Final Day-23rd March 2006

23-3-06

Third Day-Final Match against B.tech Bioinfo+Biotech(combined team)

Yeah...yeah....its the same pic.....somehow thats all that remains of that special day.
Today was going to be different than all other days as the college was given a holiday becoz of this Final.I went early with Krish and we were one of the first to reach the ground.There was a big confusion regarding when our match was going to happen.....Actually the thing was Teachers were going to play the Non Teaching staff today....it was first decided that they would play first then again the plan changed.....we were supposed to start as Dean was going to be late(actually he didnt show)....All Teachers came later...when some overs of the first innings were bowled.

We started off with fielding practice and catching practice.....at the same time some of our batch mates had shown up...it was too early but they were excited too and came to support us.We again decided to do the homework.....again Shantanu,me,Shounak....and some teammates(dont quite remember who all were there) went to the middle of the pitch and chalked out some rough drawings regarding the field placing......i recall well after the initial discussion was over everyone left the ground to get ready sort off but Shantanu just sat there for a while right in the middle of the pitch....it was a great scene for me....he was getting ready for the battle...preparing himself in a way...before everything actually started at that same place.He had many decisions to make,and was getting ready for that.There was a change in our team Shounak was included in place of Sarthak.

We were going to bowl first in this big game under the intense heat.I remember that moment at the start i was positioned at third man.....i always got to field at third man....or long on.....basically in the deep since i had a strong arm as compared to my Teammates.....except for Adnan...this guy can throw the ball directly to the keeper from anywhere on the ground...as flat as you like.k...Start of play and it wasnt a great start for us as Rahul strayed and many wides were conceded....even from the other end by Satyen.They kept the score ticking by taking singles in initial overs.As time rolled on many classmates started showing up and many people from our college also came to catch the action.

Early on it wasnt that bad....but we couldnt take many wickets...2 were gone in the first few overs.....Shantanu came on first change and bowled well....i was brought on 1st change from the other end.....Captain was impressed by my performance the other day i thought when given the ball.....This spell was different...everyone of my friends were watching...as i was running in to bowl i said to myself you cant screw up this time...i had a bad experience when i was in 7th standard.When running in, the rhythm wasn't the same for me....i bowled it there and he played it straight back.....In the first over there were 3 wides by me...but the extra balls didnt go for many runs.The ball was swinging too much and i was straying on the leg side.....i tried to counter this by holding cross seam....this worked just a little but they took some singles by placing in right areas.I remember hitting one of the batsmen right in the chest....as i was holding cross seam...there was variable bounce...as soon as it pitched on the seam it bounced more and surprised him.Another thing i was bowling facing the pavilion so all the friends were like right in front of me....that wasn't easy....i got to bowl 3 overs and one from the other end...don't know how much i conceded but many wides were bowled...so didn't get to finish my 4....but it was ok not that bad...i remember getting hit for a four.....didn't get hit for more than 6 an over thats for sure.

As for the team...it wasn't looking good...One of their batsmen Satish went on to score a 50+ he hit all of our bowlers....Ratnesh being the worst...Adnan was bowling well from one end and he bowled with sheer pace.He ended with 3 wickets...and enjoyed the attention he got from the supporters.Satish hit 3 bowlers for a six...including hooking Adnan s bouncer through square leg.Eventually he skied one and Shounak took a great catch.Their scoring rate was not that high but we bowl many wides.....i remember the last over i was fielding at third man....Adnan was bowling and the batsmen placed it through the vacant slip region....it was coming towards this side and i had to be very fast to cut it out....they took 2 as i fielded and released it in one motion.Thats the last i remember of our innings...they had finished with 135 in their 20 overs.We came back to the pavilion greeted by our batchmates and all the teachers sitting there as spectators.....This was different than previous matches...there wasn't any chairs to sit too.

