The Clash of the Titans

(By: Nafis Ahmad, Commonwealth C.C)

 

It is never easy to write about defeat; it is even harder to write about a close one. But it is always easy to write about a competitive game, where both sides play with a lot of skill and plenty of heart. The first game of the season between Commonwealth Cricket Club (CCC) and Conway was a feast for cricket lovers, and surely was something to write about.

 

Franklin Field I is a great wicket to bat, and that is what Fazal decided after winning the toss. CCC opened with Basu and Qasim Butt - the former Conway player. Qasim wanted to take the fight to his former team and started in a lively fashion, keeping the score board moving and at the same time trying to get his eye in, as he was opening the batting after a long time. He played several shots, but what sticks to mind was a majestic cover drive, that reminded us of the prowess of this powerful batsman. Basu (5), on the other hand was hampered by a strained hamstring, that he incurred last week and was back soon, trying to force the pace. Nataraj went in after Basu, and he started to bat as fluently as ever, carrying on his good batting form. He was skillful in turning straight balls towards leg, and heaped many runs utilizing his strong onside flick off the wrist. Both batsmen continued to score freely, until a tired Qasim (34) gave his wicket away to a lofted off drive, bringing CCC to 94 for 2.

 

Fazal took center stage and began to build upon the work of the early batsmen. It seemed like one of those days where Fazal steps out of the folds of a normal man and performs at superhuman levels. He pounded the left arm spin of Andre and Maurice, and smashed them for several straight sixes. On the other end, Nataraj was batting well and he compiled another half century (his second in a row), but as if on cue, departed right after the milestone. Ali joined Fazal in the middle and both batsmen scored freely for a while. However, soon Maurice had his revenge as he bowled Fazal, right after the latter finished his breezy half-century. “It was not one of those days“, as Fazal said, but he still infused the shot that rejuvenated the batting of his side.

 

Ali (15) departed within four runs of Fazal’s dismissal, leaving CCC at 175 for 5. Due to these quick wickets, Conway were back in the game after their bowling was pummeled by the early batsmen. But they were in for a surprise, as in walked the hero of the last game, Venkat Narain. After settling down, Venkat took charge of the situation and mercilessly mauled the Conway bowling. He hit straight and hard and cleared the ropes each time he ventured in air. He compiled a belligerent 53, and CCC was back on track. The rest of the batsmen added some more runs and CCC finished with, a very healthy 258 in 40 overs.

 

CCC was deservedly pumped up at the score, and they took the field to cause an upset against the home team with a pile of runs to back their bowling. Conway opened up with the left and right combination of Ramas and Williams, while Sameer and Fazal opened the bowling for CCC. Wlliams (9) soon departed to Fazal who was bowling very well. Sameer from the other end was beginning to get some swing and soon had Joseph Buffong (1) caught by Fazal. On the other end, Ramas continued to show his good batting form and was particularly severe on anything pitched up, hitting Sameer straight for two sixes in successive overs. It was clear form the outset, that if CCC is to win this game they have to take the wicket of Ramas, as early as possible.

 

A tired Fazal took himself off after bowling 5 sharp overs and the batsmen took a breather, and started to bat very comfortably against the newly introduced spin attack. A healthy second wicket partnership between Ramas and Lawson (35) saw Conway recover from the early loss of wickets. Maurice Blake joined Ramas and the left-right combination kept the scoreboard ticking along with just about the average that was required by Conway. Ramas was definitely in great touch, as he was dancing down the wicket on every tossed up delivery but he never missed a single ball while he was doing that. He completed a very good fifty in due course, and even at that point was not looking to loose his wicket or concentration. The only way to get him out was probably a runout, which is exactly what happened, as he was found short of his ground due to an accurate throw from the boundary line by Nafis. Ramas compiled a chanceless 81, and his departure gave a chance for CCC to get back in the game. Mohabir is a good batsman against spin bowling and he showed his prowess by smashing Qasim for two huge consecutive sixes. Maurice after playing a long but patchy knock departed after scoring 26 runs. Denovan replaced his brother in the center and showed his experience by scoring effectively against the CCC spin bowlers. Mohabir quickly added 20 runs but soon departed repeating his shots. Andre Dascent joined Denovan and thus began the match winning partnership between the two all-rounders. They both played sensible cricket, dabbing and running for singles and dispatching the bad ones, way out of the ground. By the time Denovan (41) departed the damage was done and Conway were 14 runs away from victory that were comfortably scored by Andre, rendering a 3 wicket victory to Conway, in the 39^th over of the innings.

 

It was a great run chase by Conway, due to the sheer number of runs chased, and also due to the fact that they steadily lost wickets during the course of their innings. But to their credit, they kept scoring at a healthy rate, and were never out of the race at any given time. All of this was of course possible due to the match saving knock of 81 by Ramas, who set the foundation of this run chase and remained at the crease for the majority of the innings.

 

For CCC, the key to winning the game was to strangle the batting to stop scoring easy runs in order to build up pressure, so that batsmen are forced to commit mistakes. CCC at no stage stopped the flow of runs, and spread the field to both sides of the wicket. The plan was to buy the wickets before the allotted overs, but the (spin) bowling and fielding were decidedly off the mark and due to easy scoring opportunities and some missed chances, Conway was able to sustain the required run-rate of above 6 runs per over for the entire innings. CCC's fielding was not at its best, and the team lacked the depth in their bowling that was necessary to win this game.

 

Nevertheless, it was a closely contested game, and was played very expertly by two batting rich sides. CCC batted very well to put up a good total with three of their batsmen crossing the 50 run mark, against arguably the best bowling side in the league. Conway replied in kind with a scintillating 81 from Ramas, and all the rest of their bastmen chipping in with decent scores. If this was a preview of what is to come later in the tournament, then we are surely in for a fun ride!!!