Maharaja’s improved their chances of a semi-final berth with a nail bitter win against Nemesis. One of the closest battles in Maharaja’s history. It was a perfect weather to play cricket and when Maharaja’s are charged up there is no stopping. With just 3 games away from the final, everyone knew the importance of the game especially when we were missing some of the key players like Abhisek, Vikas, Manish and Raj. The win was largely set up by the bowlers, who did extremely well to clean them up for 69 by the 19th over in an open ground.
Nemesis won the toss and elected to bat. We got the first wicket in the 2nd over with Buland taking a very good catch of his own bowling with 7 on the board. They had a steady partnership of 30 for the 2nd wicket before Amit was brought back in 9th over to get the wicket. It was a right and left hand combination which really made it difficult for our bowlers. After 10 over’s score, read 41/2, they were in a commanding position. However, when we are pushed against the wall, that that brings the best in us.
Bipin was is some different mood today to prove a point that he can keep wickets and he did a tremendous job by taking 4 catches and 2 run outs. In 11th over they tried to scamper for a single but Bipin showed some agility ……YA BIPIN showed some agility …….(why are you guys so surprised????)……and effected a run out. Jokes apart......... it was a very crucial wicket as the batsman was well settled and we didn’t have to worry about left-right hand combination. In the same over he took a catch of Vijay’s bowling and suddenly from 41/2 they were 45/4. Aizaz Bhai bowled a very tight 12th over and we started to tighten the screw.
From 14th over onwards we got a wicket every over with Vijay and Buland leading the wickets column with 3 wickets a piece. Amit was very economical conceding 7 runs of his 4 overs.
It was our batting which has been a concerned area. It was no different today as we lost our first 3 wickets with score reading 10. Sandeep was caught in the very first over followed by Niloy, who played a cross batted shot and found his stump shattered. Niloy showed a lot of faith in Milind but he was not upto the mark as he had no application while playing the shot, he got out too. He has the class but he is not using it.
Rajesh and Buland had a 37 runs partnership with Buland being the aggressor. Buland seemed in a hurry, smacking 22 off 34 balls with a massive six over mid wicket.
After 10 over’s the score was 41/3.
We lost the momentum in the next 5 overs as the score read 52/5. Atul was again batting tremendously as he scored 15 of 22 with a beautiful straight drive for four. For me, that was the shot of the match. Vijay couldn’t show his power today but he is a class player. Bipin was sent at the fall of Vijay’s wicket and he played freely to score 6 of 10 deliveries.
We needed 16 of the last four when Atul played a straight drive for four which gave us 6 runs in that over and we needed 9 of last 3.
Bipin and Atul were quick between the wickets and they scored 5 of the next 9 deliveries. At the fall of Bipin’s wicket Amit walked in, with 4 required of last 9 balls and we had the match in our hand but this is Maharaja’s for you. Atul played a good square cut for 2 of the last delivery of 19th over and we were left with 2 more required of 6.
Amit took a single of the third delivery of 20th over and we needed 1 of 3 balls. The next 3 deliveries were dot and the match was a tie.
It was a super over through which the result had to be decided. I was given the responsibility from our side and I conceded 9 runs which was bad on my part.
We decided Vijay, Niloy and Amit will be batters from our side with Vijay and Niloy starting the proceeding.
The first ball bowled was a wide and the next ball Vijay played a thumping straight drive for one towards long off. Score read 1 ball 2 runs next ball was a dot ball and the third delivery was played towards square by Niloy and they were scampering for 2 but Niloy was caught short of the crease and the score read 3 of 3.
Amit came in and the first ball he faced was a perfect Yorker that resulted in a dot ball. We needed 7 of 2 deliveries……… the next ball Amit faced was put out of the fence with sheer power and the next ball took the outer edge over keepers head for four and we won the game in a dramatic fashion.
It was a very good team performance with Buland leading the way. Amit was also in good touch.
Guys lets make it this time as we just have two hurdles left. It would be great if everyone can make it for next two games.
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