Author: Judson Daniel
12 Stars Black vs Gent CC – 2/8/14
With 3 straight wins for the 12 Stars Black, there was no room for one player in the team, Mr. Complacency. Dubbed as the most crucial game of the League, the captain wasted no time in reiterating the importance of the encounter. The message was clear. We may have lost to them in the shorter form of the game, but this was a different format altogether and Patience was going to be the key.
The Gents [not really the Gentlemen, just the team GENT J] won the toss and preferred to bat. The very first ball, an in-swinging Yorker full toss from Rohan made sure that the opening batsman covered the same distance he had just made from the pavilion to the stumps. The next 2 batsmen were steady for few overs before a trademark Ani-swinger rocked the boat. It should have been all over for the GENTs if not for some easy catches that were dropped by 12 Stars. At 90 for 2 and coasting away, Ramesh had a direct hit that caught the batsmen a foot away from the crease. The friendly leg umpire ignored the shout only to have some “ANI”mated scenes erupted… However, the next ball was also a direct hit, this time by Gannu from the bowling end [Pun intended]. This started a heavy collapse with Ajay joining Gannu, as the deadly duo shared the rest of the spoils between them, both of them ending with 4 wickets each. The last 8 wickets fell for a paltry 37 as 12 Stars were set a target of 128.
Ajay and Ashish started the proceedings, and Ajay pulled the 4th ball of the innings only to get an edge which hit his body and slowed down to eternity when it reached the keeper. With every mouth wide open, they all failed to realise one thing. The GENT keeper had borrowed the antique gloves from 12 Stars. The glove without a glue gave the keeper absolutely no clue, as he dropped the Mother of all sitters….That was the only life Ajay needed as he started to build his innings. The Openers put on the 5th consecutive 50 runs partnership in as many games, a truly remarkable feat. Ashish departed for a well-made 20, which allowed Rohan to come and free his arms. And free his arms, he did on the very first ball only to be lucky not to get out. A quick but unsettled 12 runs made sure that 12 Stars had win in their sights. The man of the moment Gannu walked in after Ani fell and together with Ajay saw off the game in 24 overs. It was only right that Ajay and Gannu were at the crease when the winning runs were scored. But for their brilliant all round effort, 12 Stars would have lived to regret the dropped catches.
With only 3 more games left in the league, it’s still 3 games. 135 overs to be batted and hopefully not that many to bowl. At this point, the whole team is rejuvenated and pumped up, but still we are pacing ourselves by taking one game at a time.
It’s never over until the last game is played and the last ball is bowled
And Miles to go before I sleep
And Miles to go before I sleep
