Season 2, Game 5 – Tough Match.

Number 3 vs Nava Durga CC.
Loyola ‘B’, 25 June 2006.

#3 142 for 8 (Sriram 43, Jubbs 40) lost to Nava Durga CC 143 for 6 (Joy 3 wk, Sriram 2 wk) by 4 wickets.

We’re really getting better. Really. This couldn’t have been better demonstrated than in this game, the fifth of our second season. With most of the games we’ve played until now (with the notable exception of the lawyers), the script would actually become pretty obvious to us by about the fifth over of the match. We’d very quickly know how we measured up against the opposition, and would also know whether we’d win or lose, and even by roughly what sort of a margin. And, allowing for a few twists along the way, we’d inevitably be right. Not any more. After this, we know we’re always in with a chance.

Another feature of this one was the welcome return to fitness and action of Tayne. Ya, he’d played a game in Kodi, but the whole atmosphere and weather conditions there were so favourable, that it wasn’t really the harshest of tests. This was the real thing, blazing heat and all. And he came through it with flying colours. Some bowling in the nets, and a valuable all round player is back in action. The unavailability of Bulavar meant a return to keeping duties for me as well.

Won the toss again, which is getting to be very pleasant thing, especially as batting first is by far the better option in this league. As it is in most forms of the game, runs on the board and all that jazz. No Bulavar, no Anand, no Venkat. So no opener, and a slightly weakened batting order. Sriram decided to keep himself in the middle order and went back to one of our original opening options, Jubbs, along with Ramesh. This proved to be an inspired decision, as he gabbed his opportunity with both hands. Late arrivals meant that the opposition took the field with just seven players for the first few overs, but we were unable to capitalize, as their opening bowlers confirmed our initial impression that this was an experienced and capable team. They kept it on a very steady line, and occasionally got surprising lift off a length. The score had crawled along to about 10 runs in six overs, and the lack of scoring had gotten the better of Ramesh who played on, and things were looking pretty bleak as Narahoo went in. As usual, this was the cue for the turnaround, with around 25 coming off two overs. With Jubbs providing solid support, they moved the score along from two an over to five an over by drinks. Sriram tried to really turn it on after drinks, but was bowled for 43 just as he was getting down to it. Kishore walked in and played his mandatory Azhar-esque flick for four, and any fears of a slow down were banished by iii who slammed three successive fours in a subsequent over. By the time he was bowled, for an excellent 40, he was so tired he could hardly stand and spent a little time wandering around in a disoriented circle near the square leg umpire while the opposition waited patiently for him to take strike. Late runs by Rajesh and Joy took us to a competitive 142 for 8 in the 25 overs bowled.

The opposition seemed pretty cocky at the break, giving the impression that batting was their strong suit. They were talking amidst themselves that they’d walk it, with one guy in particular assuming the role of the senior batsman. We walked out determined to make them at least fight for it.

Vik’s opening spell was tight and in his second over, he induced an edge that I safely pouched behind the stumps. A great start! And Sriram, who opened with his off spinners again picked up the main man in the opposition, who was looking ominously relaxed, getting one to rip back into middle stump. The next guy played a few shots too, but succumbed to Sriram’s straighter one, trapped pretty plumb in front. Unfortunately, Vik was cramping up badly and his fourth over went for plenty. Joy immediately came on from his end, picked up the opener with a nasty lifter that looped to Tayne at gully, and Sriram continued wheeling away at the other end. The score was mounting, but the wickets were tumbling too. If not for too many misfields, which were heavily punished by the very rapid outfield, we’d have restricted them even further. A couple of dropped chances didn’t help the skipper’s blood pressure either. At drinks, we felt we were still in it, if only we could pick up a couple more quickly.

I flubbed a run out opportunity to end what ultimately proved a vital fifth wicket partnership, and they raced closer to the target. Suddenly, Joy pulled it back, breaking the partnership and then shattering the next man’s stumps with a superb inswinger. We were right back in it. But in the end the misfields and chances proved costly, as we just didn’t have enough runs to afford the mistakes. Even the skipper put one down towards the close, ending the day on a note of what might have been, as they gratefully scampered the winning runs. We left the field with heads held high, having given a very good team a real run for the money. The diasappointment at not pulling off the win only served as notice of how far we’ve come as a team. Rock on, #3.

#3 was supported at the ground, for the first time in its history, by absolutely no one. Pity, all you guys. You missed a great game.

In season2, Game 5, #3 was: Narahoo (c), Kataan, Joy, Hui, Druck (wk), Jubbs, Kishore, Vik, Tony, Lex and Narendra.