 runs to win in 31 balls.
A very confident looking TCC started its innings with a series of sweetly timed
4s. The break came in the 3rd over in Ravi who edged a fine delivery from Glen
to be caught behind by Anand. That brought in Samir. Together Charan and Samir
piled on a pretty 61 run partnership, before Charan fell to the temptation,
caught by the safe hands of Santhosh (the Doc!). Zeeshan doing his job at the
other end of the wickets for the first time this season, was bowling to a plan.
Charan was his first of his 4 wkts haul.
Samir played some good shots and showed maturity but was outwit by another smart
delivery from Zeeshan. Fishing outside the leg stump and caught behind by Anand,
Samir was out for 61. From then on, wickets fell on regular intervals.
Vijay's quick 42 in 29 balls and assisted well by the tail enders, put TCC on a
comfortable total of 205 at the end of 30 overs.
Zee and Blessy gave SCCA a solid start. The plan was to play sensibly - respect
the good balls and punish the bad ones. Zee was the first to go when he mistimed
a good delivery from Sundar. SCCA was 43 when it lost Zee for 22 (6.4 overs).
Sanjay joined Blessy and together they were trying to absorb Zee's loss and
consolidate the innings. Blessy was declared leg before wicket when the score
was 57 (10.2 overs). TCC was ecstatic at this point. But SCCA kept its cool! It
knew its batting depth.
Ejaz, with his muscle strain, joined Sanjay in the middle. Together they worked
on the 'plan' and took SCCA's score to 108 (17.5 overs) - when Sanjay was
stumped by Samir, trying to accelerate the run rate. With 98 runs to win in 73
balls, Santosh (the Doc) joined Ejaz. The very next over, Ejaz was sent back by
a clean delivery by Dhanraj that found the wickets. At 112 for 4 after 18.5
overs (93 runs of 67 balls), SCCA was in deep trouble. It still had some good
batsman to come, but could it with stand the pressure was the question.
TCC was pumped up and was in a hurry to pack its bag and head their drive home.
Shahji went almost immediately trying to push the scoring rate to a wonderful
catch taken by Rajesh. Glen joined the Doc when the score was 115 for 5 (19.4
overs up). He looked absolutely cool, but in a punishing mood. He ripped the TCC
bowling attack. Smacked 5 sixers and 2 fours. At one point TCC had each and ever
player at the boundary (except for the bowler and the keeper, of course!). A
site which spoke TCC's state of mind. Desperate to get rid of Glen, TCC tried
every thing. Vijay gave TCC the break, yorking Glen out. Glen went for 48 runs
in 15 balls. A innings that would be remembered for a long long time!
Thanks to Glen's knock, the equation was down to 28 runs in 31 balls. Glen's
departure brought a light of hope for TCC. Rizwan joined the Doc who was playing
a fine support role. Natraja followed through on Vijay and captured the wicket
of the well set Doc in the very next over. At 180 for 7 (26 runs in 27 balls),
TCC only chance was to take wickets and the Doc's wicket pumped them up. Anand
joined Rizwan and had the facts clearly laid out - a run a ball.
With 2 new batsman at the crease, TCC was applying pressure on the field. The
benefit came in the form of Rizwan's wicket - a uppish drive taken well by Samir.
181 for 8 (25 runs in 25 balls). Sudhir joined Anand. A couple of 4's from Anand,
some quick 2's and some wide deliveres brought down the equation again in favor
of SCCA. The 9th wicket fell in Sudhir caught by Sundar. The score now read 201
for 9 at the end of 28.5. Sanoj joined Anand for the last wicket. The next 6
balls saw only 2 runs. Sanoj facing the last ball of the 29th over, was wrapped
highup in his thighs, while playing back foot defense. TCC went up with a loud
appeal, that could have made them the victors, but was turned down promptly by
the Umpire.
With only 2 runs to win, the last over was bowled by Aravind. The first ball
went down the leg and was rightly called a wide. That leveled the scores. With
only 1 to win, the field closed in and all Anand had to do was lift the ball
over the head for a 2.
SCCA went completely ecstatic and crazy. This was a very very close match and
saw the fate constantly swinging both directions.
Over all SCCA won this as a team - Only 17 runs came in extras (14 wides, 2 no
balls, 0 byes and 1 leg bye), Zeeshan's 4 wicket haul and some over all good
batting (Glen being the 'exceptional' exception).
SCCA wishes to Thank TCC for a wonderful display and match.
SCCA would also like to Thank the upmires from COCC. When things are as tight as
this, we realize that the umpires are also under tremendous pressure. They
handled them extremely well.