Match Report: 05/30: vs Eagles

Back with another report, and for the first time, I had no clear idea as to where to start from and how to end this post. One thing that surely came to my mind were some famous quotes that we have heard so much now and often, but more importantly some dimensions of a game of cricket, which without experiencing cannot be expressed in words. "Luck favors the Brave", "It aint over until its all over", "Catches can win matches" are some of the famous idioms that we have come across very oftenly in various articles but the one that stands out for me was Andrew Flintoff's comment when playing the West Indies, "Cricket has a very funny way of biting you up the a**" and I some way experienced that aspect on Saturday playing Aptech CC (Eagles) in what I can say one of the most closely fought matches ever played and been a part of. But, unfortunately I and the team ended up on the bad side of this quote.

Going into the game, the Immortals were all focused with just one motto, we have been down against the Eagles two times in a row, and lets not make it three, and play a good game of cricket out there. Toss, which is never so crucial for us, was won by Aptech and they rightfully put our batting line up to test by choosing to field first. The start for us was once again cautious, with last game's disaster riding on our minds, but not enough to slow us down, as Ronak and Darshil opened up the innings for us. With just 5 runs on the board, the batsman lost the call, and were involved in a suicidal run which was a misjusdgement, and that saw Darshil walking back to the dugout.

What came next was a solid partnership stand between Ronak and Viral who put up 35 together, to take the Immortals to a total of 40 odd runs for the loss of just one wicket. With plenty of batting to come down the order, Ronak wanted to go after the bowling, and he connected some good balls playing exquisite strokes for his well dserved 19. He was bowled and with Karan (Batti) getting out to a nice low catch in the cover region, it was Jainip and Viral who started the repairing. But, Viral too was caught behind, and the score read 44 for 4 (a full nelson) and Aditya walked in. He was bowled the very first ball, giving the bowler a chance for the hattrick and opening up the Immortals half way down.

A good knock by GD (Gaurav) saw the Immortals whiz past the evil figure of 52 as he and Jainip took the score to 62 before Jainip got out. Immortals were looking forward to a total of 75, and with Nirmam and Gaurav runningout, the Immortals innings ended on 73 runs for the loss of 9 wickets off 20 overs. Still a respectable total, the key was the first 3 batsman and controlling the extras. But, the foremost goal was to defend this total by some great fielding and bowling.

As always, Bhupesh and Nirmam opened up the bowling for us, and they did really well for their spells, to not allow Eagles to have a flying start as they had in the previous encounter. Bhupesh got the first break through as Aditya held on to a good catch in the deep, but Eagles' captain Arvind was the key to their victory and the wicket which we all were looking for. This battle went through a lot of see-saw moments as the momentum kept on shifting either way every 2-3 overs.

At 55 for 5, Eagles were still a good 19 runs away from their victory and the Immortals were not letting it go. With some excellent bowling from Karan (Keko), Nirmam and Aditya it seemed that Eagles will choke this one up and Immortals can finally taste the success. But as it is said, it aint over until its all over. With Eagles losing their middle order batsman for 5 odd runs due to some fiery spells from Aditya and Nirmam, one batsman Vinod still hold on to his end for the win.

Ultimately it came down to last two overs, with 11 runs required off 12 balls, and with just two wickets remaining, it could have gone anyone's way. But, Darshil's last over, first ball, Vindo launched himself and hit the ball for a six. Whack !!! That brought down the pressure for Eagles, as they needed only 5 more off 9-10 balls. But that was not all. The worst was yet to come !!! Nirmam took the final over, and oh boy, he bowled the over of his life, hats off to him, any amount of praise showered on him would be less, as he was defending a mere 3 runs off his 6 balls with two wickets remaining, and every one had their eyes on him.

Everyone was charged up, on the edge of their seats, as Vinod hit the ball up in the air, and it travelled in my direction, my eyes were on it, fielders were closing in, the keeper Ronak, Batti, Jainip but I somehow urged to take this one and shouted ME ME to allow myself to go down the history books as someone who just dropped the world cup. The ball hit my palms and out it went. A DROPPED CATCH AT SUCH A CRUCIAL STAGE OF THE GAME and it hurt me really bad inside out. I was shocked, Immortals angry, Eagles ecstatic. What a disaster I had just provided and that too at such an important stage of the game where that catch could have sealed off Eagles fate and handed us a well earned hard fought victory. What a blunder from me and my work in the field. Totally not acceptable. With 2 runs required off 5 balls, Nirmam held on to a caught and bowled chance, and that meant 2 runs required off 4 balls with just one wicket remaining.

At the end, it came down to 1 run required off 1 ball, with just 1 wicket remaining. Either Eagles could win it, or Immortals could tie the game. A plan was put into place, and it played to perfection. Karan (Keko) was made the non-striker's wicket keeper, that any fielder who gets the ball just has to pass it to Keko to run out the batsman at the non-striker's end. Everyone held on to their breath (My heart is still beating fast as I am typing this), Nirmam came in, delivered the ball, batsman connected, the ball went to Karan (Batti) and the batsman had just took off for a run, and Batti picked it, threw the ball to Keka, and we were almost half up in the air, that, the ball played a spoilsport, becoming a traitor as it left Keka's hands, the stumps were rattled but only without the ball. The batsman made his ground, and in a twinkle of an eye, the Immortals were down. Eagles won the nailbiter at the last ball with the last wicket.

The Immortals were left shocked, and more importantly it dented everyone deep hard, as Eagles themselves shook their head in disbelief to wonder as to how much luck can help them win this one as they were on the brink of a defeat (if I had made that catch) or a tie game (if the ball did not turn traitor in Keka's hands).

Score Card

Pictures

What a game of cricket it was, as both teams played their nerves out right from their sleeves, and at the end Eagles managed to pull a win against us. I have nothing else to say here as I rightfully accept that the catch had to be made at such a stage and it is not at all acceptable after playing so many games that I can be so sloppy in the field. I do not want to say anything else excpet that I have felt this loss deep down. All of us have, but I have felt it a bit more. I look forward to avenging this lapse on concentration by me sometime in the future, and I am looking forward to that chance and opporutnity. It would be a moment of redemption for me to erase this dropped catch off my mind and being responsible for the Immortals defeat.

Up next is Cheers CC as we look forward to running the table now with two games remaining in the first round.

Go Immortals and most importantly Fight On !!!

Samy