By Kris Bayne
Our opponent for the Indoor Cricket Grand Final was not decided at the end of our QF and we had the opportunity to see the finals stages of the other Semi Final – the young guns of IISJ led by our own StatNav VS the experience of Bangalore Royals. The IISJ boys had had a rough seasons but came through wonderfully in the finals. Bangalore, on the other hand, had dominated the comp, winning all games. The only one they struggled with was IISJ, who were unlucky to lose after their innings was cut short. In the semi IISJ were again giving BR a run for their money and it was only some panicky fielding that eventually denied IISJ a berth in the GF. It was their game to lose and sadly, once again, they promptly did so.
Chiba Sharks VS Bangalore Royals Grand Final! The team for the Final was Dave L (c), Richard, Anton, Anshul, Vicky and Nick.
Bowling (allegedly)
To be blunt, this was an effort that we will look back on and quick avert our eyes. It was pretty horrible though there were some good individual efforts. Our bowling was generally very nervous and we coughed up too many wides. The BR, all seasoned cricketers, were a hard enough prospect without giving up loose balls and freebies. Of the lot, Nick got some good swing going throughout and was always difficult, other bowlers had some little victories on some balls but generally the score ticked over far too fast. Our fielding also left something to be desired – a lot really – and we will have to do some homework on fielding at the back nets. We only picked up two wickets (Nick a bowled, and one run out) as BR just motored along obscenely fast. They took us for 113 off their 12 overs. Ouch.
With such a big target to get against a seasoned opponent we would have to play out of our skins. Sadly we kept our skins on and maybe missed some internals organs…
Batting (arguably)
Where to start?
Maybe I shouldn’t.
Okay, I won’t. Sharks made it to 37 off 12 overs. Game over. Bye.
………………..
Oh, okay… Anton says I have to… Look, at my count we lost 11 wickets, but it could have been more. (My eyeballs had dried up by the end and my hand refused to witness the carnage.) And they were spread fairly evenly over all three batting pairs. Basically we had lost the game by the end of the 4th over which saw the score at 14. But seeing as we only got to 37 in the whole innings we should not lay blame on anyone. The BR bowling to a man was good and accurate. The fielding sharp and organised, and they held both their catches and their nerve, and rode their luck. We HAD to throw everything at BR right from the start, which really ended up us throwing caution to the wind, throwing away wickets and in some cases throwing very regrettable wobblies. Runouts, stumpings, bowled, catches, catches WITH runouts – you name it, we got it. There was not much joy, put it that way. We were flogged by a vastly better side on the night and have learned something from it. That is, we don’t like it.
BUT as this IS cricket, the game ended with handshakes all round and a very deserving, HUGE trophy going to the Bangalore Royals.
We want that next year.
