A Saga (the report is not enough)


It was the big game of the season, Titans vs. CCC - the history, the competition, and the fight for the #1 position. The conversation/ planning had started on the group chat and everybody was pumped up for the game. The team was on the ground and ready to go. This game did not disappoint and had all the masala one can hope for … is mein dhokha hai, action hai, gaali hai, drama hai, emotion hai, sab kuchh hai.


We batted first and did not start well. Vikram was given out caught behind playing his trademark switch hit on the third ball of the first over, a nick that it seems only the umpire heard (Vikram claims CCC agreed later that it was not out). Scene 1 and the first bat goes flying on the ground. Have not seen Vikram this livid before, he almost had to be carried from the ground. CCC bowled well and the batsmen were struggling to score runs. Hari and Gagan steadied the innings a little but at a slow rate before Hari got out in the 8th over with a score reading 26 (extras contributing 11 out of 26 at this stage). Batsmen came and tried to hit, but it was not the day to score big and we were 34 with 5 wickets after 10 overs. Players came and scored a few runs and got out. Bowlers were not giving anything away and bowling a very tight line. There was a lot of chatter on the field but it was all CCC voices that could be heard. But then we have a sher (Lion) in our team, whose voice can be heard aloud. Someone tickled this lion by getting him run out (that’s his claim). After that Gagan was mad. Love to see that passion (not the anger though !!!) as if someone had stolen his most prized possession. All the mothers and sisters were probably shaken up in their graves, the bat flew again, and for the next 15 minutes, the team was busy pacifying the angry young man. Meanwhile, the game continued and we continued to lose wickets, while slowly adding to the score. Yash hit a few good shots in his typical stand and deliver style, middling the ball well and scoring on both sides of the ground. Vikram, who was the leg umpire and still mad at the umpire for giving him out, thought of taking revenge and gave Raghu caught behind as a leg umpire. He forgot Raghu was in his own team 😊. In the end, we got all out for 52 (Gagan’s being the only player in double figures, scoring 11).


It was a low total to defend but the team was all excited and pumped up. The team went in with the custom huddle, but not before there was “Bharat Milap” to forget the run-out. As they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Raghu started with an almost perfect over, and Pawanesh complemented from the other end. In 5 overs CCC batsmen struggled to score 14 runs and had lost 3 wickets, one to a brilliant direct hit from Yash and Raghu scalping 2 in his 3 overs. Ajinkya and Yash replaced the openers and continued keeping it tight while taking wickets at regular intervals. While all the bowlers bowled exceptionally well today, Yash was on fire. He was totally unplayable and the wicket he took by cleaning up one batsman was an absolute beauty. CCC got to 24/7 in 9 overs. In the meantime, another direct hit where the batsman was in mid-pitch (exaggeration!!!) was not given run out. This woke up our Sher once again who was getting bored at the boundary and he proved to everyone that he does not fight only with his teammates, but can fight with other teams as well, and CCC, of course, is his favorite. Ravi came into the attack and took the baton from others and continued the great bowling performance. While bowlers were doing their job, Hari turned on his ball magnet and was attracting all the catches to him which he took cleanly. Back to the game, the score was 33 for 8 in 12 overs with CCC needing 20 runs in 18 balls with 2 wickets (or 1 as one player was retired hurt and not expected to come back to bat). As they say, it’s not over till it’s over. The first 2 balls of the 13th over went for 8 runs, and the equation was down to 11 needed off 16 balls. Pawanesh kept his cool and got the batsman caught by Raghu (after a little juggle that had everyone’s heart popping out). To the disappointment of a few, the retired hurt batsman came in to bat and managed to score, through risky runs. Ajinkya bowled a great 14th over giving only 3 runs, and it was now 7 needed off the last over. Ravi, bowled 2 dot balls and the pressure forced the batsman to run for anything, and the fielders keeping their cool, got the last man run out. TITANS won!!! It was joy and jumping and celebration on the ground (and on the WhatsApp group where many had chewed off their fingers when no nails were left). What a memorable moment. What a performance. The will and fight to defend a low score, the team effort, the ability to generate sustained pressure, fielders doing everything to support the bowlers, players feeding off the energy of other team members, and most importantly finding a way to finish off the game with a win – TITANS are ready to take on any team. TITANS are on top of the tables. Time to savor the win and enjoy the rest of the weekend.


A few interesting facts:

  1. Both the teams collectively scored less than 100 runs and 20 wickets were taken

  2. Extras were the top scorer for Titans and second highest (1 less than top scorer) for CCC

  3. There was only 1 boundary hit in the entire match