Final day of the Gents Winter Cricket League
27th March 2011
Prague, Czech Republic
"The moment of truth comes by...
Riches fade away...
one who will stroke the hardest...
will take away all the glory...
for himself.....for the team..."
The day of reckoning had truly come. With a win-loss record of 6-1, Joshiley Dragons had stormed into the semi-final of the winter cricket league gents organised by Czech Cricket Union. We all were waiting for this one moment, to prove to the world, that yes, we can play, and still play, and play to win..and win to play.This was the day, when there would emerge, the only winner of the league, and Joshiley Dragons were surely in the hunt.
SEMIFINAL AGAINST PCC GENTS
The first hurdle, towards the elusive trophy, and a selection dilemma for the captain to handle. Winter league indoor format is supposed to have 6 players, and we had 7, with Mayur turning up quite surprisinlgy at time, and proving a real headache with his decent performance in the last league match. The rule allows for one player to bat, and other to bowl, and gracioulsy, Kurian made way for Mayur to bat, and he would bowl later in the innings. Rest of the team comprised of the tried and tested combo of Prabu, Vaibhav, Mahesh, Pravin and led by Dragons captain Satya.
Dragons won the toss and decided to bat. Prabu & Vaibhav started cautiously, and played according to plan, making 40 runs in first 5 overs. A good start to begin with, better was soon to come, in form of Mahesh & Pravin, hitting a hefty 57 runs, and finished by Satya & Mayur with 38 runs.135 was a good enough total to defend, considering we definitely had a measure of the game of PCC.
Up to mark fielding, and a tight bowling meant, PCC was not given any inch to move in. Dragons held on to every catch, made every run out possible, bowled a superb line and length, resulting in finishing PCC and knocking them out from the league. They were bundled out for 57, giving dragons victory by a handsome 88 run margin.
Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, 2nd FAC Medics beat English college, and Dragons were up to a familiar opposition, the only team they had lost earlier in the league.
"We all sat there..
we prayed for the best...
we toughened our game...
we played to our best..
perhaps it was one of those days...
perhaps..it wasnt one of our days"
Finals against 2nd FAC MEDICS
2nd FAC Medics were unbeaten in the league so far, and our last encounter with them was sour. We had given them a good fight, but still lost by a healthy margin. We targeted to avenge the defeat, but sadly, it was not one of those days, when everything you touched would have turned to gold.
Openers again started well, but soon fizzed out. Vaibhav & Prabu putting 28 run in the first 5 overs. That meant, Pravin & Mahesh had to put some extra effort, and they had really done well so far in the tournament to give all the comforts to the last pair, putting sizeable partnerships. But at the last hurdle, middle order crumbled, and with utter disdain, painful agony, making 6 runs, putting the last pair of Satya & Mayur under tremendous pressure, who also wilted away. Dragons could put up a score of 42 runs in 15 overs, and that ended any chance of a healthy and competitive final.
There is always some light at the end of the tunnel, and Dragons went on with spirited effort, to find the same in their bowling effort. Fielding was tightened, close runouts and sharp catches were effected, which meant Medics hadn't really run away with the game till the 10th over, by when they had scored around 65 runs. The match was effectively over, when we lost a bowler with Vaibhav unable to bowl his quota of 3 overs with an injury he had sustained in the semi-final game against PCC.
2nd FAC MEDICS were dserving champions, but Joshiley Dragons, made themselves proud with a wonderful display of cricket on the final day, and overall during the league. Hopefully, the trend continues, and Infy team continues to put up a team in the winter league tournaments on years to come.
Special mention to all the players who played the game so far. They all contributed in some way or the other
PRESENTATION
2nd FAC MEDICS were awarded the winners trophy, but Czech Cricket Union did recognize the effort of Joshiley Dragons towards a succesful Winter league tournament. Some of the players were offered playing spots in the prestigious summer league of the tournament starting mid april.The team was awarded with a 'PLAYBOY' magazine, citing that Dragons had all the JOSH, but lost mainly due to lack of FEMALE support, which MEDICS had in ample, and visibly looked so too. That certainly did bring a smile to crestfallen faces of the Dragons, and at the end, each of the players made sure, they carried with them, a page of his choice, from the magazine.
The day was made more special, as we had some special invitees watching the final matches, noticeable amongst those, Kelwin, who got injured playing in the league stage; Jan Pirko, EOD-BOD specialist of RBC bank, and our very own Pricipal Consultant Murali Mahalingam, who cheered the team throughout the final day.
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| Joshiley Dragons-Pravin, Murali, Mahesh, Mayur, Vaibhav, Satya, Prabu |
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"A rose must wilt,
The sun must set...
Every good thing...
Must come to an end..."
Here's wishing the real cricketers of the Indian cricket team all the best to win the finals against Sri Lanka on 2nd April 2011.
Signing off,
One last time,
Satya
Captain
Joshiley Dragons
Jan-Mar 2011
