After three demoralizing losses TCC were determined to win the game against the defending champs. Based on previous performances, our best bet was to bat first. TCC lost the toss and CLCC elected to bat first. Thanks to Mr. Fergus Robertson for doing a fantastic job of unbiased umpiring bereft of any controversies.

Not to be deterred by this minor setback TCC went into the field and the opening bowlers Aravind and Paddy as usual kept the batsmen on a tight leash. The first 6 overs produced only 25 runs but more importantly for CLCC they had lost no wickets. The first bowling change immediately produced results as a good piece of captaincy, placing the fielder at fly slip, immediately paid dividends as Sundar dismissed Chetan for 12. Bolstered by this success the captain took a gamble and introduced Shibu into the attack the very next over. The move nearly paid off as Shashi lofted the ball only to see the ball land safely due to a misjudged effort. After that, the batsmen settled down and scored on a consistent basis till the mid-way stage taking the score to 85 for the loss of one more wicket (Shashi was dismissed at 58). Immediately after the drinks break, as it often happens, Rajeev struck immediately to dismiss Abhi for 22 to a regulation catch to the keeper. However, Ani was batting well on the other end and the scoreboard kept ticking away. Nataraj was introduced into the attack and was greeted by being swung for a six by Ani. However, he soon bounced back to dismiss Ani in the next over to a lofted shot. The score read 114 / 4 in the 19th over. This wicket was the shot in the arm that TCC needed after which they fielded like tigers and the bowlers (Nataraj and Charan) encouraged by the fielding effort kept taking regular wickets. The highlights of the fielding effort were the run-out effected by Raj Uchil who dived and stopped a ball with his foot leading to all sorts of confusion on the pitch and secondly the catch that Shibu took to dismiss Ani. Charan rounded off things with 2 consecutive dismissals at the end leaving him on a hat-trick the next over he bowls. CLCC were all out for 143. Statistics do not tell the whole story, but 29 runs and 6 wickets in 8 overs underlined the comeback that TCC launched. Though 143 was gettable, TCC had crumbled "chasing" similar scores in the past.

Having bowled out the defending champs for 143, we started the chase after a 30-min break. Paddy followed in Syed’s footsteps by arranging a home-cooked lunch buffet for all of us (Bisibele Bath, Curd rice, and Gulab Jamun). I was thanking my stars 'cos I wasn’t fielding / batting after such a sumptuous feast. TCC followed a different game plan this time by sending Aravind as one of the openers along with Ravi. Chetan and Ashish opened the bowling for CLCC. Chetan was treated with disdain right away by Aravind who clubbed him for a six behind square-leg. Ravi’s dismissal was exactly identical to the one in the semis last year except that it was a full toss this time. The uppish flick was picked up by Ashish at midwicket off Abhi and we were 1 / 27 in 4.3 overs. Just 9 runs later, Aravind threw away a fine start yet again and was out leg before to Ani’s military medium pace bowling playing across the line. Sundar, promoted to number 3 as a part of the experiment was joined by Shibu. Sensing a possible collapse, the Lions were ecstatic and went into a huddle a la Team India. They were in for a real surprise! Shibu and Sundar batted brilliantly and added 66 runs in just 10 overs. They constantly communicated with each other and got a real sense of what the situation demanded from them. Rotate the strike as much as you can to keep the scoreboard ticking and wait for the odd bad ball or two seemed to be their mantra. Shashi, CLCC’s skipper kept ringing the bowling changes in a desperate ploy to stem the run flow, but to no avail. Shibu seemed to carry the exquisite touch that he displayed against RCC into this match. Square drives and flicks were sent screaming past the hapless CLCC fielders while the bowlers watched in total awe. Meanwhile, our very own "Gundappa" was relishing his promotion up the order with some delectable square cuts (even balls outside the leg stump were cut). The drinks interval brought about Sundar’s dismissal when he was bowled off Mayur’s bowling. By switching bats, he proved the "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!" adage right and paid a huge price as a result. Nevertheless, he had done his bit. Surprisingly, Charan lasted just 4 balls and was bowled when he mistimed an intended pull off a long hop from Mayur. The pavilion grew a little anxious going by the experience in the past. Enter Paddy, who brought a calming effect into the proceedings! Shibu was lucky to see Ashish floor a relatively simple catch off Mayur and the next ball fell right between the fielders much to TCC’s huge sigh of relief. The pair carried on without any more blemishes and Shibu finished the match in classical fashion by pulling P.K for a six over deep long leg. He remained unconquered on 60 while Paddy contributed 17 precious runs. Way to go TCC! Keep up the same professional approach in the forthcoming matches.

MoM: Shibu Vachery