T20 Cup Game 3's vs 4's

Report by Satyajit:

Sunny warm summer evening( well not that warm for Satyajit who turned up wearing 3 layers and a sweater in the kit bag just in case) Game start time - quarter past six. There was an air of fierce rivalry/ grudge game etc. ( not sure why because we are the same club after all), some messages on the 3's WhatsApp group had fingers crossed and almost sarcastic ‘good luck guys, you will need it’ type messages. Banter hopefully.

Some TCC 4 players undertook a prematch batting practice session. TCC3 kicked off a prematch high catches and fielding session which was quickly wrapped up as umpires were ready for the toss. Usual suspects still trickled in to the ground until 5 minutes before the game started. Raghu got told off by the umpire for not being in his whites for the toss in all that. Mo won the toss for TCC4s and elected to bat first. Zain and Kabir opened the batting. Both striking the ball well until Zain was caught by Pankaj off Swaraj for 44. 83 for 1 after 8 overs.

Kabir and Mo then added 40 runs before Kabir was out LBW for 43 off Ved. Eventually Mo hit a brilliant 79 off 44 balls before he was caught by Vijay off Raghu. The run rate remained at roughly around the 10-11 runs per over mark through out the match. First innings ended with the TCC4s scoring 215 after 20 overs. Fielding standards were good overall barring a dropped catch off Zain and 5 overthrows. Pankaj was the pick of the bowling attack and took 2 wickets with Raghu, Swaraj and Ved accounting for one each. Dom bowled well to stem the flow of runs. There was one over which bled 20 runs including 5 wides, which we won’t dwell on too much!!!

TCC4 appeared smug after the first innings given the daunting and possibly unassailable target of 215 they had set for TCC3s. Some taunts were exchanged Etc.

Switchover was quick and batting order was decided amid a lot of hollering in the TCC3 changing room. From what I could gather from the shouting, strategy - wise the aim was a healthy win.

Piyush and Vipul opened the innings for TCC3s. Piyush was out first, off a full toss, almost wide ball off Waseem and Sanchit departed LBW to Waseem almost immediately after.

Vipul was joined by Pankaj thereafter and all hell broke loose. Vipul and Pankaj scored a quick 130 runs between them for the 3 rd wicket, ( Almost like two Hurricanes hitting at the same time) until Vipul (74) holed out to Waseem off Mo with the score on 143. Both hit the ball hard and at will. A few sixes peppered the hockey pitch and some landed on Stockport road. Vipul scoring 50 in 24 balls , Pankaj in 28 balls. 8th and 12th fastest 50s for TCC respectively. Celebrations on the field at Vipul’s wicket were slightly out of proportion and the game looked like it was in the bag for TCC4.

Raghu then traipsed on to the field after Vipul and the misery continued for TCC4s. Raghu smashed a quick 45 before being bowled out by Sajja. This left TCC3s needing about 10 in the last 3 overs. Pankaj and Swaraj then completed the formalities in the 18th over.

Never one to give up( or out of sheer desperation more likely ) , Zain tried to run Swaraj out a la ‘Mankad’, and then retracted his appeal after some booing from the crowds and perhaps a cold stare from the umpire.

Pankaj remained unbeaten on a well compiled, fluent 82 off 43 balls. A hugely significant win for TCC3s with an over and 3 balls to spare. A total of 435 runs scored in 40 overs in total in a match worth of being the final.. Fantastic batting performances from Pankaj, Vipul, Mo and Raghu.

In a vain attempt to steal some glory, Piyush claimed that it was part of the TCC3 plan/ strategy for him to get out quickly and make way for Pankaj… doesn’t quite stack up but we’ll leave that be.

Post match drinks were enjoyed by all, reflections about the match at high decibel levels. Gary’s box of shame was introduced again, but no contributions were made apparently.

TCC3s now in the quarter finals possibly. Opponents and venue for the next game yet to be confirmed.

Thanks