Thursday, February 21, 2008

Sunday,the 13th

There are few things in life that excite the 'Wariyers' more than a game of
exhilarating cricket and Sunday,the 13th provided yet another glimpse as to why the Wariyers are dreaded by all and sundry in the local cricketing circle!!

The setting was ideal for war - a flat track with patches of grass (SB was
observed rubbing his hands in glee), a captaincy debate that had been relentlessly dragging on and the reassuring presence of the 'Golawala'.

The spectators were primed for the titanic clash.It was going to be a battle of the giants, Sunder and DKJ ably aided by Anand against the guiles of SB,Gtype
and Sachin. For Nilesh, the debutant, this was the ideal opportunity to exhibit his prowess and cement a place in the team.

The battle-lines were drawn,the die was cast, a rousing round of applause provided an indication of things to come.Gtype came in to bat,the swagger in place. The captain had decided that he would take it upon himself to relegate Gtype to the shadows.The first over was an excellent one - a lesson in line and length for the aspiring youngsters.Only 3 runs were conceded.The war had begun and how!!

DKJ,an able ally,bowled an excellent second over,yet again highlighting the
chinks in GType's armoury. Two overs had been bowled and the scoreboard reflected a miserable 7 runs.

Anand came on to bowl the third over and started off in cavalier fashion - a huge no-ball over Nilesh's head providing the much needed free-hit. Gtype failed to capitalise on it and the tension on the faces of the members of the batting team was palpable. Anand finished off his over without any further profligacies. The momentum was firmly now with the bowling team.

14 runs off three overs was never going to be good against a team that
boasted of some fine batsmen.Sunder came on to bowl an impeccable over yet again and it was left to DKJ to complete the formailties by bowling the last over ........

Fate had probably something else in store for SB's team as Gtype yet again did the impossible - a huge pull and a heave off the last two balls adding 10 valuable runs to the score, which now stood at a very respectable 28 of the alloted 5 overs.

SB reiterated his credentials as the best bowler in the team by bowling a torrid first spell conceeding only 2 runs.Anand and DKJ were finding the going tough and how ! Sachin and Nilesh too bowled neat spells. 28 did not seem such a low first innings total after all !! Gtype accounted for Sunder who dragged the ball back on to his stumps and it was left to DKJ to lend the total some respectability which he dutifully did by hanging around till the end. Sunder's team was left stranded
on 22 after 5 overs...a handy lead of 6 for the opposition.

The proceedings for the second innings were started by Anand and DKJ who bowled tight first spells. Sunder bowled a good over again but for the solitary boundary sneaked in by SB.The innings wound up at 30 - the target a mammoth 37 for DKJ's team.

Sunder took it upon himself to open the innings but was sent back off the second ball itself - a stunning caught & bowled dismissal by Nilesh !! DKJ and Anand played brilliantly, the highlight being DKJ's superb boundary off GType. The scoreboard kept ticking consistently until Anand fell.

This humdinger of a match was not over yet. With DKJ,the lone warrior standing and 9 runs required off SB's last over, the odds were heavily stacked against him...it boiled down to 5 runs of the last ball...and then SB did what he had never done before!!!

Overstepping was a crime and SB did just that..3 runs were required of the last ball now.SB surprisingly, faltered yet again........a huge wide sending a wave of cheer among the spectators.Only 2 runs were required now.

But lending credence to the cliched aphorism "The match is not won until the last ball is bowled", SB proved why fans admiringly call him 'Indian Lightning' by bowling a near-unplayable last delivery. It was a tie. Even the Gods could not have forecast such an outcome.

They say there are very few things in life that excite the Wariyers more than a game of Cricket....whoever said this probably never saw this team playing Cricket !!!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

First ever bowl out in the History of Wariyer's!!!!!

After so much of dedication and action packed match the stage was finally set for the mother of all entertainment -bowl out.However this was the first ever bowl out in the history of wariyer's.

The excitement for out bowling the wicket dominated the minds of wariyer's overcoming the need to quench their thirst with delectable gola and the same interests, which centered in the game, was evinced all through until the last bowl is bowled.

The match begun and half of the battle was won by SB after winning the toss and putting Sunder's team in a driver seat to bowl the first ball.

Things were left into DKJ's hand and by now, the wariyer's were on their feet to witness first ever bowl out ball.The first delivery which was clocked at approximately 84 mph, went straight to wicketkeeper missing Off stump by inches.However as far as opposition is concerned,Nilesh started well by breaking Off stump in pieces, and succeeded in infusing some spirit into the game.

Now,Sunder's team was under pressure to deliver results with the remaining balls.But at the end, they were outplayed as DKJ,Anand and captain himself missed the last three hits.

In a nutshell,SB's team pipped Sunder's team in a pulsating bowl-out to seal their victory.