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.
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.
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.
2 comments:
well....
what a match...last minute tensions..
seemed like a movie story like me!!
well good play by the way..
so u now shifted from football to cricket..
see it's not that a bad game!!
i like both cricket and football....just that i have played cricket way more than football....but then too...just think the beautiful game is way better to play,enjoy,watch...just that this first day was very important..was pure drama..
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