The long wait over, there we were, getting all warmed up (pun intended) for our 1st game of the Saturday league 2010-2011 season on a super hot day. The prospects of a game against a HKCC team always gets the adrenalin flowing and tends to keep one well focused on the immediate task on hand, so any thoughts of weather, pitch conditions etc. etc. don’t exactly merit any attention. Traffic conditions outside KCC meant the HKCC Nomads arrived later than expected, resulting in the toss and match being delayed by about 10 minutes. I called correctly and promptly decided to bat ignoring any warnings by my senior teammates who thought batting first in our first game might not be sensible. Shivang and Miten got us of to a fairly quick start with Shivang hitting a magnificent six over cover point, only to fall the very next ball trying to pull a bouncer. The ball hit his glove and looped up high to the keeper. The Nomads were ecstatic. The floodgates opened and within a few overs, we went from 30 for no wicket to 41 for 6. The advice to not bat first now seemed prophetic. Situation desperate, and Farooq and me decided to bat out a few overs playing low risk shots and keep the score board ticking with singles or doubles (stamina permitting). We batted together until the 26th over until which time the heat was simply too much for me and I managed to get out with the score on a somewhat respectable 130. It’s worth mentioning, although due to the heat and fatigue, it was all blurry, I think at that point I had scored more runs than Farooq, something which might never happen again in our lifetime.
Shamal went in, batted for a bit, only to be given out to a poor LBW decision, the ball hitting him fairly high and would have certainly gone few inches over the stumps. Ninad walked in at number 10 and not only did he support Farooq, but hit a few smart shots of his own showing maturity and skill well beyond his years. Good lad. Farroq then holed out to long on in the 34th over falling 4 short of a well-deserved 50. We finished our innings at a very respectable 172/9 with Ninad and Ateeq the not out batsmen, and we were in with a serious chance.
Afzaal and Ninad opened the bowling for us and kept it absolutely tight. The pressure was back on the Nomads and Ninad got his 1st wicket of the season with the ball being smartly pouched by Miten (wk) – 2 young boys combining well to get us the first breakthrough. Afzaal not to be outdone, got one to move with the resulting edge once again carrying to Miten. The next one was a classical dismissal with Shamal flightling and dipping one, the batsmen dancing out of his crease only to be deceived by the flight and Miten whipped of the bails in a flash. What a time he was having. The Nomads then started building partnerships, but we kept getting wickets regularly to keep them under check. Shamal picked a great catch at the midwicket boundary just managing to stay inside, and when Ateeq bowled the last man with a slow incutter, the game was over with the Nomads falling short by 17 runs. Afzaal finished with 4 for 18, Ateeq with 3 for 34 and Ninad and Shamal both getting one wicket each. Perfect start to the season and playing to our potential should bring positive results in next rounds as well.
As I write this report, Typhoon Fanapi is making its presence felt but hopefully will pass soon enough to allow the cricket to continue uninterrupted.
Ravi Lulla
Shamal went in, batted for a bit, only to be given out to a poor LBW decision, the ball hitting him fairly high and would have certainly gone few inches over the stumps. Ninad walked in at number 10 and not only did he support Farooq, but hit a few smart shots of his own showing maturity and skill well beyond his years. Good lad. Farroq then holed out to long on in the 34th over falling 4 short of a well-deserved 50. We finished our innings at a very respectable 172/9 with Ninad and Ateeq the not out batsmen, and we were in with a serious chance.
Afzaal and Ninad opened the bowling for us and kept it absolutely tight. The pressure was back on the Nomads and Ninad got his 1st wicket of the season with the ball being smartly pouched by Miten (wk) – 2 young boys combining well to get us the first breakthrough. Afzaal not to be outdone, got one to move with the resulting edge once again carrying to Miten. The next one was a classical dismissal with Shamal flightling and dipping one, the batsmen dancing out of his crease only to be deceived by the flight and Miten whipped of the bails in a flash. What a time he was having. The Nomads then started building partnerships, but we kept getting wickets regularly to keep them under check. Shamal picked a great catch at the midwicket boundary just managing to stay inside, and when Ateeq bowled the last man with a slow incutter, the game was over with the Nomads falling short by 17 runs. Afzaal finished with 4 for 18, Ateeq with 3 for 34 and Ninad and Shamal both getting one wicket each. Perfect start to the season and playing to our potential should bring positive results in next rounds as well.
As I write this report, Typhoon Fanapi is making its presence felt but hopefully will pass soon enough to allow the cricket to continue uninterrupted.
Ravi Lulla
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