CCC2 go down to CSU Vikings

Mike Taylor

Thanks to an overnight downpour, the scheduled game between Cleveland 2 and the Vikings was shifted to the Lee Road Oval in Maple Heights. What greeted us there was not a great deal better than the lake on Curtis Wright Boulevard, but faced with the prospect of trying to make up a third game in an already crowded season, we decided to go on with the game.

Unfortunately Rajan lost the toss and the Vikings sent us out to swim.... I mean field!!! Despite trying to make the best of a bad situation by treating the bowlers run up with dirt and sand, the shifting surface under the bowlers' feet wreaked havoc with the quicker bowlers thus making the task of bowling a consistent line a most difficult task. Such was the bowlers' predicament in the early stages Rajan tried four different bowlers in the first four overs!! As bad as
the bowlers' end was, the keeper's end was worse. Sudeep performed admirably reaching accross for errant deliveries whilst being surrounded by standing water. To the Vikings credit they took advantage of the inaccurate bowling, effectively setting about building a big score for their side.

However, Ravi's innings was cut short thanks to the safe hands of Murali at long on. It was Murali, who was not finding the conditions as difficult as our other bowlers, who dismissed the other opener Harsh, to a sharp catch by Michael at short cover. This dismissal bought Anand to the wicket. After what was a reasonable dig of 22 in his previous innings against Cleveland 1 he quickly took the responsibility of being the chief run scorer as Ramakrishna played the sheet anchor role. During this time our bowlers continued to struggle with the conditions in a game that was being officiated by an umpire who was allowing absolutely no leeway on innacurate bowling. At break the Vikings were ideally
placed at 2/98 off 15 overs (the game was reduced to 30 overs per side).

After the break Anand went up a notch passing fifty. He seemed set to push for three figures before Baqar who toiled hard, trapped him in front, then dismissed Ramakrishna caught in the deep thanks to a great captains catch by Rajan (complete with the eight yard slide in the mud and water). Rajan's decision to reintroduce Kiran yeilded dividends as
he dismissed Raghu, Satya (caught brillianty by Sameer) and Vikram. A fine effort considering the already mentioned run up was hardly ideal, yet noticably improving. In what was either a shrewd bit of captaincy from Rajan or the result of sheer desperation, he threw the ball to Michael. In what may have been a surprise to many, as I can assure you
it was to Michael, he removed Pavan and Kannan to see the innings closed at a well compled but getable 190. Anand scored 57 but was not top scorer. That honor went to the extras total that topped out at 60. As for our bowlers, Kiran took three wickets, Baqar and Michael two each Rajan one and Murali who adapted better to the conditions better than any of the Cleveland bowlers, took one.

Our openers Rajan and Lokesh was initially steady but slowly built up. Lokesh who nearly took the hand off the gully fieldsman, who somehow got his hand in the way of a fearful cut shot, was chalking up the singles. Whilst at the other end Rajan began to open his shoulders on a couple. Other than the dropped catch in the gully and Lokesh nearly committing the forbidden sin of running out the captain, they appeared fairly safe. In fact the first wicket partnership was 47 before Lokesh was caught and bowled off the bowling of Ramakrisha.

Sudeep made his intentions clear early on charging the wicket a couple of times, against an attack that could now charge in at full pace on a hardened run up. Both he and Rajan lasted until break when the score was
70 for the loss of only one wicket. What transpired afterwards has already been discussed at great length amongst the members of the Cleveland Cricket Club #2 side. Either way it was not overly pretty. Both Sudeep and Rajan were dismissed early as was Lenin trying to go for and ambitious single. Michael was joined by Sameer and it was this
partnership that much rested upon. However, Michaels soft dismissal to long off did not help things as the Vikings effectively used their variation in attack by introducing slow bowlers into the mix to great effect as the required run rate crept from 9 to 10 to 11 runs per over in short order. Certainly not unobtainable on a small ground, but the fact that the wickets kept falling was making the task impossible.

Unfortunately Cleveland 2 was unable to forge together a strong partnership through the middle overs that set up the Vikings so well. Unfortunately both Gourav and Sameer fell as soon as they hit double figures as despair began to set it. Sai and Murali showed some resolve putting together 19 runs for the last wicket, but by that stage the game
was gone and the run making efforts should not have been left to either one of them.

Cleveland was dismissed for 147, 43 runs short with just under two overs remaining. As mentioned earlier a lot has been said about this defeat and some soul searching has taken place. However one thing is to be realised, we are only 0 and 1 the season has barely started and this loss can only be a disaster if we do not learn from it.

We are a better side than what we displayed out on the arena on Saturday. Sure there are areas for improvement but with regular attendance, and performance, at training, combined with being together on the field for a greater amount of time this side can and will do some special things on the field this year.

Whist our shortcomings may seem obvious it should not take away from the Vikings' performance. As a team they stuck to the task and maintained a level of intensity that lasted throughout the near 60 overs of the game. They were the better side, they deserved to win and we wish them the best of luck for the remainder of games they are to play this year. As for us we have a road trip to Columbus, something we should be all looking forward to and there is no reason why we cannot perform well against some quality opposition. BRING EM ON!!!!