Match result: East Bay II @ Spartan CC played on 8/16

Congratulations to Anish and team on their 11th win of the season.

EB II were undefeated in the league so far but their run for glory was cut short by Spartans.

Match result: Much awaited game of C-Division, the battle of the champions, both Spartan CC and EB II are the top teams in C-Division and the better team came out victorious.

Toss won by EB II and elected to bat:

EB II innings: 164/10 in 35.5 overs (Saket 43 (2*4), Mukul 33 (2*4), Amitoj 20 (1*4, 1*6), Rajan 28, Jaspreet 2/22, Jessie 3/29, Urmi Bhai 2/41, Nandu 2/31, Anish 1 Runout)

EB II had a shaky start. They lost 2 wickets in the first 5 overs. Jessie duo were on fire. The inswing and outswing combination worked like a charm. Jaspreet took the first 2 wickets and Jessie bowled a very tight spell from the other end, he was unlucky though to not have found a wicket in his first spell. There were couple of drop catches but Saket and Mukul could not make full use of the chances and neither made a big score. EB II were 29/2 in 10 overs but managed to accelerate to 4-4.5 runs an over there after. Mukul and Saket had a 78 run partnership before Mukul as cleaned by a superb delivery by Urmi Bhai. Mukul tried to defend the ball as best as he can but the delivery was too good for anyone to handle. EB II batters didnot judge the situation well and were too aggressive in their stroke making. They lost too many wickets trying to accelerate the score where the key was to stay put and not loose wickets. EB II were 136/6 at 30. After the first break, Jessie returned for his second spell with some fire. Anish started off the damage with a run out from Long off when Rajan decided to take the third run, Anish covered the ground from Long on to Long off and with his quick release and direct hit at the non strikers, Rajan didnot stand a chance. After that, Jessie cleaned up the tail in his next 2 overs, one of which was a lightning fast stumping by Sailash bhai. The end result was EB II packed for 164.

In Reply:

Spartan CC innings: 165/6 in 35.5 overs (Anish 65* (4*4, 4*6), Jaspreet 19* (2*4), Sailesh P 13, Extras 41)

Spartan CC started its innings cautiously and were 38/2 at the first break. Harshal bowled a very tight line but all the EB II bowlers bowled way too many wides and the pressure was really never on. Spartan CC saw a top order collapse after the break and were reduced to 60/5 and then to 77/6 (thanks to a doubtful caught behind decision down the leg side). Anish played a captains knock with good support from Jaspreet at the other end. Spartan CC were 98/6 at 30 and required 67 runs from the last 15 overs. Required RR was never a problem with EB II bowling so many wides, it was about holding wickets and bringing the game home. Anish turned the game around alongwith Jaspreet and both ran like cougars taking singles, doubles and triples at will. Anish hit some big blows and within the next 5.5 overs, Spartan reached to victory.

EB II were very aggressive and were talking a lot on the field, there were a lot of appeals as well, but Anish silenced EB II with his brutal and well planned assault, a much required captain's knock.

Note: We dropped few catches in the field which could have gone either ways but what was annoying was a pathetic ground fielding by Nandu who could not stop straight ball hit to him. The first two misfields did work like a lucky charm for Jaspreet who took wickets immediately after the misfield :)..

Special thanks to Urmi Bhai who played this game for us as we were short of players.

Thanks to Ankit S, Vinod P and Hasu P who came to the ground to cheer us.

Thanks,

Nandu