Match Report: M3 beats Wanderers by 10 runs.

Report by Arun Bhaskar

Tasting Success Early

M3 broke the shackles of the past of winning much later at the start of the year and registering its first win in its 2nd game of the season. After a tough and hard fought 1st game of the season the entire team put in a committed and hard fight to win the game and sure this is the first of many successes to come for the season ahead.



The match started with the now regular routine of players coming in LATE .... adding to the worries that Akshay was stuck at office and a doubtful starter for the game. Shaan who was leading the team in his absence started on a positive note by winning the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat with the sweltering heat likely to take a toll on the opposition. The batting was opened by Mani Bhatt and Rishabh and for the 2nd time in as many matches the opening stand didn’t put up a big partnership with Mani dismissed by a nick in the slips of a good outswinging delivery. Sridhar Sesham was sent up the order considering this was his home ground and had good outings at this venue in the past. Rishabh was positive in his stroke play from the start and played some delightful drives, cuts and Sridhar gave him ample support and the duo started to build a good solid partnership. The scoreboard kept tickling along at a very good rate with boundaries, coupled with 1’s and 2’s and compliments of wides from the opposition bowler. The 50 of the innings was notched up in the 8th over and the partnership looked solid before the odds went against Sridhar’s consistency of getting rapped (do take note guys – that’s Rapped n not Raped) on the pads. He got a ball that kept straight and low and the umpire had no hesitation in declaring him out plumb before the wicket. The good partnership of 60 between Sridhar and Rishabh in about 9 overs was a good platform for Arun to walk to the centre. He opened his account with a fierce stroked boundary over point from the 2nd ball he faced and things looked ominous for the opposition. But Rishabh got out (for a well made 31) trying to drive a ball out of the park only to be holed up at long-on. Amit Bansal and it was now up to the AB’s in the middle to build on the foundation and build a tall score. But then the weather turned murky and the rains started to pelt down and the players were rushed in. Luckily the rains didn’t’ last more than 20 minutes and the covers (surprising) at Fernvale ensured the pitch & bowling run up were dry and play was ready to resume with the match now reduced to 27 overs per side.



Arun started positively after the game when trying to play his natural aggressive stroke play and clubbing the ball to the boundaries for 4’s and 6’s but was tentative while trying to play defensive. Bansal meanwhile was getting himself settled in and mixing up with 1’s, 2’s and the odd boundary. The score board tickled along to about 120 in 22 overs and the noise from the benches got louder stating we needed a score of about 170 to 180 in the stipulated overs. Arun tried to use the long handle to score some big rungs only to hole up to deep mid-wicket after scoring 35. Raj then strode to the centre and started meddling the ball for 1’s and some well run 2’s whilst Bansal was timing the ball superbly for some wonderful boundaries. The score reached 150 with 2 overs to go and Raj got out trying to accelerate the runs and in walked in Surprise, Surprise Akki. Well he made it to the ground and to be a part of the team and lead from the front. Bansal the ‘Finisher’ belted the last 2 overs for plenty of runs including a superlative drive on the off for 4 and a big whack over long on for 6. Akki not wanting to be left behind on the batting front got in the thick of things with a huge 6 over midwicket of the last ball of the innings. The score card read a very healthy 176 for 5 after 27 overs and Bansal yet again remained unbeaten for a well compiled 46.



Pathak and Shaan opened the bowling and stuck to a good line that got the batsmen defend but any err in length resulted in boundaries being scored. Adding to the woes was the left-right batting combination that meant constant change in field placements, change of line and for a fair part of the first 8 odd overs the batsmen dominating the proceedings. The score at the end of 8 overs was about 60 odd for no loss and Akki brought himself on and immediately stuck to an immaculate line and struck the 1st blow with a rising ball that got the batsman hopping and the ball scooping in the air of the glove to Sridhar at gully. Akki struck soon again with the other opener sky-ing one to Naman in the deep who took a well-judged catch. Mani Bhatt was bowling a very tight line and soon got rewarded with batsman no. 3 hitting the ball in the air to Ritesh at deep mid-off. The fall of wickets kept a check on the runs being scored and adding to the pressure was some good tight and committed fielding. Ritesh bowled the last over before drinks and conceded a boundary of the last ball for the score to read 85 for 3 in 14 overs. The opponents needed 90 odd runs of 13 overs and the batsmen needed some big overs and had to take chances to score. Naman was brought into the attack and almost got rewarded a wicket of the 1st ball unable to latch on to a return catch, the rare blemish from him that day. Pathak struck from one with a quick wicket after the drinks and Naman kept pegging away with a tight line and keeping a check on the runs. The pressure was mounting on the batsmen and despite scoring a few boundaries they lost their way trying to keep up to the required rate and lost wickets at regular intervals. The equation got from needing 70 runs in 10 overs, 44 in 6 overs, 30 in 3 overs and finally to 18 runs off the final over. Akki bowled the last over and we couldn’t have asked a better start with his first 4 balls going for just 1 run and this followed by a 2 leaving 15 required off the last ball and the game in M3’s clasp unless something untoward happened. The last ball saw the batsmen drive for a single to long-on and then Akki trying to finish the match with a bang aimed at running out the batsmen at the striker end and there was no one backing his throw and ended up in 4 overthrows. The result was however that M3 won by 10 runs, a well deserved victory – and a thorough team effort. Naman’s spell of 5 overs for 25 and picking up 3 wickets was stand out amongst the bowlers.





LESSONS LEARNED

Batting saw 2 key partnerships at the top and this is vital for us to post a decent score in every game.

Fielding was good but I’d say there is room for improvement on the aspects of backing up throws and also estimating when to attack the ball and when to cautiously stay behind the ball.

Bowling was disciplined and the area that needs to be curtailed is bowling short of length on wickets that are slow and giving a chance to be hit for boundaries.

Also the number of wides needs to be reduced and for this request the bowlers to focus on bowling to one side of the wicket.





SPECIAL MENTION

MOHIT - For demonstrating great character (a must for every Marinoid) and giving his best on the field as a substitute and throwing himself around & saving some vital runs. This I mention especially since he was in the original scheme of things (playing XI) and was left out to accommodate the right combination for the game.

VISHESH & SUHAS - Kudos and accolades to for being present at the ground and cheering, supporting the team.

Mohit, Suhas and Vishesh – You demonstrated the true spirit of TEAMSMANSHIP and what should be done naturally by every member of the team even if you aren’t in the playing XI.





POINTS TO PONDER OVER:

I’d like to end this note on a very staunch note in terms of PUNCTUALITY. Enough has been said about this time and again and it's time each of us shows the sense of responsibility, urgency and commitment each of us have and arrive at the ground much before time if not on time. Let the tensions not rise even before the game begins as there is enough of that for us to tackle on the field with the opposition.



Finally I want to state that Cricket is a team sport and one must learn to be a part of the team and not ONLY IF you are in the playing XI – it’s the bonding of all the individuals together that spells success and I request each one of you to be at the ground and support the team, even if you’re not figuring in the XI.