After a heartbreaking tie against CCCC and a loss
against HPCC that we really should have won, WGCC was eager to correct
the blip and get back to winning ways. Up against us were PACC, one of
the top teams in CCL and one that we haven't beat since 2010! Our
batting has been our Achilles heel this year. The captain, Amar took it
upon himself to lead from the front and along with the 'much-maligned'
Dipen (haha!) decided to take on the guile and pace of PACC's bowlers.
The outfield was as fast as it has been this year with the grass trimmed
really low. Dipen quickly found his feet and started driving the
bowlers confidently to the cover and straight boundaries. Amar on the
other hand continued nudging and pulling anything short. In no time,
were 90/0 in 17 overs. Easily our best start this year. The PACC
spinners started drying up the runs. Amar was out for a well made
42(55). Amit, who was promoted up the order, had a rare failure. Dipen
and Sarvar continued the rebuilding, before Dipen was caught smartly at
long on. He made 57(49) with 10 sweet boundaries. Damu and Parthav were
out quickly and soon we were 140/6. Sinu and Biv held fort for a while,
but the innings never got the impetus it really needed and we folded for
a below par 181. Most
days, that score would not be enough on a fast outfield against a team
as strong as PACC. But this year, our bowling has been something
special. Biv and Arpit started off really well, mising swing and pace to
deadly effect. Amir was out caught smartly by Amit one handed at gully.
It was Damu who suggested to Amar just a couple of balls before that we
need a gully. It goes to show how each one of us can contribute on the
field by making suggestions and helping out the captain. Muzaffar and
Mansoor were settling down very well and scoring without any risks.
However, the runs were hard to come by. Damu continued his spin web from
last weekend and got Muzaffar caught at long on by Biv. At the 12 over
mark, we were even-stevens. The promoted Mushtaq got out without causing
too much grief. This brought the dangerous Wasim to the field. PACC
still needed about 5 an over with 7 wickets intact. Mansoor was living a
charmed life with 3 dropped chances. At this moment, we needed a stroke
of brilliance from someone and it was the man of the day Dipen who hit
the non-strikers stumps from deep extra cover while Mansoor was trying
to get a third run. This was the break WGGC need and we grabbed it with
both hands. Sagar came back to get the dangerous Usman out caught at
deep cover. And Damu got Waleed lbw first ball. WIth six wickets down,
only Wasim stood between WGCC and a victory. Amar, who was having a day
to forget until then on the field, fired in a fast one from around the
wicket. Wasim slashed hard only to edge it to Arpit at short third, who
gleefully accepted the gift. From then on it was a matter of staying
discplined and not make the same mistakes we made vs CCCC. PACC
continued to fight but did not get anything from our bowlers. In the
end, we restricted them for 171, ten runs short of our score. For
some of us old-timers, this victory is particularly sweet since it
comes after 5 years of painful defeats. It was nice to break the jinx.
The team's pumped up and raring to go all the way. Next up is GCCC at
home. Need not remind anyone what happened last year. We cannot take
them lightly in spite of recent results. It should be a good game that
hopefully would help us go on a winning streak. #Play2Win |
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