We went to fetch cold water after having lunch.i remember there were many spectators more than i expected.Most of our class had turned up and quite frankly that made me nervous.But my teammates kind of liked it I feel and reveled in the moment.While returning back I,Krish and Ashish were discussing whether it could be done.Asking rate was around 7.We needed a good start and were confident of getting it....the team was on a high.The inning had already started as we were walking back Rahul,Chinmay opened the innings for us.Start was ok....good in a way as we didn't lose any early wickets.They too were conceding extras which helped our scoring rate.After the look in Chinmay started to take some risks and hit two superb shots through the covers.Eventually he was out and Satyen was next , he played ok but was given LBW.i dont quite remember how much he scored but he stayed there for a while and supported Rahul who put away the bad balls and respected the good deliveries/bowlers.This partnership at that stage was very important for us as the score kept ticking on and we were getting close to the target slowly.

Ashish was sent up the order before Shantanu and he didn't disappoint.He had goofed up a couple of times but now launch pad was provided for him to do the end job.He wasn't in good health and had taken injections on his knee just to play this match.He fielded for some overs at the end...Monish was his substitute for the time being.It was a great cameo from him clobbering their spinner for a six and two fours in one over.He was promoted to hit and did his job really well.Rahul eventually got out at 40 odd and got an standing ovation.It was a great knock from him.The Captain-Shantanu was due in next and he played good sensible cricket giving Ashish as much of the strike.

I remember sitting there just behind the empty sidescreen on one end watching all this transpire.I congratulated Rahul for his great innings and then got padded up(basically put his pads on)By this stage we needed around 46 of 30 balls.It was still possible and the way they were playing in the middle we were very confident.Ashish was in great hitting form and smacked another spinner for a huge six through midwicket.....it was great watching the ball sail by over the boundary line.

It came down to 15 off the last two overs....Both Shantanu and Ashish played well to bring it down to this.All this while i was sitting there padded up,there was some confusion over who was due in next....after a while it was decided it was going to be me....Now i was really nervous thinking about how i would play with so many of my batchmates watching.For a while i thought how would it be like to be at the wicket at that time and hoped that i got a chance....just to experience the pressure.But Shantanu and Ashish had another plans.....Ashish was on strike and hit two great shots over midwicket for four.We were all jumping with joy.Now seven were needed and everyone was standing on the boundary line.The next moment was crucial according to me.Ashish hit one straight right towards us.At first glance it looked like sure boundary but the fielder from long off somehow had the legs to get there....he dived and got an hand to it but couldn't catch it.It was a valiant effort.....to add more insult the ball crossed over the line for four.This was the turning point for me now the game was surely in the bag....had that been caught it would have been a dot ball and i would have to go out there.It was a great effort by the fielder and we applauded it sincerely.Seriously,my heart was in my mouth.....my initial reaction was -i am supposed to go and bat in that situation....u have to be kidding me....i was very glad he missed it.Now it was 3 off the last over....Shantanu played a couple of balls,everyone looking on.All this when the teachers were frustrated at the length ,long time the match had taken...they too had to play.Shantanu hit one over the close infield for four and everyone(including some of our batch mates)rushed in on the pitch.The Captain got the privilege of finishing the match off.I remember telling Rahul when going on the field that we lost the first match but we reached final and won it.We were all very excited.In the middle i went and hugged Ashish and congratulated him.All of us made a huge circle and started hopping around like those old African tribes......hehe.....that was a great memory to have,cant ever forget that.

Then the Champs returned back to the pavilion side and were greeted by the applause of all the students,friends,teachers present......It was a great (hard to describe)feeling and the photo was taken at that moment.I had to use both my hands to manage to be in the photo.Unfortunately we didn't have the trophy presentation since teachers wanted to play their match against non teaching staff and wanted everyone to sit and watch that too.I watched one innings with keen interest....but after that got bored and left to catch train to Vasai.Back home.So that was it,its an account of how i saw things.

Awaiting comments from all my teammates and batchmates......I still think we won becoz we believed in ourselves,after that close encounter there was no looking back."We are destined to win this" i thought when returning home after the first day.That close encounter was my favorite(Nothing like it) Now i know it was a great privelege to be part of the team.

Second day-22nd March 2006

Second Day-Semifinal Match against M.techs

This was like a lazy kind of day.Our match was the second one starting in afternoon.So again after reaching by 9 we had to wait and watch the two teams play it out for a spot in the finals.Before this match started we decided to do some home work and decide on field positions.So me Shantanu and Shounak went to the middle of pitch and made rough drawings for fielding for eeach bowler.This was like a small discussion.

