AND AGAIN !!!

The cricket season continues...

On 07/01 -- we were playing against another local team... this team too shares our home ground and is doing pretty good this year... they are in the top 10 teams in the region this year... Again, one of their players had played earlier for us and we knew each other's game pretty well... It was just a matter of playing well on the day...

Well!!! it was a similar situation a few days earlier and we did play very well that day... but this day, we let the game slip... we had them in a precarious position after a good bowling start... then, fatigue took over and we just let them take over things...

While batting, the target was not impossible but we didnt show enough character to make the "not-so-impossible" possible... I feel bad abt it... Just one fella stood there to fight it out... I admire him for the character he showed out there... its not easy...

So, again -- we were at the crossroads... whether to perform or perish... whether to be proud of our game or to be ashamed of the performance on that day... whether to qualify for the playoffs or whether to wait for the next yr...

Luckily, we took the correct turn... Last saturday, we were playing against another team which was performing pretty decently this season... I decided to opt out at the last moment due to some reason... it did'nt go well with the skippy and he made sure to give me an earful...

The team drove more than 100 miles and reached the venue to find a beautiful scenic ground waiting for them... it was one of the best grounds in the area...

we won the toss and elected to bat... openers gave a decent start... one of our players who has been on the wrong side of lady luck this yr had his share of luck today... they dropped 3-4 catches and he went on to make 94 and got out in the last over... other supported him very well... we hit 102 in the last 10 overs... and made our highest score of the season...

they started well chasing but eventually, good fielding, good catching and accurate bowling... and the wheels came off... they tried a couple of comebacks, but eventually, we held our fort and we won comfortably by 63 runs...

good times are back... we have 3 more games in the league phase and we are pretty certain to make it to the playoffs... that said, we have to win atleast 2 of the last 3 games to make it to the playoffs comfortably... if we lose 2 of the 3, then we may be in a difficult position and run rates (etc) may come into play...

next game is on 28th of this month and its against (yes!!!) another local team... we do share some bitter bits of history with this team and its more of pride than points which are at stake here...

Readers, wish us luck!!!