GAME 1 - A promising beginning, and great fun all round.

Number 3 vs ING Vysya
16 Oct, 2005, Teacher's B, Saidapet
ING Vysya won by 35 runs.

A landmark day in bikang cricketing history, which saw the 'blue sky' league debut of Number 3, bikang's first ever honest to goodness cricket team. And we weren't half bad either. The presence of friends and well wishers, a full-on performance on the field, some amazing team spirit and a loss that only ensured we were all itching to get back to the nets made for a thoroughly entertaining and fulfilling day's cricket. But first things first, here's how it happened.

Amidst much happiness and not a little nervousness, #3 showed up at Teacher's B in our spanking new whites and proceeded with the warm ups. Captain Narahoo, much encouraged by what he saw at the nets the previous day, won the toss and chose to field first in a slightly delayed start. Vikramadi was handed the new ball, and proceeded to get a fair amount of lift off the pitch, the ball thudding into keeper Narahoo's gloves. And when Ramesh ran one of the openers out of the third ball of the match, we were off to the best possible start. Visesh shared the new ball and promptly picked one up in his first over, a faint edge smartly taken by the captain behind the stumps. #3 was in da house! But by now, what was to prove our biggest problem was already making an appearance - far too many wides down leg, several of which ran down past the keeper for byes... a problem that would have been far worse were it not for tireless work by Huiyapps at deep fine leg. A partnership was now building, and some worries were developing for the captain. And then he threw the ball to Narendra.

Narendra's first ball swung away wickedly from a perfect line, in a manner that drew gasps from the keeper and slip, and would have had his good friend Srinath nodding in approval. It wasn't long before he had the batsman chipping one to short mid wicket, where jubbs held a smart, tumbling catch (There was, of course, the mandatory ribbing from the rest of the team about whether the dive was really callled for, but the applause was well deserved.) Another one down, and in his next over Narendra shattered the next man's stumps, ushering in a well deserved drinks break.

We were in serious over rate trouble by this point, and ran the risk of shortening the game even further. Designated 'keeper druck took over the gloves, and Narahoo and Anand combined for a few overs of efficient spin. The Vysya team decided to go for it, and a few dropped catches proved a bit costly (Kishore making up for it with a fine take at shoulder height off Narahoo). Vik returned to pick up his first wicket, Sriram ended up with three during the slog, and restriciting them to 141 for 8 off the 21 overs we bowled was a good effort, considering the rustiness of all our bowlers. We were in with a chance, and also had the makings of a really potent attack for future games.

Those chances improved dramatically in the course of a well constructed opening stand of 40 between Anand and Ramesh, coming in good time. Smooth strokes from Anand and some lusty hitting from Ramesh, including a magnificient pulled six in the second over had the Vysya team anxiously checking the score after every over. But Anand's legs were giving out on him, and shortly after playing the shot of the day, a perfect straight driven four, he was caught off a tired looking shot. Venkat went in at the slot of #3 for #3 and brushed off the effects of a hard running outfielding performance with a smooth innings.

The dismissal of Ramesh soon after paved the way for an Arjuna Ranatunga-esque performance from the captain. Some walked singles and a couple of non responses to calls from Venkat later, the team hut (or bench, to be more accurate) was getting jittery and began to make some polite enquiries as to his plan. His response? Step out to the spinner and smack him for a clean straight six. Only sixty to go now, off 45 balls.

Sadly, it wasn't to last. Venkat holed out and Sriram was stumped off a leg side wide, some smart work by the opposition 'keeper. And the inexperience of our middle order showed, with Druck, iii, Psaignn and Vik getting out to wild heaves in the face of a mounting asking rate. Four wickets for two runs in the space of two overs.

Kishore at the other end showed us what we should have been doing, placing the ball into gaps and running hard. He found a willing partner in Huiyyaps, whose sensational running, including a dive to gain his crease and complete a two, drew much appreciation from the other team. The target now was to get to a hundred, and to keep the excitement,at 98, huiyapps was caught at short third. Nine down! Narendra walked in at number 11 and seven runs off the final over, all run, saw us finish at 105 for 9 off our designated 21 overs. Short by 35 runs.

Defeated, but by no means disgraced, Number 3 is already looking ahead to two weeks' practice, and our next match on the 30th of October, 2005. You'll find the match report right here on this blog a few days after that.

#3 would like to especially thank Sam, Muskaan, Self, Joy and Deepa's Dad for taking the time and trouble to watch and cheer for us. And Sam sorting out refreshments after the match was the act of a true king!!!

#3 is (in batting order) .. Anand, Ramesh, Venkat, Narahoo(c), Kishore, Druck(wk), iiiii, Psaignn, Vik, Huiyyaps and Narendra.

We also eagerly await the return of Tayne and DJ Rave for the next game.

See ya then

For #3,
Koidy.