The first match had started,i remember sitting there....its a truly great experience to be a spectator also many people don't realize that the atmosphere at the ground is very different as compared to watching on TV from home.Everyone passing comments....we were still excited after that close win yesterday.There was no teacher today(yesterday one of our Sirs-Mr.Bhagwat had dropped in to chk out)and everyone was very relaxed in a way enjoying themselves.

There is another story involved here...The captain of one of the teams playing(team of B.tech Bioinfo+Biotech)today was admitted to hospital becoz he suffered from a heat stroke.He was calling every 5 mins to chk out the score....amazing na...their team eventually won as they held on to some amazing crucial catches.Now you can imagine how hard the conditions were to play in and keep in mind that we are not athletes who play day in and day out....i.e.practice everyday...if not play matches....So after two grueling matches yesterday we had to drag ourselves to play an important match today.

Ironically semifinal was against the team we had lost to earlier M.tech batch.Quite frankly I didn't really think their team was good enough for us today....of course i have to say that...coz i am from opposite side...but you know we get a judgment of the other team by their mannerisms and we were on a high after the big win yesterday.All said and done we still had to deliver the goods and play well.

Start of Play:-We got to bowl first and it was like a professional performance.Rahul started off well getting early breakthroughs.Everyone bowled well in this game actually and the run rate never crossed over four.We kept it tight and that gives an idea of how well we bowled and took the match in the first half.I got to bowl 3-4 overs(dont quite remember exact) and conceded around 12 with a 2 wkts.(bowled and LBW)It was a great spell for me...not that yesterday i was bad but didnt have an impact as much i would like to....i was economical and happy with my personal performance.That match was perfect in a way for us....chasing around 85 we got a good start from Rahul,Chinmay;Satyen went early but shantanu played well and was there till the end.Since the run rate was low it was easy and the batting was strong form our end.Not that their bowling was bad but we knew how much to get and played accordingly.I got a chance to bat in the end...after Rahul got out...at that stage only 4 were required in 3 overs.

At the crease there wasnt that much pressure but they tried to create pressure by surrounding me with many close fielders....fortunately for me the bowler bowled a wide on the leg side after i left a couple go through to the keeper.....and got to be at the other end....have to say Batting on pitch is a hard skill and requires quick reflexes....Even when this person was bowling medium pace i wasnt quite comfortable.So we won the Semifinal taking revenge for the previous defeat and we were going to the FINAL of the tournament....Everyone was pretty excited after we heard the news that college would remain close tomorrow as there was a FINAL to be attended.

21st,22nd and 23rd March 2006

23-3-06

This post should have been done earlier....but better late than never.....The pic was taken after we won the Final of the Inter-College Cricket competition.I wonder if at first look it describes the drama,excitement involved.I intend to give an account of the memory of these three amazing days.First off,would like to Thank Krish(one with band),all other organizers,college authority for organizing this in Vashi.Krish actually carried two kits to his home in Hiranandani....along with helmets...(that too in train)

I just realized in the last few days(especially after india won 20-20 i have renewed interest in cricket)that cricket is a part of me.I really enjoyed playing football in college.......and was not interested in cricket.I did play in school days and reached upto state level(team lost there) but didnt play Season after that at all.At home played with brother Tennis cricket that too rarely...thats why this was so special 4 me.
There s a story behind me playing....at that time.I almost hated the game....maybe becoz India lost a lot of matches(Losing is a part of the game....an old statement but says the truth in simple way)Actually there were 6 batches in all involved in the tournament....ours was of the 2 divisions in One(BBT)...what happened was our team lost the first match and since most of our players were involved in organizing they managed to change the tournament pattern a little.The scene now was the 3 losers were supposed to play round robin to decide who will be the fourth team in Semis.Turned out our team didn't have enough bowlers,many friends of my batch suggested i should play...at first i was not interested....but that sem was special....we had been to Delhi educational tour(more like a picnic)So i thought nothing to lose this sem...wont be that interesting from scoring point of view(thats how i think seriously)so i decided to play.....i told them i wont be bowling pace at all just line n length,medium.Looking at my physique u might be astonished at that statement but i dont bowl pace at all....the mode of delivery,my height is just right and every ball is almost a yorker...very hard to hit in a way...i bowl a lot like a G.Larsen..hehe..nice to compare....k enough about cricket explanation
(Not being self centered just explaining things how i see them.)

