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FCCC wins another close one
FCCC wins another close one against CCCC-Gold |
One ball whizzed past the ears while the next one screamed past the outside edge. This accompanied by a constant banter from the fielders, reminded Ajay and Ganesh of the difficult task ahead. Chasing a modest total against Gold is never an easy proposition, more so when they were charged up after a disappointing bowling performance the week before. However, some good fortune and resolute defence by the two batsmen thwarted the best efforts of Jarrar and Rohit. Ajay made a dogged 11, before losing his concentration and holing out to short square leg, ending the best partnership of the day.
This was crucial as was the initial fireworks of Nadeem at the start of the innings. The talk around the league is that FCCC's batting starts (and the actual target is set) after Nadeem gets out. In a typical whirlwind innings, Nadeem had reduced the target to a two digit score and more manageable. Well, manageable and easy seems to be lost from the FCCC's dictionary. As feared, once the big partnership was broken, the shaky middle order could not consolidate. Gopal hit one straight to long-on's throat off a full-toss while Ravi could not have done a better job of finding the deep-midwicket fielder off a short ball even if he wanted to. Dipal too could not keep a pull down and was caught at the short mid-wicket region. Very soon, the finish line seemed to be as bleak as the weather.
Nadeem decided not to take any chances and sent FCCC's closer to the middle. Rajesh had saved the last few games and the hope now was that he would team up with the well set Ganesh and bring them home. This was not to be as Ganesh flirted with the LBW once too often. Sam speared one through to trap Ganesh plumb in front, which really seemed to put the cat among the pigeons. However, Rajesh was again the calming force in the middle. With the experienced Mike Riley, he set about building another important partnership while also taking most of the strike against Jarrar. Even though Rajesh fell to an amazing stumping by Pradeep, he had done enough to win the game for FCCC.
All the drama seemed redundant just a few hours earlier. The strong bowling line up of FCCC had managed to restrict Gold to a relatively low score. Except the two Rajeshs, Mosur and Solanki, not one batsmen could counter the pace and swing that the FCCC bowlers generated. Dipal and Nadeem were not as successful as the previous games, but they kept the scoring to a crawl by sticking to a tight length. Rajesh Idate and Khaleel did more of the same. Khaleel got some extravagant seam movement and bounce, but was unlucky to finish up with only one wicket. It was only when Brendan was handed the ball that wickets seemed to fall. Brendan got the dangerous Govind and Swadeep to snick to the keeper. Meanwhile, Mike Riley was his usual self at the other end grabbing couple of wickets and keeping things tight. At this time, it looked as if Gold would fold for less than 100, but Mosur continued his rich vein of form and coaxed his tail enders to bat with him and take the score to a respectable one.
However, the score proved just a litte less again for the Gold bowling. The team that once was most formidable at winning these close games seems to have forgotten how to win them this season. Now, Gold goes ahead knowing that they might have lost the chance at the championship this year, but who can play the role of the spoilers. FCCC goes ahead with another unconvincing win to face 2nd placed CSCC.
How they were out
Gold innings
Pradeep c Gopal b Khaleel 12 (22 for 1)
Slashed an outswinger to 3rd slip, where Gopal took a nice juggling catch.
Vijay Run Out 0 (22 for 2)
Reacted late to a call from Mosur
Rajesh Solanki b Mike Riley 21 (58 for 3)
Played the wrong line of an inswinger.
Govind c Ganesh b Brendan 4 (70 for 4)
Attempted to charge Brendan, just managed to edge to the keeper.
Swadeep c Ganesh b Brendan 1 (72 for 5)
Feathered a beautiful outswinger to the keeper.
Jarrar b Dipal 3 (78 for 6)
Played all over an overpitched inswinger to be clean bowled.
Sam c Ravi b Rajesh 2 (93 for 7)
Lofted one to deep long-on where Ravi took a good catch.
Arvind c&b Dipal 7 (108 for 8)
Mishit a full bat straight to the bowler
Rohit c Dipal b Mike Riley (123 for 9)
Holed out to long-off where Dipal took an easy catch.
FCCC innings
Nadeem c Govind b Rohit 12 (39 for 1)
Smashed an overpitched ball to long-on where Govind took a good running catch
Ajay c Arvind b Sam 11 (84 for 2)
Tried to pull a short ball from Sam, but managed to get only a top-edge.
Gopal c Rajesh Mosur b Swadeep 3 (92 for 3)
Mishit a fulltoss straight down long-on’s throat
Ravi c Rohit b Sam 3 (106 for 4)
Pulled a short ball straight to deep-midwicket
Dipal c Vijay b Jarrar 3 (110 for 5)
Pulled a short ball straight to short square leg where Vijay took a good low catch.
Ganesh lbw Sam 43 (114 for 6)
Missed a straight ball, playing the flick and was caught plumb in front.
Rajesh st Pradeep b Solanki 2 (130 for 7)
Beaten down the legside and brilliantly stumped by Pradeep.
Khaleel lbw b Solanki (133 for 8)
Adjudged LBW to a full ball from Solanki (may have got an inside edge onto the pads)
[scorecard - photos]
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