Ever watch a cricket game on TV where you support for one team, but then
the game is so close that, even when your team wins, you feel sorry for the
other. Close games have no true winners and it is just unfortunate that you
cannot have two winners in a cricket match. Such was the case with the game
that unfolded at the CCG the past weekend. The game was played with much of
the same comraderie that has always been prevalent between the two opposing
teams (C2 and OSU students). To everyone's amusement OSU 2 showed up an
hour late with only ten of their players, for a must win game, missing
their fearless, and fearsome (to the opponents as well as for themselves)
leader. The two exuberant teams took to the field with C2 requested to bat.

Rajan and Azhar took center stage determined to avenge the previous
weekend's loss (against the same team). After a couple of hours though,
Rajan fell to an edge off Anjan to the part time wk in Saurabh. This
brought Nikunj up to the crease to help C2 recover the early loss. On the
other end, the insatiable Azhar started his feast with some early
appetizers, dispatching the make shift opening bowler Jay to the ropes on a
few occasions. Just when C2 seemed to be afloat, Nikunj was adjudged LBW on
a rather questionable call. The humorous part though was that it was his
cousin Kaushal, who did the honor of lifting the finger. Needless to say
that Kaushal was greeted with choice words by Nik on the way back (pun
intended) to the pavilion. This sudden wicket prompted Lokesh (Captain you
know who) to send in Sai with a simple instruction of staying put at the
wicket. Sai did just that, partly to avoid the wrath of his teammates for
being callous time and time again. With Azhar cruising along on one end,
Sai steadied the innings up with his array to strokes keep the score
ticking. Just before the first break, Azhar was caught LBW to Mitesh. This
was a big blow to C2, since Azhar was just looking to chalk up a big
innings. Sudeep had a very short stint at the crease, due to a rather weird
dismissal. With Mitesh on a hat trick, Shiva joined Sai. The duo quickly
shifted switched gears to cruise control for the next ten overs. Running
out of options, the OSU seamer Akhil decided to try his hand with spin. The
trick paid off, with Dominic bowling well on one end and Akhil on the
other, the brakes for C2 were coming on. After a few flamboyant strokes,
Shiva lost sight of the fielder at point who held a simple catch. Lokesh
was next to face the music of the spinners. This brought the second break,
just after which, the infamous crumble of the C2 middle order began. Lokesh
and then Sai fell off very mediocre deliveries in the exact same fashion
skying catches to square leg. Sameer and Sunil did not do much damage
either. All of a sudden, C2 is at 120 for 9 with 10 overs to go. Sundeep
and Naveed, however, did not want to go down without a fight. With utmost
confidence, the duo exhibited an enjoyable innings for the C2 fans. They
added 40 runs for the last wicket to take C2 to a comfortable 158. "Fortune
favors the brave", Sunny and Naveed did justice to this comment

After a sumptuous pizza delivery, both teams with full of it, re-entered
the grasslands of the tundra. Sameer and Sundeep opened the bowling attack
for C2. Although Sameer struggled throughout the day with his line and was
the recipient to "a few" wide calls, his flashes of brilliance were
mesmerizing. It seemed like every over he bowled, he took down an opponent.
Mitesh was first to go, bowled off his legs. Then came Akhil who was quick
to walk back after edging Sameer to Nik behind the wickets. All of a
sudden, C2 looked too mighty for the OSU team. With Sameer breathing fire
on one end, Sundeep did his part in sending a direct message to the future
generations of the OSU captain Jay Shah. Jay lost his wind and a few other
things which shall remain unsaid for a good period of time. After
performing the infamous "count the three marbles", Jay continued his gritty
innings. However, Sameer's appetite for destruction was not about to cease.
He followed his next couple of overs taking Dominic lbw and sent Saurabh's
middle stump to a "point of no return" mission. Searching desperately for
answers, Jay took his team on his shoulders with a very admirable innings
from there on. Hurt, physically and metaphorically, he displayed resilient
character and gained the respect of his opponents. The see-saw battle
starting shifting in favor of Jay, I mean OSU. Of course, the ever generous
C2 team did its part to help by dropping him "a few" times. Anjan was next
to go with Lokesh trapping him LBW. This brought Ravi in, who was
determined to take the fight to C2. He blasted an elegant six of Naveed.
Remember the part of fortune favoring the brave, Naveed sent Ravi's stumps
for a six the very next ball. Gosh, I admire this guy's resolve. With
victory in sight for OSU, they seemed ready for a final push. With a few
resigned shoulders on the field Captain Marvel once again screamed
"Shazaam", getting the price wicket of Jay (finally). That pretty much did
it for the OSU fighters. Naveed and Azhar cleaned up the act after that.
Jay was adjudged the Man of the match for his excellent innings.

Although C2 won, their performance was not up to the mark. With the onset
of the play off C2 needs to pull up their socks to fine tune some aspects
of their game. Although, there were negatives in the past game, C2 needs to
pick up the positives and just move on with confidence and pride. With four
more games to the champagne, C2 will figure out their inadequacies. After
all, what's life without a little drama and a few ups & downs.

"Imagine....I'm a dreamer"- John Lennon (and Sundeep Bhatia?)