If ever there was a way to start off a season opener with a bang, today was it.MCL 2010 got underway with the first match of the season played between '502 patakas' and 'Phantom'.And also, if some one, by some unfortunate stroke of bad luck didn't happen to know already of the scheduled clash today, they could easily notice the difference in the field with the way the spectators had lined up and taken up their places quite some time before start of play.Multiple cameramen including yours truly had lined up to cover the most feverishly anticipated day of the year.'Phantom' bat first on a day that was slightly overcast after a strange fortnight of nauseating humidity and bright sun.Clouds were very clearly visible and threatened to open up at any time coupled with a speedily withdrawing light cover.As Kartikeya guided his fielders to get into position and as everyone eagerly waited for the umpire to drop his 'no-ball' showing arm down to call play, a sense of tense nervousness was palpable across the ground and the stands.
Siddharth was caught off a brilliant one handed catch at mid on by Shubby Yadav off a brilliantly timed jump to end his innings for 7.At the other end, Rinkesh seemed even more reluctant to make contact with the ball, regularly witnessing huge cries of appeal for his wicket.Vivek K finally rid him of his misery by coming up with a shocking seamer that nipped right back off the seam to clear all the furniture arranged behind.Only Nitin M Shandiliya looked to be providing some sort of a respite for an otherwise despicable batting performance from the first time MCL contenders, only to be run out by some very poor calling by an hyper motivated Satyaprem Upadhyay at the other end.The '502's were wayward and generous with their bowling throughout the match with only glimpses of serious pace or length shown by the bowling attack led by an inspired Gaurav N who returned with figures of 3-15.
The surprise find of the 502s in the bowling department was Abhinav K carrying on his good form from the practice matches removing both top batsmen of the 'Phantom's-Svab and Chillar with his only over of the innings.The '502's had their work cut out for the next match as they can't probably expect to be cut as much slack against tougher opponents.
Set only 92 for a win, the '502's looked good to wrap up the chase before the drinks break, with Gaurav N pummeling every bowler over the infield or the ropes with disdain.Satyaprem was destroyed in the first over he bowled going for close to 20 runs before showing resilience to return with less off his other 3 overs than he did off his first.Although everything looked hunky dory for the '502's to start with-racing to 50 off only 8 overs, the 'Phantom's looked in no mood to give up.Ishan Kaul latched on to a blinder at long off to get rid of Shubby Yadav after both the openers were removed by Karam Jhambh off some quality bowling.
Sriram Narayan came into bat after Svablum M removed Vivek K for a duck with some classic old school pace bowling with lots of zing and carry.Sriram N 's patience paid off as he slowly got into groove before smashing the bowlers over his favorite mid wicket and square leg area before being outwitted by Svablum M for 20.For most parts of his spell, Svab looked like a man possessed ,zipping the ball around on whim.
For what initially looked like a chase for the 'kindergarteners', had gone from 52 off nine overs to the '502's needing 5 with only one wicket remaining.If it weren't for a mis-field off Ishan Kaul at the same long off position that he pulled a blinder earlier and that resulted in a boundary and the wide from Satyaprem that gave the 502s the winning run,the 'Phantoms' could've very well been the team celebrating amidst rancorous applause and sledging from supporters of both teams towards the end.On hindsight, the match was deservedly won by the team that played better cricket for the better part of the match.
-Vasant Iyer, official blogger for SCAM
What a classic first match :)
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