COLUMBUS CRICKET CLUB
Thanks to the extended daylight we will enjoy in July and
August, we had the opportunity to play an Internal Game (CCC1 vs. CCC2).
Twenty-one (21) players showed up - Team1 had 11
and Team 2 had 10 – and what an incredible game it turned out to be.
CCC1 scored 132 in 18 overs and CCC2 just fell short of
eclipsing it, but chased brilliantly to TIE the game off the last ball.
It was all CCC1 for about 3/4th of the game. CCC1 batsmen
started out aggressively. Especially Ravindran, who was severe on any width
offered. Ravi M, Sekhar Srirangam, Vinod Kosike and Murthy played well to
propel CCC1 to 132 of just 18 overs - a Run Rate of over 7 runs per over. Vindy bowled
well in the middle overs to take two wickets of successive balls and peg back
the CCC run machine.
CCC1 bowlers (Sekhar and Sean) started off with a bang and
kept things tight and also picked up wickets (Venky, Vindy, Vineel) early.
CCC2 displayed great temperament and its batsmen kept their
cool even when the run rate was climbing (to 11.3 at one point). Abhi & Amit
showed nerves of steel to stitch a solid partnership to leave CCC2 at the
doorstep of victory.
The pressure was on CCC1 now. What looked like an easy defense
or CCC1 was slowly turning CCC2's way. At one point CCC1 was sitting pretty
with CCC2 needing 102 off 9 overs. Soon it was 46 in 4 overs - not bad.
Then the target fell to 21 off 2 overs; and finally 9 runs were need off the
last over.
Sekhar Srirangam bowled the last over and the very first
ball; Sean's brilliant catch got rid of the danger man Abhi. It was an
attempted yorker but was off target and ended up as a low full toss on leg
stick. Abhi pounced on it to powerfully flick it towards backward square leg.
It went fast and straight to Sean, who displayed great reflexes first to put
his hand on it to pop the ball into air and then to safely collect into his
hands. Batsmen crossed over which Sean was juggling with the catch. Ravi Dyta is
the next man in.
Amit hit the next ball on the offside, completes and
single, puts pressure on the fielder to take another run. Ravi M fields the in
covers and darts the throw to the non-striker’s end – direct hit and Ravi Dyta
trudges back to the pavilion; unfortunately run out without facing a ball. 1 run saved!
Amit hoisted the next ball over midwicket, - ball was
fielded well, just short of the boundary by Bharat - 3 runs, another run saved!
That brings new batsman Wilson to the crease. Sekhar's next
ball thudded into Wilson's pads. Big appeal for LBW, but turned down by the
umpire (inside edge?) and the batsmen run for a single. Sekhar tries to pick up
the ball and run Wilson out on the non-strikers end. Wild throw & batsmen
take another one.
3 runs needed of two balls.
It was clearly CCC2's game to win. What a turnaround they
managed! Awesome!
All they have to manage now is one decent stroke in to the
ooutfield and they will get 2 runs easily.
Sekhar had other ideas. Next balls, he gets his Yorker on
the off stump and clean bowls Wilson
and this tilts the balance slightly in favor of CCC1.
3 runs needed of one ball with new batsman at the crease.
Can Sekhar fox the new batsman with a well directed ball?
Even if the batsmen run for a suicide single, they would still need another to
tie. Lets find out.
Last balls 3 runs needed, new batsman, Sai walks in. Sekhar attempts
an off stump yorker, Sai tries to dig it out and edges it high over point. The ball sails
just out of reach for Sunny to have any chance for a catch.
Batsmen complete one run easily and go back for the second.
Spectators (who were at the fine leg area with the kits), storm the field.
CCC2 goes for the win - a suicide third run - because they
have no other choice.
Sunny fields the balls well, throw darts back to the keeper
and Murthy takes the bails off to dismiss Amit during their third run.
The scores are TIED. What an incredible fight back first by
CCC2 and then in the last couple of overs by CCC1 to claw back into the game.
Since CCC2 supporters invaded the field, as a penalty to
CCC2, CCC1 was declared as winners.
Or how about this: Since CCC1 lost fewer wickets; they are
the winners in the tiebreak.
Ok, ok, I am only kidding. The first CCC1 vs. CCC2 game of
the year ended quite fittingly - as a TIED game.
Bharat Jataprolu
Wilson Fernando
Abhijeet Deshpande
Ravi Mangipudi