Friendly
5th May 2007

Swaps century can't save PCC

One week before the beginning of the league cricket, the stage was set for the last practice match for the PCC 2nd XI. Ploughmans with a good balanced team were confidently launched for this match against the Harfields 3rd that looked to be an easy team having around half of the team with school kids.

But there were hiccups in reaching the venue, as Swaps, Nass, Raj and I reached after the start time (1:30 pm) in a 40 overs a side game. With the opponents winning the toss and electing to bat first, it was a gloomy but a lovely day being ideal for cricket with a good batting turf.

Harry and Shah opened the bowling for us. But soon in the 2nd over we had our initial jolt with me getting hit with a hamstring. It was my mistake by taking the field without any stretch exercise. I conveyed the same to the captain and he asked me to be in Slips and do some stretching. Very soon we had our quick break through provided by Shah removing their opener and the no 3 batsman. But it was then followed by a good knock by Collet, stabilizing their innings taking their score to 115 for 3 at the half way mark.

I tried to be there till around 20th over but could not manage afterwards and went out doing the analysis for this match. L This made our team not only going short by one player but a bowler as well.

After Collet’s dismissal, they were at 145 for 4 at the end of 25th over and the things looked easy with the school kids to follow. But that was a deceptive mirage for us with the teenagers taking us for a ride by hitting all the corners and managing 163 runs in the last 15 overs at the loss of 3 more wickets taking the total to 308 for 7 at the end of 40 overs taking away the game far from us. Harry and Robert were the pick of the bowlers conceding 69 runs in 16 overs between them, but the other lads had gone for loads of runs.

After being set for 309 to win, the target looked quite unrealistic but with a positive intent we started off our batting with Nass and Swaps, putting 25 runs for the first wicket with Nass contributing a quick 18 runs before getting bowled to a low delivery. Then came Wyllie compensating for his bowling had done well with the bat making 68 runs and a good 134 runs partnership raising our hopes of winning the game with another 150 runs required in 15 overs and having 8 wickets in hand. But with the intent of slogging we lost our way and then strived to reduce the defeat margin to less than 100. And by the end of the 36th over went down to 193 for 5. But some late overs hitting by Raj and an unbeaten century by Swaps in the 38th over helped us reaching 216 for 5.

Highlight of the Day - An awesome knock of 106* by Swaps containing 10 fours and 4 sixes, although in vain but had certainly helped us save the pride of the PCC. Surely with a 10 men army reduced by a bowler it was a good performance overall. A lot of positive take away from this match. Sorry to all for not being able to contribute with anything!!

RM