For the fifth time in 8 years HPCC is going to the MACC finals.

Again, HPCC has, with a great win, gotten a ticket to the MACC final!

I would like to start the report with a lyric that Sanjay (CCC) and Ghias (HPCC) made at the start of the game,

Phir Aaaj yeh match hey do bhori teamo key darmiyaan

Phir Aajkal key Gawan baithay hain mon dahkehtay.

For the English speaking folks, the translation (undoubtedly, with some meaning loss in translation) would go like this,

Again today there is match between two old teams

Again young ones from this era are watching relentlessly

The rivalry between CCC and HPCC is nothing new to those that know about their history together. All those who witnessed their game this past Sunday felt the passion and intensity anyone would at a world-class cricket match. CCC has always being a tough contender thanks to players such as Arun, Shankar, Vijay, Yogi and a promising cricketer: Pranav. Nonetheless, HPCC have some gutsy guys who put all they have in every second of each game.

A semifinal between CCC and HPCC is nothing either team were looking forward to. The main reason is that such games are always nerve wrecking, the constant low scoring gives room to a very uncomfortable uncertainty for all players. Games between HPCC and CCC are so wild and unpredictable that the score results can tilt either way at any given time.

On a beautiful Sunday morning CCC arrived at the ground way earlier than the members of HPCC; beating even the HPCC early bird, Mark Hobson. One could think they were trying to get a good warm up or to get some ground and pitch feeling, or all of the above. Truth be told, it was the nervousness and anticipation of the inevitable.

In the mean time many HPCC players were still trying to wake themselves from all nightmares brought to them by the thought of having to face CCC and the uncertainty of playing them.

At about 10:40 AM the coin was tossed. CCC won the toss and as expected they decided to bat. From past experience they knew that by batting first they could score 150 plus runs and could defend their score with their class bowler: Arun. HPCC members also knew, by previous games with CCC that if CCC was allowed to make that total HPCC would be looking into a fairly difficult if not impossible score to beat.

The HPCC captain laid out the strategy to his players: It was rather simple but not easy. The task was to restrict CCC’s score to under 150 runs by working hard on all defense positions and bringing up each player’s strength, and by bowling smartly and aggressively. HPCC players listen and listen well. Results were seen almost immediately. At bat, Shanker, tried to pull a straight but a fast delivery from Dave left him to watch his stumps rolling towards Mark Hobson. Arun was the next man in line to bat, he can be very dangerous and the guys at HPCC know it

oh! too well! High Point could not afford to give even the slightest sign of weakness to him! It is well known that if Arun is allowed to stay longer at the crease the chances to win a game against his team slim considerably.

Manzoor and Dave bowled nicely and accurately but Arun and Vishwas played sensibly taking singles and building partnership. Manzoor ran out of gas after the third over because he was playing with flu like symptoms (His coming to play the game as sick as he was is commendable). Ghias brought himself on attack and at the very first bowl he was looking at the ball disappearing at square leg boundary, Vishwas hit him with a nice pull. Mushy, the HPCC Vice-Captain sensed what was going on and advised his Captain to pitch straight. Soon, the HPCC captain was in grove bowling with accuracy and speed. Ghias almost got Arun out when our young and promising cricketer, may be because of nervousness, dropped an easy catch. These are the moments when experience makes all the difference.

Dave finished his 6th. over quota and The Captain brought one of his best: Hafeez.

Hafeez entered the excitement of the game right after water break. His task: do all he could to break the partnership between Vishwas and Arun, which by the way, was getting dangerous. Vishwas and Arun’s partnership needed to be broken at all costs. Failure to do so, would cost HPCC the semifinal and its pass to the MACC final. Needless to say, Arun is one of the gifted few who can score runs at thunder speed. Still, HPCC was not in the mood to allow this to happen so, Hafeez rolled up his sleeves and in a blink of an eye got him right in front of the wicket and a priceless LBW was given. Sanjay was the next man at bat; he did not cause any trouble he was run out by the “Dynamic Duo” formed by Shami and Mark Hobson. Vishawas tried his very best to stay at the wicket but Bilal had other plans and, ended bowling him out. Runs were not coming easy to CCC and panic started to set on the face and actions of the CCC players. They were losing their wickets in a hurry, until Vijay performance brought some life to his camp. He started hitting nicely; soon HPCC started feeling the heat. Vijay had to be stopped before all the work they had done to gain terrain could go easily down the drain. Manzoor and Ghias tried to minimized the potential damage Vijay could do with his bat. However, Vijay hit both of them 11 runs per over. He was finally bowled out at the last over by Ghias when he was at the score of 33, the second highest.

CCC ended up making 138 runs with 9 out at the end of the 30th. over. HPCC did a pretty good job containing them at this score with great teamwork. The bowling could not have been any better!

HPCC was weary that 138 runs was not really a defending total. Yet, CCC’s reputation should not be taken lightly. HPCC’s main objective and core strategy was to avoid the loss of early wickets and play as much as dot ball against two of CCC's best. Bilal and Dave opened and stayed true to their team suggestions.

Dave stayed there until the job was done. Bilal supported Dave’s game with his singles. CCC tried lots of different strategies to penetrate the batting line; all their trials were unfruitful against Bilal and Dave’s sensible game. There was a time when Shanker, CCC’s excellent spinner, almost got Dave. Luckily, for HPCC Prabhu dropped an easy catch. Lady luck could not have appeared at a better time. Shanker kept trying to get a break and finally, after being so persistent, it all paid off when he bowled Bilal out. At that point in the game runs were achievable, to win though, only accelerate the run rate would do. The HPCC Captain took on batting, thinking of boosting the run rate. Unfortunately, he was given LBW when he had only made 11 runs. Worry started to set on the faces of the HPCC players. Shami took his batting turn and decided to make the best out of it, and just like that, he hit a four at the bowling of Pranav and hit a six at Arun’s first bowl. HPCC won the game and to many it might look like an easy win. It was not, CCC put up a great fight but, they were unlucky they were not able to penetrate at the start of the HPCC's inning. Had CCC infiltrated and sabotaged the start of HPCC it would have been lethal for the HPCC players’ dreams and aspirations.

HPCC would like to thank CCC players for their sportsmanship and fairgame.

HPCC players would, also like to recognize the value of CCC’s player, Arun. It is with sadness that we say goodbye to Arun on his last season at the MACC. Arun will always be remembered by his quality as a person and his brilliant and memorable performance in all games.

All the best,

HPCC

A special thanks to the umpiring team, they did their best.

MOM : Dave Wallace with 60 runs and 6 overs 27 runs and 1 wicket.