Panthers had displayed character last weekend helping them get out of a tight situation. On July 19th, 2008 Eagles played their first game of the SDCS cricket summer tournament against SDCricInfo. SDCricInfo is a relatively unknown team for most of us.
Vijay S won the toss at the Spring Canyon Ground (Big) and promptly elected to field as planned previously. Sam and Siva started badly with Sam going for 12 runs and Siva for 7 runs in each of their first over. Sam struck on the first ball of the 3rd over getting Saurabh bowled as he went for a shot too many. A wicket maiden by Sam was followed by another wicket by Siva in the 4th over. SDCricInfo was at 47/3 in 7 overs with Sam and Siva both going for 10 and 6 runs respectively in their 3rd over. Aravind bowled his first over erratically giving away a few wides. SDCricInfo suddenly seemed to be well placed and could be seen making the most of it.
Eagles had set aggressive fields and the top order including Rajesh, Saurabh and Prasad made most of the open outfield.
Rupesh and Vijay S were introduced starting with the 8th over and each of them started well by bowling tight line and lengths. Rupesh picked up a wicket on the last ball of his first over when Vijay S held a low catch at first slip.
At the end of 10 overs SDCricInfo were comfortably placed at 54/4 and could have reached 105-110 from thereon.
Vijay S picked up two wickets in the first over after the break to dent the hopes of the opposition. Rupesh held a wonderful catch running behind the keeper while standing at first slip. Vijay V then judged a high catch very well running to his right standing at point. In the next over Parag hit the stumps at the non-strikers end to run out Yoga who went back full stretch but could not get back in time. Vijay S continued to bowl at one end and Aravind continued at the other. Aravind went for 9 runs in the 16th over but by then Vijay S had finished a fantastic spell of 4 overs for just 9 runs picking up 3 wickets in that process. The four over spell coupled with 2 wickets picked up by Rupesh had put the Eagles back in control after things seemed to have gone slightly wrong after 7 overs.
SDCrciInfo was dismissed for 86 runs in the 18th over. Sam and Vijay S picked up 3 wickets each, Rupesh and Siva ended with 2 and 1 wicket respectively.
Eagles were looking at less than 4.5 runs an over and seemed confident of making it. Parag and Santosh opened the inning. The first ball produced a scare for the Eagles when Parag was startled by a delivery rising sharply. The ball spooned to first slip where Prasad dropped a relatively easy catch to give Parag a reprieve. Santosh opened up against Yoga in the second over hitting a boundary to the right of long on. Parag then pulled one to fine leg for a boundary in the next over bowled by Naveen and the duo seemed well in control. Yoga was pulled square of the wicket by Santosh in the very next over. Praveen was greeted with three boundaries in his first over with Parag hitting one behind square on the leg side and Santosh hitting another in the same direction and Parag hitting one to mid-wicket.
Parag (17 in 18 balls, 3*4) and Santosh (18 in 19 balls, 3*4) walked back in the 6th over off successive deliveries bowled by Yoga and the score read 40/2. Mudit started well by hitting a boundary towards point on the off side. Vijay S had joined Mudit and a period of a consolidated approach followed. Mudit hit another boundary towards fine leg off a full toss. The score read 56/2 in 10 overs for the Eagles. The only question was how long would it take the Eagles to overhaul the target. Mudit was caught behind off the bowling of Praveen having scored 11 (19b, 2*4).
Sam walked in and started with caution. Vijay S at the other end was playing straight as ever with good placed shots for singles and twos. Yoga came to bowl the 15th over and that was just what Sam needed. Three powerful boundaries were struck by Sam on alternate deliveries, the first over long on and the other two towards fine leg. Sam (15 in 18 balls, 3*4) seems to be in form which should augur well for the Eagles .
Vijay S aptly struck the winning runs by hitting a good looking shot for four towards extra cover giving the Eagles an easy win by 7 wickets and 27 balls to spare.
Eagles did not display excellent ground fielding with one overthrow and other cases of the throwing not being accurate enough. All catches were however held with the pick being the one held by Rupesh at slip.
Both Panthers and Eagles should comfortably reach the semi-finals, the only question being who would they face in the semi-finals. Eagles would need to do well in all departments of the game against Doyle Park. The SDCricInfo bowling was not all that challenging, which may not be the case in upcoming games of the tournament.
Quite a few Eagles had significant contributions in the victory. With 3 wickets for just 9 runs and 14 runs at the end Vijay S seems to be the one who made a lasting contribution in this win.
Ajay performed the role of an umpire and did well although he did have some uncertain moments. It was good to see fellow Panthers show up to cheer on the Eagles.
Well done Vijay S and all Eagles.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pEn3926bpcppj3EOD7R2HHQ&hl=en
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