2009/09/12: Spartans

Champs won the toss and decided to bat first, no surprises there. Kunal and Anand gave us a steady start, we were 3-0 at the end of three overs. From that point onwards Kunal and Anand pressed on the run-rate and we got 8 in the next 2, we were now 11-0 at the end of 5 overs.

Runs continued to come in 1s and 2s and we were 23-1 at the end of 8 overs, Kunal the only batsman out for 11. Mohit went in, Andy was looking good flicking and pulling the ball but so far only for 1s. Mohit was out bowled, never quite got going today, in went Puneet. Puneet from the first ball looked in golden touch, he scored 5 of the first four balls that he faced, middling pretty much everything. At the end of 10 overs we were 31-2, with wickets in hand platform was just right to launch the attack and get a score of 80+.

But things don't always go as planned, first ball after the break Andy was bowled by Dilip around his legs, gone for 7(20). In went Sreeram, sent up to force the momentum. But it wasn't his day, he soon perished playing an uppish drive to long-on and giving a simple catch. Two quick wickets and the atmosphere in the camp was full of tension, now 34-4 at the end of 12. In went Abhi, who too looked in silk touch from the word go.

Just when we were beginning to get the score to move again, Abhi hurt himself and he was in a lot of pain, so he had to retire for the time being. Meanwhile Puneet continued to accumulate 1s at the other end. In went Karan as a pinch-hitter and it did the trick, Karan launched a huge six over mid-wicket to take the score past 50, now 52-4. Soon after both Karan 9(10) and Puneet 11(20) fell to Dilip in the same over. Abhi went in and scored a few before holing out in the deep for an important 10. We were all-out for 59 after 19.3 overs.

Champs bowling:
With 60 to defend, we knew we had to give it all and take all the catches on the field to make a match out of it. As usual Anand and Sreeram were going to open the bowling for us. Anand hitting the right length right away, Spartans 2-0 at the end of first over. Sreeram came in and bowled a beauty to Rajat, who nicked it to Nagesh, but Nagesh couldn't hold on to it, this could have a crucial miss had Rajay got in. But it wasn't to be, Anand got him bowled out with a peach of a delivery, a crucial breakthrough for us, they were 8-1 at the end of 4 overs. Karan and Nimish bowled the next overs ad kept it reasonably tight, Spartans now 18-1 at the end of 8 overs. With 2 overs to go for the break it was important to maintain the pressure.

Kunal was brought into the attack and you know that something is going to happen, first ball and Jaymin hits it straight up, Kunal going for the catch and holds onto it, what a big wicket that was and timing couldn't have been better. To me this was a big moment in the game. Hold on, there is more drama, Mohit into attack now. Again, first ball, a gentle loosener, low fulltoss which was hit straight to Puneet and he took a good catch low down and Spartans were 20-3 at the end of 10 overs. The pressure was now on Spartans as they were behind on run-rate and were 3 down as well.

In came Dilip, their best bat, so we knew the game wasn't over and we needed to finish the job. Kunal and Mohit continued after the break and the score after 12 overs was 26-3, with Dilip getting himself in.

Next Karan was brought into attack and immediately got a wicket, with Sree holding onto a pull from Imran. Next I came into the attack and got the batsman bowled round the legs with ball angling in and surely Spartans were now in a lot of trouble with 5 down at the end of 14 overs with score at 31.

Karan bowled a short fast ball and Dilip could not keep it down, with Sree taking another catch. Next up, I bowled a slow ball which the batsman lofted over covers and Sai took an unbelievable catch, absolute stunner, one handed diving to his right, mind-blowing. Spartans were now 35-6 at the end of 16, with wicket falling in each of the last four overs.

Sreeram came back into attack and got a wicket first ball, caught behind and Nagesh making no mistake. Puneet then forced a runout before Sreeram came in to take the last wicket, caught by Puneet at short third-man.

Wow, champs go through into the semis and Spartans the top seeds are out of the tournament.

A truly amazing team performance!!!

Composed by: Nimish!