Golden CC 2 Vs Australia NewZealand Association (ANZA) 4

This is the second match we played..
Second match of the season and our first in GIIS. No one else in team had seen the ground except Manesh who had went there for signing the contract. We had decided for a nets session on Saturday evening to have a look of the ground and have a bit of practice. There was a Div 4 League match scheduled between Andhra CC and Avadh CC and got first reports from the players that due to the continuous week day rain, ground is a bit wet and they are trying their best to start the game. But real shock was when our first set of players reached ground for nets. They gave the report that its better to keep swimming shorts handy as instead of cricket session we can have a swimming session in ground and nets area..!!

About half of us reached the ground and seen that the league match was washed out. Chances of us to play next day morning also bleak. Almost all were convinced with that opinion and some asked whether we have to come next day morning or stay back home. But its league match and irrespective of rain or shine playing 11 has to be at ground at start time unless it will be a walk over to other team. But some body was optimistic in team who has the record of no washed out games till that day in league career in Singapore. Guess who… !!! But will his luck continue???

We have discussed and all of us proceed to Admirality to have our nets session instead of swimming session in GIIS. There the story was different. We found that the Nets are was so dry and two teams having nets at same time. We joined as third team and had a good session. After much tiring, we went home.. with less hope for a match.
Morning we reached ground and for our astonishment, all water had disappeared and sun was shining. But ground is still muddy/wet and some places is too worse for a start. ANZA guys have reached ground and they also were hoping for a game as well as us. Umpires were a bit hesitant as first but after both captain’s consent, they have decided to start the game at 9AM instead of 8AM if the ground condition is getting better. Thanks for our umpiring colleagues/contacts too… which usually comes handy in such situations. At least a positive sign… !!!

We had another issue by the time. Our 11th guy was unreachable in phone and we’re left with 10 if there is a match. SOS was sent and Thariq came as a savior at last who had a Div 2 match on Saturday evening. Hats off for his stamina, commitment and support taking consideration of a 40 overs a side game a day before.

At 9AM we have decided for a shortened match of 24 overs a side and will stop if it rains and condition worsens. Sun was shining at that time. Baiju won the toss for first time and we have decided to field. ANZA guys are mostly Aussie or Kiwis players (Except two of the Indians in their Div 5 team). ANZA team is quiet strong in terms of batting and we have to restrict them with in 100 to ensure a smooth win. The small ground and slippery conditions may work against us. Especially for the bowlers to grip the seam. Later it proved correct with us bowling quiet lot of wides and some running for 4s. We have pretty good start with Manesh and Johnson with ANZA guys are stunned by the movement and bounce. But slowly they regained and started rotating strike running quick singles.

First blow was from Manesh who bowled a beauty to find Mohamed Ghouse to stump ANZA Captain who was trying to come down the pitch to break loose. 12/1 in 4 overs.

That lasted for a minute as their new batsman paired with the opener started rotating strike and scoring swiftly. Mani was introduced from one side and Thariq from another. Thariq was the first to break through with one of their key batsman had his middle stump reeling. 42/2 in 9.2 overs. The very next over Mani done a double distraction by bowling superb incutters to shatter the stumps on 1st and 4th ball. ANZA on backfoot at 48/4 in 10.4 overs.

Their revival started from there. Next pair were too cautious and blocked Yorkers from Thariq and in cutters from Mani effectively to tickle the score and they started finding boundaries too. We broke for drinks and came back wished to pack them off around 100.
Vishnu was brought in to break them. But they are already set and very strong in the off side and runs started flowing. Ground was too wet especially in the walkway end and on short end. Inspite of our good fielding , they are pretty fast in going for 1s and 2s easily.
Bobby was introduced to attack and bowled two tidy overs jus giving away 9 runs in that critical situation. Mani was the one to break their 52 runs partnership at 100/5 in 19.1 overs. Last 4 overs and they started hitting as had enough wickets in hand. Manesh came back to bowl two tidy overs and claimed one more wicket - ANZA were 120/6 in 22.1 overs. But other end its loosened a bit and ANZA finished with 140/6 in 24 overs. A tough score to chase in such hostile conditions and 40 runs above our expectations.
Pick of the bowlers were Mani (5 overs – 24/3), Manesh (5 overs – 23/2), Thariq (5 overs – 21/1, 1 Maiden)

On contrary we had good batting line up too to chase any target which we have done on many occasions. We have an asking rate of 6 per over and had decided to play for a win and aim at 8 points. Ramesh started as usual with explosive hitting and Mohamed supporting him well with occasional hitting too. Run rate was steady and suddenly a blow for us. Ramesh was stumped and his short stay came to an end – 16 runs (11 balls, 1 x 4 and 1 X 6). We are expecting a big entertaining innings from you Ramesh… !!!
Rakes walked in and was middling well. Both started working on quick singles and we were progressing. A good throw found Mohamed inches out of crease and was run out. He is now a days very stable and unfortunate this time though. 17 runs (22 balls, 2 X 4). Ever reliable Bobby walked in. But a ball later one stunning catch (or not..! Still doubtful..) had Rakes walking back to Pavilion and we are 38/3 in 6.5 overs. Rakes – 5 runs (9 balls). Mani walked in to join Bobby for a revival. Both of them slowly started accelerating with Bobby leading it. They put in valuable 34 runs together before Bobby was ruled LBW with 19 runs (21 balls, 2 X 4 , 1 x 6). Score read 72-4 in 12 overs and we broke for drinks.

It’s a tricky situation with our middle order was exposed and has to score another 70 runs in 12 overs. Couple of wickets can prove fatal to us…. !!

Manesh was sent in with a mission to accelerate and ease the pressure. He had started with a cracking 4 in first ball. Manesh was on his usual aggressive mode and started sending ANZA guys out of ground. Mani had supported well with good singles and joined the show soon. It was fireworks then with Manesh and Mani ruining ANZA bowlers…!!! Both of them shared 7 sixes among themselves and ANZA were forced to change two balls which were hit out of ground by Manesh. They had chipped in 55 runs in 3.3 overs. We had our hopes back and now time to look into points. 10 points mark already crossed. Next one is 9 points which has to be reached in 18 overs. But were well ahead…!

Mani got bowled by a tricky off spin and we were 127/5 in 15.2 overs. Jus leaving us needing 14 runs in 2.4 overs for 9 points. Great batting by Mani – 31 runs (22 balls, 3 X 6). Thariq joined the show and finished the game with a huge six.. and we reached 142/5 in 17.3 overs. Convincing win against a strong team.

Manesh stood unbeaten with 38* runs from 18 balls (2 X 4, 4 X 6) and Thariq 8* runs (4 balls, 1 X 6).
We got 9 valuable points too.. !