21 st March 2006-Day 1-So the actual thing starts...i reach early at the ground at vashi along with krish...after a while its decided that(we)are supposed to play two matches back to back...20 overs each....first match would start by noon...so initially have to sit watching the first match after some practice.I felt ok when practicing and trusted myself to bowl well,according to my capabilities.I dont remember much about the first match.....we bowled first i think,i myself bowled 3-4 overs in the middle overs ....and it was an ok score by them...something around 100 to win.Chinmay(wk) was a lot like Sehwag opening...he played well with some good shots....we made the required score...actually don't quite remember the details of the first match as the second one was the more exciting.

So here it goes....we had to win this one to reach the semis...Bioinfo batch was opposite us...they too had won their first match.It started with us batting first...it wasn't a great start chinmay,satyen going early..Rahul stayed there for a while but he too went and there was a collapse in the middle....now i was at the grease...after so many years at this similar situation...its too hard 4 me to bat on a pitch.....the ball keeps moving too much for my liking and my reflexes are not that good.Fortunately for me it was a spinner bowling...k...first ball outside off by an off spinner(i bat left handed)and i cut it and it went through to third man for four....This was going to be good....was my initial feeling...and it was good..had a partnership with Krish,then Ratnesh,Ashish in the beginning.There is one incident here....i ran out Ashish in the first Match of the day.He isn't that quick between the wickets....he doesn't have to be quick,hes like a Big hitter (those Inzi types in a way)This time around he had a runner as he had some problem with his knee and we had a small partnership going....and with a rush of blood he himself ran for a run after hitting the ball and went across to the other end...i reached the strikers end before the stumps were dislodged....there was a controversy here...who was out...i still believe no one was out as he reached the other -nonstrikers end(even the runner reached the non-strikers end )and i reached the strikers end before the stumps were dislodged...after some argument he was given out..Honestly even the umpires were confused and there was some delay in this as there were arguments happening everywhere ....i remember screaming at him for the bad mistake at a crucial stage....as both of us just started a partnership....eventually Ashish went home with realizing the enormity of what had happened and also becoz of the knee thing.....only 4 us to describe him what he had missed.

Ok...i was still at the crease and had scored in double fig....now i was confident...i tried to pull one on middle stump...was early in the shot and got hit right in the wrong place....you know where...everyone around me laughing,giggling..its one of those bad feelings to have ....i stayed there for a while ....eventually i was out for around 18 or so caught by bowler....highest for me in season....we finished with 91. Adnan hitting some fours in the end.91 in 20 overs is not that hard.
Our bowling started off well....k..i dont quite remember the details now...thats why this post should have been earlier...k...back to action...bowlers bowled well...Rahul picked up couple and gave us a good start...they consolidated in the middle and build on a partnership....but wickets kept on falling...I got to bowl 3 overs and was ok...didnt get hit also didnt get any wickets..was pretty ok...Now the situation was 2 overs 15 to get (3 wickets).....Shantanu himself wanted to finish his last over....after much argument Satyen got to bowl the second last over.I was positioned at long off....after a grueling day it came down to this...there wasnt much i could do now...i was like a spectator unless the ball came my way.....The evening nets had started and it was very distracting at that side.Satyen bowling left arm over.First ball was a wide on the leg side for 4,5 added to the score.He was bowling to this Guy....he was a big hitter of sorts...he hit a powerful shot right down the wicket in double the speed satyen had bowled....i ran but just couldn't reach in time to cut it out....and it was four.Next ball satyen fired it in fast but he came down the pitch and similar powerful shot for four.You cant place any fielder behind the stumps..it was the perfect shot in the situation,down the ground not in the air...this time i came close but couldn't cut it off..four again...It was so exhausting to collect the ball when there were evening nets taking place at this side.Just that feeling of helplessness.By now Shantanu(our Captain)was livid...he knew he had to bowl,he was bowling well....it was a mistake to give Satyen.

