WL – 27.12.14 Action Sports Stadium (ASS)
by Aditya Tallapragada
Our second game of the indoor season was a bit of a mystery. Chiba Sharks entered Kashiwa with last minute replacements and not knowing who their opposition was. But the Sharks love a mystery! A big thanks to Awal who came in as a last minute as a replacement for Scott, who had suffered a serious wardrobe malfunction on the day.
After reaching Kashiwa we came to know that our opposition was South Club, which consists of the staff from Action Sports Stadium. This is their astro turf and they are always a hard team to play. They definitely know how their game and have tasted the success beating the Rising Stars in the previous match.
Our team was once again captained by Aditya, supported by Mairaj, the Jinasena brother’s, Navin and Kavin, Awal, and debutant, Asala who was playing his first match after 8 years. Welcome to the Sharks!
Sharks lost the toss and were asked to field first. Navin opened the bowling, with a double striking in his first over followed by Asala and Kavin. Asala debuted with Sharks with his slow off spinners not troubling the batsmen too much. However South Club managed to score nearly at run a ball 23 in their first 4 overs.
South Club has very experienced indoor players, not getting out many times and scoring off every ball. Finally, some tight bowling from Aditya, Awal and Mairaj restricted the score to 74 which was a relatively easy chase if we scored run at a ball. IF….
Sharks opened the batting with wristy Navin and hard-hitting Awal and they played decently to score 27 of their first 4 overs. Sharks with their noses in front at the first turn.
Our second pair of Mairaj and young Kavin had a similar task to score a run a ball which they were doing perfectly well until the pair lost to back to back wickets reducing the score from 52 in 7 overs to 45 in 8 overs. Sharks by a nose hair! A tight game!
The target was still in sight with still some batting to come. The last pair, Adit and Asala, had a target of 30 in 4 overs. Not easy, but not difficult. They were cruising quite easily until the 11th over where Asala got out twice. Difficult takes the lead. Last over was very crucial asking for 14 runs. A crunching fourth ball six+1 from Adit and a cheeky 3 in the last but one ball made the scores level!!!
We needed 1 run from the last ball, which Adit calmly put away for the closest of wins.
It was a really close match all through, where South Club bounced back every time they were pushed back. The comparative score lines were South Club 23-43-74 to Sharks 27-45-75. However, Sharks had last smile.
Adit was declared MVP for his 26 runs and stingy bowling.
