The new Champs :)

05/03/2009: Blitz CC vs Champs XI

Bad weather did not play a spoilsport at Braly Park as rain was predicted over the weekend.

The scene was set for a great encounter ahead with Champs XI, a Top 10 ranked team, doing well in 2009 season VS Blitz with their new found form and confidence. 

Toss seemed irrelevant as Champs prefer defending and Blitz chasing. So when Champs won the toss there was no money for guessing the obvious.

Champs started well with the opener Anand slamming three boundaries and some sloppy work in the field was not helping the cause for the home team. A brilliant run out by Akshay got rid of the opener and a great catch under pressure by Sriram saw the back of Anand.

Three wickets down at the end of 10 overs and 40 runs on board, Champs were yet again looking to set a big total with some in form batsmen still sitting in the dug-out waiting for their turn to smash some biggies.

But Siddhart aka 'Kasat Bhai' had some other plans for them. A great 11th over saw Champs loosing 3 crucial wickets, two to some lethal bowling by Kasat and one a brilliant run out by the Captain Puneet. 

No wonder, Kasat Bhai (KB) finished with a great spell of 4 overs 1 maiden 5 runs for 3 wickets. KB is the second most economical bowler this season in all groups and I guess all of us who has seem him perform before are not surprised by this feat!!

Staring at 41/6, Champs were looking for some consolidation whereas Blitz were confident of doing what they do best - demolish sides!!

But, a calm innings by Captain Gokulnath and some clean hitting by Amol saw champs reaching a respectable total of 79/9 at the end of 20 overs.

As decided I went opening with Tushar, the only left hander in the side.

I enjoy opening the innings with Tushar, if nothing more the Right hand - Left hand combination brings some nice gifts from the bowler :-)

Chasing 80 in 20 overs, we had to beat our previous succesfull run chase of 76 to bring home victory.

We started off really well. I was able to dispatch the first ball for a boundary - a nice juicy short 

slow ball from their opening bowler Sreeram. With a score of 10/0, @ the end of 2 overs, we were on our way.But the opening bowling pair tightened up the screws and with some brilliant ground fielding singles were tough to come by.

Myself and Tushar knew that we just have to play out their opening bowlers with some caution and with wickets in hand and a strong batting line up, there was no stopping us from winning this one.

At 23/0 in 8 overs, momentum was slipping away from Blitz and there was a need to step up the scoring rate. Fortunately I was able to connect a full toss from Mohit for a six and Tushar hit a beautiful pull shot for 2 runs. With 11 runs coming in that over, momentum was shifting back our way. Tushar was looking in great touch, able to pick gaps and rotate the strike at will.

With a score of 39/0, at the end of 10 overs, we could see Champs under pressure.

After the break, I realized I had woken up from the lucky side of my bed today; with two skiers dropped I felt we cannot lose!

Myself and Tushar put up a 50 run opening stand, the first one for Blitz, before I got out for 31 to a neat catch by the Champs skipper Gokulnath in the deep.

Tushar was quick to follow in the next over after having scored 16.With both openers out and the score reading 51/2, Champs felt they had a chance to make a match out of it which they had given up long back.

But little did they know about Montu's hitting capabilities. Two awesome boundaries by Montu scoring at more than a run a ball there was hardly any doubt which way this game was going.

With 11 runs needed in 3 overs to win, Montu got out at 15 to a sharp catch by the keeper & Dug out got a little tense.

In walked Arun, and with 11 needed of 17 balls he smashed two huge sixes of the first two balls he faced.The tension gave way to cries of victory and the whole dugout ran onto the field.

This was a great victory for Blitz beating one of the best teams in cricbay.

This victory will definitely go a long way for the team to start believing in their batting abilities and confidence to chase or put up big totals in the future.

I was honoured to be presented with Man of the Match, which was truly a team performance.

I will like to take this oppurtunity to thank my team members and management for showing trust in me and giving me opputunity,advice and support.

Go Blitz!!!