The team was at the ground an hour early and as usual we practiced catching while we admired the club house and the ground. These facilities like sight screens and cleanly cut square and boundary ropes seem like a luxury to this team as most of us have not played in this league before. Toss done and after successfully chasing down 161 last week the Tiffs chose to bat, I guess the bowling department seemed bolstered by the inclusion of Dawn. A Good start ensured with Mukesh and Anthony blazing off with a streak of 9 boundaries in the first 5 overs. The OTCC dressing room was happy before the Deando Ruxley bowlers quickly worked out their lengths and got their own back when Mukesh hit a drive straight to mid off. Next to go was Anthony, with 51 on the board and both the openers back, it seemed like a resurrection job was needed.
Praveen who scored a 80 NO on this ground last season joined Charith, who was very watchful but did put the bad ball away when offered with one. Praveen got on with the scoring while Charith found it difficult to get going and after playing 70 balls for his 20 finally perished to the relentlessly patient Deando Ruxley bowlers. Praveen on the other end found his timing and was playing some out standing shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. This once again showed why one of the top 4 batsmen needs to get a big score. The story was quite different at the other end, none of the batsmen wanted to stay at the crease for long. Jeewan went on 9 to a rash shot, totally not called for, Rajesh failed to trouble the scorers, Vinod was caught at mid off and Chakri, who looked good for a bit but was out for 5. Praveen who reached a very well compiled 53 lost his wicket at the wrong time, Dawn seemed capable of hitting the ball far and long but failed to make a good connection, although it has to be said that he hardly got time to get his eye in. Tiffs innings came to a close on 166 All out after only 42.2 Overs.
Teas were exceptional.
Vinod and Pramod started proceedings, both bowlers bowled mixed line and lengths and were duly punished on both sides of the wickets. Vinod soon found a wicket for the Tiffs with his trademark yorker and followed that up with a quick length ball that found its way to the stumps of the Deando Ruxley number 3 batsmen. Pramod on the other hand lacked any kind of penetration and failed to pick up a wicket for the 2nd game in a row. This is proving very costly for the Tiffs as Pramod is renowned for this swing with the new ball and ability to pick up early wickets. Dawn was introduced into the bowling attack and he bowled well with lively pace, although the Deando Ruxley opener edged merrily to pick up boundaries more than once. Dawn soon struck to dismiss the number 4 batsman and Dawn looked like he certainly had it in him to strike again a few times. The score was 72 for 4. Unlike the Tiffs middle and lower order, the Deando Ruxley batsmen were not after runs, all they wanted to do was to occupy the crease and waited patiently for the bad ball and promptly put it away. Rajesh was introduced into the attack and picked up a wicket off the well set number 5.
A important catch off the opener was grassed by one of our better fielders, this goes along with a couple more difficult drops. Jeewan was introduced circumspectly at Dawns end and immediately found success with the set opener hitting the ball straight to long off. After being hit for a huge six in the next over, another wicket fell. Rajesh at the other end was keeping things tight when after a combined spell of 8 overs 2 maidens and 3 wickets both ends were mysteriously changed. The game began to drift away slowly but the Tiffs came back with a couple of wickets from Praveen, Vinod and a run out by Chakri. At 147 for 9 and 20 needed off the last wicket, it seemed like a sealed deal for the Tiffs but their number 10 scored 23 NO and saw Deando Ruxley to a great win.
In the words of Simon Parker (Captain, Deando Ruxley)
20 run partnership to win the game by the 10th wicket pair of Brett Harvey 2* and Javed Iqbal 23* finished with a 6 by Javed to give us the win. Awesome spirit & fight to the end in a seemingly hopeless cause
Wow’s and oh No’s
Dawn’s début for the Tiffs, his crisp hitting, clean fielding and lively pace
First Five over of the Tiffs innings
Another first ball boundary by Mukesh
Extreme patience of Charith
Drops by Mukesh and Vinod (a couple of extremely difficult ones)
Shot selection of the Tiffs Middle order
Losing the last 6 wickets for 39 runs
No Official Umpire or Scorer