Chicago Knight Rider edged past Skippers in a low scoring contest, Farooq Zahid contributed by taking 5 wickets and scoring 28 runs |
Match Report by Sunny Rathod (CKR) The Shinning CKR stands tall to deliver one of the closest and ever emphatic finishes against SKIPPERS this season. This was no less than SA chasing 424 against the world champions Australia. Though, this not being a high scoring game but, the intensity and energy propelling us was equipoised the power house sitting in the pavillion. The joy of this win was no less than watching amitabh bachhan and parveen babi sizzling the screen only this time it was SRIRAM da and PARTHO da to deliver a chiller in a scorching sun!!!! The day we basked in glory I woke up with a dream of a century only to find myself shrinking in my bed with the loud noise of my alarm. Well who would have ever thought alarm sound can replicate cheers and claps echoing through the field. It made me feel spirited and charged up. And I'm sure most of us dream of one big day everyday we walk to the ground with eyes shimmering and words muffling of a innings we all dreamt of. Today was the day of passion turned into action and desire turned to reality for few of us. Sriram da looked wonderful right from the word go. Moving to his left and right..jumping and taking some blinders in the warm up session. That 50 year old body was moving like a 20 year one. God damm momentarily even I was jealous!!! Losing the toss and electing to chase was our strategy for the game. We had won a game chasing and we wanted to do the same again. We all were aware of ALIs innings the previous game and were adamant on not letting it repeat again. Our bowling sector looked very formidable with RAJ moving the ball in and ASHISH banging in a few. IT never seemed like skipper had a chance against our bowling attack. Some resistance at the end and skippers had piled on 115 runs in their quota of the overs. Few xtras but a fantastic bowling performance and not to forget the new entry to our hall of fame with a 5 wicket haul- TOE CRUSHER( FAROOQ bhai). I still can picture the first wicket of farooq bhai's bowling. The sound of timber with the off stick going for a quick roller coaster ride was simply mesmerizing. Fasting in the blessed month of ramadan and showing so much of enthusiasm and passion is truly remarkable!!!! This again brings back the old thought- to fly you have to be restrained first!! Saunak da and Vishal were so eager to go out and thrash the most talked bowling attack of the league. Brilliant inside out cover lofts and square cut by saunak da got us to a flying start. Saunak da mistimed one and soon we were struggling for runs. Vishal looked solid at the other end but, the pressure of scoring got to him and he lost his cool. Soon we had Partho da joined by Sriram da on the crease. Skippers looked solid with the ball but parthoda's patience and sriram da's silence kept us in the game. Watching them both bat was truly inspirational. Battling through the good ones and scoring on the bad balls was the strategy. But,soon run rate started sky rocketing and we had to score run a ball in last 10 overs. The only good part was we still had our captain and Sriram da at the crease sweating, holding it for the team. It was like a ray of light through the darkest hours. A glimmer of hope, sense of chill and a nerve wrecking finish on the line kept us breathing. The entire team was on the lines, watching the game and awaiting a close finish. The anxiety was so high that no one from the team could stand still. It was like some one had just messed up with the drop of mercury. Every ball bowled and every run scored got us closer to the finish line. One bad shot and parthoda had to take a long way back. We could feel the urge and desperation of how badly captain wanted to finish the game. But, only to realize later that he had done his part and had given us a chance to kill the skippers. This got Farooq bhai on the crease. We all were just expecting one bad ball to farooq bhai which he can get underneath and send it to the skies. And we got one but, a close call. A dropped catch and I could stop but to yell and jump. Sides changed but sriram da was still holding it on one end and started playing fantastically through the off side and flicking n kicking some butt over the square leg area. We were figthing the battle to score 23 of 24 balls. Another bad ball by skipper and farooq bhai had made the most out of it. A good try by the sweeper but, farooq bhai had enough on it. As we all say " ek baar farooq bhai ne maara toh, chance hi nahi hain pakad ne ka". But, the game is never over until the last ball is bowled or the last run is scored. It was all left to sriram da and raj as we had farooq bhai walk back. The winning run: Skippers brought back the monster of their team to win it for them. Big bearded guy, short run up, accurate line and length. On any other day he would scare the hell out of you. Raj heads high, bat grounded facing the bowler. Eye to eye contact and soon he had the ball in his zone. Trying to whip the ball, raj missed it and was a loud appeal for a leg before. Soon they could finish our guyz had already stolen a chicky single. All of us running with skippers reeling the loss. It was a brilliant effort by partho da, sriram da and farooq bhai who got this well earned 2 points for us on the table.
Mom: Farooq for his 5 wicket haul |