Now a small meeting in the middle...almost everyone there...Shantanu muttering out stuff...k..cant write all that here...Lets just say that he was very very upset.I was still optimistic...i have realized this through all the games i had lost in my school days and all the games i have played...i think i was prepared for this....to somehow buck up the team....Its all about the mind and having faith in your abilities.We decided we would bring the field up...everyone in the circle...nothing to lose....2 to get in 10 balls.

I remember thinking....this cant be the end i was not supposed to be here for losing this way......something had to happen..deep down inside i knew losing was not an option..now i hoped for the best and i there wasn't much for me to do.All the thoughts going through my mind when satyen was running in to bowl...he fired it in and bowled him.He was OUT.....satyen removed the danger man..i remember he was dropped earlier by someone and we almost had to pay for it...now a left hander came on the crease...Satyen fired it in again...direct on the pads and OUT....LBW...another one gone.

I remember between wickets...Shantanu was more optimistic and he said we could tie this...i was like(thinking)why tie we going to win this.Deepak(one of our friends....everyone who played knew each other actually) was next in,the last man,they still had a chance just 2 to get in 8 balls.Now amazingly everyone of the fielders had something to say to him.(Such a difficult situation to be in 4 everyone)Everyone bucking each other up....now we knew we had a chance.

I was on mid off watching Satyen running in....he fired it in and Deepak hit it in the covers but straight to the fielder and almost got run out.Pressure was building and on the next ball fortunately for us he lost his nerves..he hit in the covers and started running blindly...It came to Monish(who was ironically the substitute fielder for Ashish)who threw it to Chinmay and he ran him OUT....All i could remember next was everyone screaming and jumping up and down.....woohooo....We had WON....we were in the semis.....We got another chance.My mind goes back to SA and Aus match in 1999 world cup....except that it wasnt a tie in this case.
I vividly remember the images of Sarthak removing the stumps and screaming in joy with the stump in his hand........Deepak screaming to his partner why he didnt run and me telling Satyen some things after the match was over.......It was pure ecstasy....all i remember i was very happy at that moment and was proud to be part of the team.Everyone was really excited and we talked and discussed the match in train.This was our comeback game....and there was more to come as we had progressed through.It was one of those days you wont ever forget.PURE ECSTASY.

Critic...?

Its about time i griped about somethings......although i feel that COMPLAINING IS JUST ANOTHER REASON FOR NOT WANTING TO DO SOMETHING and the fact is GOD has been very good to me and i truly appreciate all the things he has given to me ....but its better to complain about some things (to write a post.....hehehe)

So here goes the list......not in priority ofcourse....
1.i hate the fact that india doesnt support other sports same as cricket.
2.i dont like the crowds in Mumbai trains.....just unbearable.
3.i dont like gold....bling of any kind.
4.i dont like hypocrites.
5.i dont like people who are critical of horoscopes....its all just a rough classification and should be taken lightly.
6.i dont like people with a know it all attitude about cricket......wonder how many have themselves played on a decent pitch against the new ball....everything is easier said than done.
7.i dont like constant talkers....
8.i dont like the Indian Media.....they are just not professional enough.....cant say anything about press....(i meant tv media)
9.i dont like people who think WAR is some kind of a game.....persons on higher posts......we have to remember...only the dead have seen the end of war.
10.i dont like people who think their religion is better than others.......they try in every way to prove that their religion is the best.....but we all know that there is no such thing.....its just a matter of faith and Somethings work for some but not for other.We need to respect everyone`s religion.(which is very hard to do in a way)
11.i dont like hip hop music all that much.....its just beyond me sometimes.....i wonder what the big deal about it is.
12.i dont like people who dont like football......its the most beautiful game.
13.i dont like people who compare sportspersons of different times.......every one is good in their time and should not be compared.
14.i dont like people who think humour is a way of finding solutions to problems....u have to accept it that sometimes we have to suffer.
15.i dont like people with big EGO s.
16.i dont like filling long forms.
17.i dont like Saas Bahu Serials......no need of saying more...probably will add another post 4 this.
18.i dont like remixes....except 4 a few....they just devastate the original.
19.i dont like people not leaving any comments here after reading the topics.....hehe-had to add this even though kind of silly one.
20.i dont like the use of words like 'Waassup'.Think they r a mockery of the language in a way.

will add many things later.