Before this game began, the Tiffs 3rd XI has lost three of its last four games. Strenuous steps had been taken to rectify the situation as catching and fielding had been acknowledged as the main reasons for loss. It is a matter of concern that many do not identify the request to arrive early at the ground and participate in fielding and catching drills as a serious chance to improve in the department, however it has to be said that the situation is improving every game. Changes in the team included Anthony out due to injury and Pramod out due to holidays. They were both replaced by Ramesh and Praveen who came back into the team.
The toss was lost once again; Esher put us into bat on a square, which ended with the boundary line on one side. At the team talk, everyone was told, it was not a matter of how many runs but also how long we occupied the crease. Due to the unavailability of Anthony and a feeble middle order due to Praveen’s late arrival, Rajesh was drafted into open the innings with Mukesh. Rajesh started off with boundaries in the first over, while Mukesh’s first scoring shot was a six, inspite of this aggresive start, both openers looked solid for a big start. The start of 44 runs was good against some good bowling on a tricky wicket. Mukesh perished playing all over a full delivery, Sadiq who got a nought in the last, failed to get off the mark once again, he is a good bat and I have all the confidence he will come back fighting in his third outing. By this stage, things looked a bit wobbly for the Tiffs, things only got worse when Rajesh who was playing the best I had seen him play for a long time, top edged a pull shot in to his brow. It was a fatal blow and the scenes were gory, almost like a Quentin Tarantino movie. Help was at hand, and I thank Aumran, Hasib and the rest of the first aid they provided on the site before Sadiq, Mukesh and Aravind rushed him off to A&E. It was very brave of Rajesh to join the team to field after getting stitched up, on the field during our fielding; many would have just sat it out.
Ramesh was sent in to stop the drift and play out a few overs, it was disappointing to see him get out playing an airborne stroke when clear instructions were given and the situation demanded the Tiffs not to lost a wicket, Dipesh on the other hand looked like he could get out any ball, he however survived this period and went hammer and tongs to make a quick yet classy 37 runs, his best for the Tiffs so far.
I went in next and played a rash shot to a delivery I failed to read in the air or off the wicket, me and Sadiq are competing this season for the top slot of the most ducks. Sudhakar lasted briefly before Chakri and Vinod put together a respectable parthership, Praveen had joined us and went in at the fall of Chakri, who made a good 16. All much as each one of us are making an effort to get to the games, we must all appreciate as a team the effort Praveen is putting to get to participate in the games. He played some good shots to make 24 vital runs while Vinod made 10, Raja failed to score or stay not out and the innings closed on a respectable score of 162 runs. The crease occupancy however was a disappointing 32 overs.
Esher had 68 overs to get these runs, for them it was only a matter of hanging in there without taking any risks and the runs would come. Thanks to the 2nd XI for helping out with fielders for a good part of 8 overs until our guys arrived from the hospital. A word of mention for the outstanding sportive spirit of the opposition wicket keeper, he was kind in every regard in relation to the injury incident as well as a sports person throughout the game.
We once again went with the old ball and Vinod once again got wickets in the first over and his third over. Dipesh on the other end was bowling a tight line but was struggling to get a wicket. This tight spell of bowling continued and a partnership was building up when the set opener decided to slash one around the point area, Sudhakar who was at point, ran across after the ball had past him, stuck his hand out and took an amazing catch that left the Tiffs camp as well as the Esher camp spell bound. For a team that dropped over 25 catches in the last 4 games, this came as an inspirational moment, a relief to prove that we can also catch. Bowling changes were made and I and Praveen came on at each ends, we continued to bowl tight lines, with the pitch playing up with variable bounce and pace, it was not easy for the Esher batsmen to get runs. This pressure ensured Esher had to play some get away shots and this led to their downfall, from here on in, it was more a Praveen, Vinod and Jeewan show as 7 wickets and 3 catches were taken between the three. It was still alarming that the only catch that went to anyone apart from Vinod and Sudhakar was grassed.
An all-round display by the Tiffs, one of the most important issues which might not seem like but is are the extras, only 2 byes were conceded by Chakravarthy who kept exceptionally well, only the next few games will decide his level of consistency. Although Esher were bowled out for 68 and an emphatic victory was gained, on another day, 68 overs to get 162 would have meat a slow grinding defeat for the Tiffs, our next priority would be to bat out our 50 overs.
Let us make arriving before 12 a part of our game, let’s be there on the field with whites by 12. We can then break practice at 12:40, have a chat and get ready for the game. A fine example that practice helped catching is Sudhakar who took that blinder, some might argue it was chance but I believe it was the practice he had before the game which enabled him to judge everything needed to perfection to take that catch. Please keep in mind that one lethargic member is enough to ruin it for the rest of the team.