TCC v QCCC match report

 

TCC traveled to Reedy Creek Park, Charlotte for a crucial match against QCCC who’re playing on their home ground and hence held the advantage right off.  It was cloudy and humid all day long, but thankfully without any rain.  It had rained the previous night and so the pitch and outfield were heavy.

 

QCCC won the toss and as expected put us into bat.  Raman and Rajesh Virkar opened for TCC and found the going to be tough since QCCC bowled a steady line and length without giving any room for the batsmen to score freely.  5 runs came off 4 overs!  The pressure got the better of Raman and he was bowled playing all over a regulation half volley off Saravana.  Rajesh U. was promoted to number 3 in the absence of Samir Tikare and Ravi Renga.  The two Rajeshs carried the score to 30 off 10 overs with Virkar hitting a couple of delectable shots.  Virkar was castled by an inswinger off Saurabh.  Aravind didn’t last long and was bowled off the inside edge trying an ambitious drive off Kalyan, the left arm spinner who in fact bowled more like a seamer off a short runup.  At 31 for 3, Vijay walked in with TCC pegged on the backfoot.  The flicx pitch didn’t make life easier as it is and the outfield which had lush green grass brought ground shots to an absolute halt just shy of the boundary.  Vijay and Rajesh U. carried the score to a respectable 61 with the former doing the bulk of the scoring.  A six over extra cover stood out.  Rajesh lost his concentration and was bowled off Kalyan.  An unfortunate runout cost Nataraja his wicket since both batsmen slipped at their respective ends and he had backed up too much at his end.  Uchil was caught behind and just when it seemed like TCC was getting bundled out for less than 100, Sundar chipped in with a cameo.  Vijay and Sundar added 34 invaluable runs with the latter tonking the ball beautifully all over the place.  Vijay was bowled in trying to accelerate and TCC lost couple of quick wickets and finished up at 122 for 9.  Kalyan and Saurabh were amongst the wicket takers for QCCC.  This wasn’t a great score considering the short side boundaries.

 

After a quick 30-min break, QCCC started their chase.  TCC showed great character and commitment on the field right away.  Uchil lead from the front by effecting two brilliant runouts, one of them being a direct hit from his customary gully position to the bowler’s end.  QCCC were two down for nothing with both their frontline batsmen back in the hut.  Now, TCC came together as a well-knit unit having sensed a glimmer of hope with the two quick dismissals.  Aravind kept his end tight as usual.  Amar made a good comeback after a bad first over which had too many wides in it.  Aravind accounted for Saravana by getting him caught behind.  Samir and Piruz threatened to take the match away from TCC, displaying good temperament coupled with good choice of shots square of the wicket on the off side.  Vijay bowled Piruz all ends up and that brought back TCC’s hopes again.  Uchil took care of Sameer by deceiving him in the air and Aravind took a regulation catch at midwicket.  Yashpal was caught in the deep by Sundar off Uchil’s bowling and we knew that the pressure was mounting on the home team now.  Raajeev Kalyan, who had taken the stick against CCVT, bowled with great determination and poise and that paid rich dividends for us.  QCCC needed 29 from 11 overs with 5 wickets in hand.  Ramesh was out lbw to Raajeev for 3.  Kalyan, QCCC’s batsmen blasted 10 runs inclusive of 2 consecutive boundaries off Vijay’s 4^th over.  But, Raajeev proved to be his nemesis in the next over by bowling him through the gate.  A sportive decision by the leg umpire got Kalyan his third dismissal with Vishal being the batsman who was declared caught behind down the leg side.  Rightly so, Uchil finished up the proceedings by effecting his 3^rd runout for the day catching tailender Seenu out of his crease trying a non-existent single and that was curtains for QCCC.  Good captaincy by Aravind in terms of making bowling changes at crucial junctures turned the tide in our favor.  All in all, it was a great morale-boosting win for TCC.

 

(Compiled by Vijay Jagannath)