Scorecard TITANS vs Thunderbolts

Result: TITANS lost by 6 wickets

This whole season and last seaosn, only thing TITANS have thought of was to reach Playoffs, and they did reach there in style, finishing 3rd in the pool. This was the time to prove that we deserved to be there and we do belong to the Elite group of cricket teams. Matter of fact we did come very close in doing that. This is how it all happened.

The game started 1/2 hour late due to soggy conditions and bad pitch. TITANS almost made their mind to postpone the game until next day but the opposing team and the umpires for reasons unknown insisted on playing on that very day. Well so the game began with Kapil winning the toss yet again, on pitch which seemed to be a batting beauty, and opted to bat.

TITANS batting

Kapil and Shilpan started the innings and started getting runs at a descent pace. In the 4th over, Kapil got himself run out on a terrible mixup. Shilpan did try to gift his wicket at that time but Kapil walked off before the umpire could decide who was out. Kapil did complete his 50 runs for this season before getting himself run out. Soon Shilpan was bowled to a very low ball which everybody thought was a dead ball except the umpire. Abhilash walked in and showed his intentions when he hit Amrit for 4 to fine leg. He was really unlucky to get runout when he took a start too early from the non strikers end and mid on fielder shattered the stumps before he could get back. Too Bad.

2 overs later Srinivas lost his balance and was comprehensively bowled by left arm seemer Shailesh. Intrestingly it was the second consecutive time he lost his balance and got bowled. Sunil and Abhay then started consolidating the innings. Abhay hit a huge six over sqaure leg in his short cameo of 9 runs. His extra cautiousness made him pop a simplest of catches to Mid-on, who didnot make any mistake. Sandeep came in hit a 4 towards square leg but soon got out caught, 7 runs of 8 balls.

Sunil on the other hand was playing a very intelligent innings, trying to take singles as much as possile. Vinay joined in and starting trying his trademark shots. One controlled over from Justin saw him lose patience and he got bowled trying to play a cross shot on a good length delivery. From there on Sunil and Neeraj tried to get as many runs as possible. Neeraj got a full toss from Justin and he showed it the way to the boundary. Neeraj and Sunil lost their wickets very soon after that. Vijay and Ramana added 2 runs each to take TITANS score to a defendable 84.

It was not a kind of score TITANS would have expected looking at the pitch and the quality of opposition bowling, but given the history of TITANS bowling, it was a very good score to defend in 22 overs. Just sticking to basics could have done the job.


Thunderbolts batting

Kapil tried something new by bringing Abhay to open the bowling instead of regular opening bowlers. That move turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Abhay found Shailesh plumb in front of wicket in his first over. Shailesh didnot like umpire decision and there was some exchange of unholy words and (Where did Sunil came in the Mix?). Vinay shared the new ball with Abhay and kept the batsmen at bay. Scoring became really tough for Thunderbolts with controlled line and length from the bowlers. But there was no more success in terms of wickets for few overs.

Kapil made quick bowling changes in pursuit of a wicket and brought Vijay and Sunil. They both bowled with a controlled line and Sunil tasted the success first when Ramana took a sharp catch at gully. After 9 overs Thunderbolts were 22/2, a very good position for TITANS. In 11th over Srinivas slipped behind the keeper trying to stop a single which was there and umpire declared it as break. That break did wonders for Thunderbolts.

Once the break was over, the remaining 3 balls of Vijay costed 9 runs, including a 6. Thunderbolts started hitting everything and anything. Helped by some lose bowling, more than few dropped catches (3 by Kapil, 2 by Abhilash and 1 by Abhay) and luck, the shots carried to the boundary after a bounce or without. Ramana in his first over removed Raj who was looking dangerous and for a moment TITANS were again in game. But the two batsman made meal of the rest of the remaining score and ended the game in 17 overs. Only consolation being Sunil getting wicket of Shahid.

Thunderbolts won by 6 wickets.

Though a descent display of cricket but it left a gloomy and something-missing kind of feeling with TITANS. Everybody felt that this was the game which we could have easily won. Our bowling failed us first time in this tournament (or Second.. whatever). Well there is nothing to lose heart after coming this far. TITANS have no doubt become a team to watch out for.

If we can reach the second round in only first attempt under Kapil's captaincy, I am sure we can be first in the second attempt. And cricket is not over yet, we will be there in the DECL and make our presence felt.. ... LAGE RAHO.

Funny moment of the match : The way Thunderbolts made excuses to play that game in those conditions was a funny site to watch.