Sony won the toss and elected to field in the first game of the Summer 2008 SDCS (San Diego Cricket Series) against the Panthers. The venue selected was Cypress Canyon Ground with restrictions at the back.
Yogesh and Suresh opened against the bowling of Bala R and Unni. With field restrictions of just two players outside the 30 yard circle for the first 6 overs Yogesh and Suresh took a cautious approach an seemed to have started well. Unni however bowled Yogesh on the last ball of the second over of a vicious in-cutter that was yorker length. Suresh was dismissed in a similar manner in the 4th over, it's just that this one was not yorker-length but well pitched up. The 5th over saw Samir get caught in slips by Unni with Bala R bowling. The very next ball Shekhar was needlesly run-out in a mix-up with Vijay V, who did not call early enough leaving Shekhar stranded on his way back.
Panthers at 13/4 in 5 overs were facing the possibility of a collpase. Vijay V and Sam however steadied the innings with a change in the new ball attack after 6 overs. Both Sam and Vijay V hit one boundary each on the off side to raise the spirits of the dressing room. Sam however tried one of those fancy glides towards third man but actually ended up giving Unni a sharp catch. As commentators say this is really a nothing shot, particularly on this ground where this shot fetches just a single.
Amit joined Vijay V and the two together stitched up a partnership but that lasted only until the 10th over when Vijay V hit a short ball from Adarsh straight to the fielder on the mid-wicket boundary. 5 yards to the left or right would have left the fielder stranded. At the end of 10 overs Panthers has scored a mere 38 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
This wicket brought Hari in who seemed to have had a drink too many the previous night. He seemed charged up and willing to thrash the bowlers out of the park. A full toss was sent high over the fielder at mid-wicket for a massive six. Amit at the other end had dispatched 2-3 loose balls to the boundary and seemed to be playing well.
Amit was held at cover-point in the 17th over having put o a partnership of 37 runs with Hari doubling the score at the fall of the 6th wicket. Vinay, Rahul and Spandan were then dismissed looking for quick runs. Towards the end Rahul B, Vijay V (running for Hari) converted ones to twos resulting in a total of 98/10 in 20 overs. Hari had played a face saving knock of 30 not out (29b, 1*4, 1*6)
Sony have started practicing with the hard tennis ball and from the look of things seemed to be an improved team. Sam picked up the first wicket of Sai who was caught behind by Rahul B. Unni joined Mohan and the two seemed to steady the boat. Samir picked up the prize wicket of Unni in his very first over having him caught by an alert Sam standing at short mid-wicket. Samir followed this up with a wicket in his 2nd over the 7th of the inning and the resistance of Sony seemed to have diminished thereafter. Hari picked up two wickets in his slightly expensive spell of 4 overs. Vinay bowled two good overs to pick up two wickets. Rahul B held three catches behind the stumps and Yogesh juggled one in the slips. Mohan was hitting hard and holding one end up. He was held well by Suresh at deep long on.
Panthers pulled up an easy win after being in a tight situation while batting first. Their fielding was very good and the bowling as reasonably disciplined (just 16 extras in about 16 overs).
Sony was dismissed in little over 16 overs for 63 runs giving the Panthers a 35 run win in the first pool game.
Well done Hari and all Panthers in general .....
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pEn3926bpcpomipVrqp9Ycw&hl=en
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