Match 1 against Real Panthers on 120608

Hari won the toss and as one would have expected elected to bat in the 20 over game played at Miramar College Ground (Big). We were playing a new team named "Real Panthers". The name suggests that the Panthers that won the winter tournament last year were probably "fake".

Nitin and Suresh opened the batting. Suresh started, well hitting a four in the third over bowled by Bhanu. Nitin mis-timed one and lobbed one high. Bhanu moved back and held a one handed catch falling to the ground hard. Vijay S (1, 4b), Hari (1, 4b), Parag (o in 2b), Ravi (1 in 6b) were then dismissed in quick succession putting the team in a precarious position. Suresh was scoring well but was dismissed soon for 20 (26b, 2*4). The score at the end of 10 overs was 47/6 and it was imperative that we get as close to 100 as possible.

Real Panthers found it difficult to control the line with quite a few extras being bowled throughout the inning. Mudit and Sam then stitched a good partnership. Mr Extras (35 in 0b), Mudit (7, 17b), Sam (15, 24b, 2*4) and Narasaiah 6*(11b, 1*4) saved the team from the blushes to take the team to 93/10 in 18.4 overs.

Vijay S, then came up with a spell of 4-0-9-5 with Saran, Hari, Ajay, Sam sharing the remainder of the 5 wickets to take the team to a huge 31 run win. The maiden 5 wicket haul by Vijay S, came with 2 wickets in the first spell of 2 overs, a wicket in the 3rd and two to finish the game in the 18th over. Real Panthers were not used to the slow bowling of the kind being bowled by Ajay and Saran in the middle overs. Ajay picked up a wicket in 2 overs giving away only 4 runs. Saran bowled 3 overs going away for 11 runs and picked up two crucial wickets. Anil had hit a straight effortless six in the third over of Saran but was caught at short cover the very next ball. Sam planned the dismissal of Nitin T, as Nitin slashed to Hari at first slip. Hari (2), Suresh (1), Ravi (1) , Sam (1) held good catches in the outfield.

The 5 wicket haul by Vijay S, desrves a MOM nomination for this game.

With some new teams in the contest, the 20 over tournament coming up next month is going to be an interesting event.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pEn3926bpcpopvbzObOeDYA&hl=en