Win, Win, Win and an abandoned match read the last 4 results for the tiffs, this game was however against an opponent who had not lost a game in their last 6 outings. It was another day under heavy cloud cover; the team was made up by last minute inclusions. Thanks must go out to Anthony, Aravind, Naveen and Ashok for playing on the day. The tiffs lost the toss and were asked to bat, another make shift opener was drafted in as Mukesh had taken off. Both openers played well for the first few overs until Rajesh fell to a lofted stroke. Number 3 Praveen came in to join Jeewan, both batsmen survived close calls very early on but later went on to make fifties each to give some solidarity to the jittery tiffs top order. Praveen who was due a fifty composed a well-made half century. A mini collapse followed once both batsmen got out, while Chakaravarthy tried holding the middle order together with his 26, it was not until Anthony and Vinod joined forces in the middle that the tiffs really reached a position from where they felt confident. Vinod and Anthony played some mature cricket, running positively and taking the attack to the opposition. Anthony, although after missing most of the season looked at the prime of his form.
Vinod on the other hand compiled his third fifty of the season, as with his previous two fifties, this fifty included some responsible cricket and some eye pleasing stroke play. Vinod’s batting coming of age can only strengthen the team for the next season. The declaration was momentarily delayed for one over so Vinod could craft his well-deserved fifty, which he did in no time.
Both batsmen stayed not out when the innings was declared at 256, the tiffs had taken 49.5 overs to get this score. The teas were good and the weather still murky, the tiffs took the field and as usual expected Vinod or Pramod to take a wicket, this time around things were different, the Farnham openers played with a good head, leaving the good deliveries and punishing the bad one to the boundary. New boy Ashok and Praveen were introduced to bowl as both opening bowlers failed to make a breakthrough. The story did not change with the new bowlers being introduced, the openers went on to put 112 for the first wicket, the highest opening run partnership ever conceived by the tiffs, it was not until Vinod came back into the attack for a second spell when he picked up the wicked keeping opener, this was the start of a game turning spell for the tiffs. Vinod produced some unplayable deliveries which tore apart the Farnham top and middle order, while Vinod wreaked havoc at one end, the other opener held his ground to keep scoring steady. His wicket was claimed by Sudhakar who ran him out brilliantly. Vinod bowled 14 overs on the trot to claim figures of 8 wicket for less than 50 runs in his second spell, it was a pity to see him end up not winning the game for the tiffs, still a stalwartly performance once again from the man of steel.
A half chance here and there and tiffs could easily have secured full points but I am really proud at the way the team fought back after hitting 5th from bottom to finish the season on 5th place.