Detroit Cricket League, Season 2004
TITANS v Stoppers
Centerline, MI
19 June 2004 (25-over match)
Result: TITANS lost by 4 runs
Stoppers won the toss and their captain did us a favor by electing to bat.
Stoppers batting
We started our bowling with our potent combination of Satheesh and Abhay and on a fresh wicket, they were as usual firing on all cylinders. The first breakthrough came early when a mixup between the openers and an accurate throw from Swadheen led to a run-out of one of the openers. Satheesh quickly removed the other opener caught behind. Amit came into the attack and got a wicket quickly when the batsman edged him to the keeper. Stoppers had lost 3 wickets while putting 20-odd runs on board with hardly any extras.
The two new batsmen who came to the crease (Rajesh and Vinay) then started defending everything and pushing and nudging. They offered a few sharp chances which were dropped by us. They set up a decent partnership that brought Stoppers back into the game.
The partnership was finally broken after the mid-inning break when Ramana bowled Vinay with a beautiful delivery. The other well-settled batsman was also quickly removed by Ramana stumped by Abhilash. Vinay removed the next two batsmen by going through their defenses and Ramana added another feather to his cap when he dismissed another batsman caught by Vinay.
At 8 wickets down with 50 on board, Stoppers were in danger of being bowled out cheaply but the last 2 wickets defended resolutely and added a precious 25 or so runs before being bowled out for 76 in 24.1 overs. Titans had as always restricted the opposition to under-80.
Titans batting
The Titans openers put up 12 runs when the first blow was struck. Trying to steal a run off a misfield, Kapil was given out by the umpire to a dubious decision.
Vinay, throwing caution to the wind, then launched a solo counter-attack on Stoppers while Abhilash provided him good support. At 35/1, Titans were right on course. Unfortunately, the party didn’t last. One risky shot too many saw the end of Vinay’s innings. Abhilash departed soon, caught behind. Sunil was given out leg-before to a ball that kept low. Stoppers frustrated Abhay by packing the off-side for him and he departed trying to go over the top of covers. From 35 for 1, Titans had slipped to 49 for 5.
The task was cut out for the last recognized pair of Shilpan and Ramana – to play sensibly and take the Titans home. With 28 runs still for victory, they needed to play cautiously and patience. And that is what they did. Every single they took brought us closer to victory and reinvigorated the us as we cheered for them with all our energy.
Nobody could have foreseen what was to happen next. We were within 7 runs short of a victory when a momentary lapse of concentration on Ramana’s part saw him get bowled. Satheesh joined Shilpan at the crease. In an attempt to protect the tailender from strike, Shilpan went for a risky run but was given run-out. Amit joined Satheesh. Amit played the second ball he faced behind the wicket and a splendid piece of fielding led to a mixup between Satheesh and Amit which in turn led to Amit’s runout. Next, Swadheen joined Satheesh. Satheesh was the next to go when, going for a risky single, he was found short of the crease. With the last pair on and 5 runs to win and 4 to tie, Swadheen went for another risky single but could not beat the fielder’s throw and was the fifth Titans batsman to be runout.
The match ended with Titans losing by an agonizing 4 runs. We’ll all learn our lessons and be back !!!
Turning Point of the match : "Ramana getting out. After that last 4 batsman got runout adding 2 runs in 4 overs, in exact same fashion."
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