WCC Batting

On a perfect cricketing day, CUCC were determined to give it all and win the first Mini-League match. The determination showed, the way all 11 members of the team arrived at the grounds 12:30PM (30 minutes before the start) sharp. Ironically, the opposing team were no where to be found. The opposing members started to trickle one at a time in their own leisurely pace. Arvind (Capt) went for the toss and didn't have a positive outcome. SICC choose to bat first.

Sunil, Mr. Dependable, opened the bowling for CUCC, started hitting the perfect line and length from the get go. Moughal, the aggressive opener from Staten Island, swung at all 6 balls in the opening over, missed and was lucky not to get a nick. On the other end, Dileep started at his own pace, wanted to use the first over as a warm-up, gave enough room to the opposing batsmen to score a few runs (that included their first 4 as well). Little did they know, the magic from Dileep that will follow in the overs to come. Sunil's 2nd over produced more runs for SICC, so did Dileep's. However, Dileep did add pace to his run-up and his deliveries started unsettling the batsmen. Arvind was getting impatient at this point, 4 overs bowled, no breakthroughs (compared to the 3 matches we had played so far in the season) and batsmen starting to settle down. The first breakthrough came in the 5th over, Ratesh taking a spectacular low catch, inches off the ground, diving forward. From then on Dileep took charge and the procession of batsmen started, the next 4 batsmen's score read 2,0,0 &1. In the mean time, tiring Sunil was replaced by KD, who bowled very well to keep the batsmen tied-up. The result, KD bowled a maiden over and got the wicket of opener Moughal in his first 2 overs. Ajay came to take Dileep's place, and continued the good work done by Dileep. Ajay's impressive bowling figures read 6 overs, 1 Mdn, 10 Runs and a wicket. Nabil who came in place of KD, was effective from the first ball. Arvind holding on to a hard hit ball at silly Mid-off. Nabil also cleaned up their tail. Between a slow field, good fielding, excellent keeping by Michael (he did take 2 tough catches and made them look easy) and good effort all-round from CUCC, SICC were bundled out for a paltry 80.

Sriram and Ratesh opened the batting for CUCC. Sriram being aggressive, did a good job unsettling their opening bowlers and scoring a quick 13. If Sriram had occupied the crease for few more overs, the match would have been won sooner than we did. Ratesh on the other hand, played on a ground that was tough to score runs, used placement to run singles and keep the score ticking. Pavan, who replaced Sriram was foxed by an unexpected bounce and edged to slip. Nabil replaced Pavan, started his account with a SIX and continued his good work for a well made 21, until he got tempted to hit over the fielder towards the short off-side boundary and offering a simple catch. Suraj completed the formalities with a hit to the fence. CUCC scored 81 that was required to win in 17 overs.