Summer has been very hesitant this year and only in the end of April we got to play the first game of this season. Basel Cricket Club very generously accepted our invitation as they were also looking for a warm up game.
It was a perfect day to play cricket. Early on it was a bit clouded but the landscape of clouds presented a beautiful and rare spectacle. Correction: I am not that romantic to see beauty in cloud landscape, it reminded me a phenomenon in neuroscience thats why it was so beautiful and I consider it worthy to put to picture here. As sun climbed up in the sky or actually as the earth moved around the sun the day got warmer and a bit windy.
On such perfect day Vijay won the toss for the FNCC and decided to bat first. BAsel showed signs of rustiness as their strike bowler sent in two wides. But they quickly corrected and it was FNCC who were looking rusted. This time Purav nicked the first legal delivery in the hands of the wicketkeeper. Cricket Season 2012 had just begun in Freiburg...
Pandiyan and Rehan did not let Basel take the advantage and built a good partnership. Pandiyan was in great touch. He was middling every ball and those were powerful shots. Rehan also matched him and as he fell we were out of danger but just yet. Saghir got runout with very little addition to the score. Then came Raghav and changed to match completely. He was a bit circumspect early on but as his eyes set on the ball he and Pandiyan punished every delivery, literally. They were just damn good. Very deservingly both made half centuries. Pandiyan fell in an attempt to play a reverse sweep. It was not needed but it just shows the level of his confidence and it was very good to see him take risk in a safe situation. Later Adnan had a go on the bowlers. Although we did not play our full quota, the target of 210 in 30 over was quite good.
Basel bowler Amit who second time opened his bowling by conceding a six off the first delivery later said that they were happy with their bowling as for the first time they bowled us out on our home pitch. Indeed, they did well just that it was a day of Pandiyan and Raghav. Only thing they could have done better is in terms of saving some extras. They had a very quick and correct fielder who ranout Saghir and who easily saved 20 runs in the cover and point area.
We obviously started our bowling with great confidence. There was a confident appeal on the very first ball just to even up the things (as we lost our first wicket on the first legal delivery). Saghir took a wicket in his first over and then at the end of my first over I also had a wicket (LBW) and both openers were back.
Then started a phase when Basel for the first time looked like set to take the advantage. Just like Raghav another left hander Beau [more on him later] started very cautiously and soon dominated every bowler. He got a good partner in Adeel. At the drinks break they were in a position to take a shot at the match.
Vijay brought in Saghir after the drinks who took Adeel out. Then I came in for one over and Beau who by then had become the prized scalp, fell LBW. Now the match was all but over. Saghir continued and finished with a five wicket haul. Last wicket hung around a bit too much to our taste, but then thats cricket all about. Even when all looks set and certain you still have to finish it. Rehan took that honor. And with some super batting effort of Pandiyan and Raghav and excellent bowling of Saghir FNCC won the match quite comfortably.
I do not want to draw too much from the victory. Basel were short of several of their key player. It was their first match of the season. In fact they bowled us out only goes to show our weakness of not been able to take advantage of a good start. Next time when we play Basel in the second warm-up at their home pitch will bring a whole new challenge. Facebook updates from Basel CC are good indicative of how seriously they are preparing. So it is great that there are new challenges.
One of the best things of the match was Beau (pronounce as 'Bow'). Although he played from the Basel CC this match he is the newest member of FNCC. He batted excellently that too against our match ready bowling attack, meaning he is very very solid batsman and his lefthandedness only adds to the advantage. I am very confident that he will strengthen our batting considerably.
The most negative aspect of our bowling was that they second highest scorer in the Basel CC inning was Mr. Extra. Everyone sent in too many wides. And if our training has to be trusted yesterday they was no real improvement. This is an area where we have to improve a lot.
The knowledge of cricket still remains very sparse in Freiburg. Many visitors to the seepark stopped by and watched the proceeding but then gave up and moved on. This has been the usual. Sunday last was unusual as one indian lady whom we do not know took a lot of effort in trying to explain the game to some of the visitors. Thank you Ms. Anonymous. We need more like you who can educate Freiburg people to appreciate that the mostly brown guys in white clothes are doing something more than just amusing e.g. winning for Freiburg against Basel.
Victories only show weakness of the opponent and not the strength of the winner. And that is why, FNCC should set up their own targets, to reveal their weakness to become better and there is no doubt that they can do better...better than the last season
Good luck nomads.
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| Have you ever seen a cloud pattern like this before. I hadnt. It was a beautiful day to play cricket |
On such perfect day Vijay won the toss for the FNCC and decided to bat first. BAsel showed signs of rustiness as their strike bowler sent in two wides. But they quickly corrected and it was FNCC who were looking rusted. This time Purav nicked the first legal delivery in the hands of the wicketkeeper. Cricket Season 2012 had just begun in Freiburg...
Pandiyan and Rehan did not let Basel take the advantage and built a good partnership. Pandiyan was in great touch. He was middling every ball and those were powerful shots. Rehan also matched him and as he fell we were out of danger but just yet. Saghir got runout with very little addition to the score. Then came Raghav and changed to match completely. He was a bit circumspect early on but as his eyes set on the ball he and Pandiyan punished every delivery, literally. They were just damn good. Very deservingly both made half centuries. Pandiyan fell in an attempt to play a reverse sweep. It was not needed but it just shows the level of his confidence and it was very good to see him take risk in a safe situation. Later Adnan had a go on the bowlers. Although we did not play our full quota, the target of 210 in 30 over was quite good.
Basel bowler Amit who second time opened his bowling by conceding a six off the first delivery later said that they were happy with their bowling as for the first time they bowled us out on our home pitch. Indeed, they did well just that it was a day of Pandiyan and Raghav. Only thing they could have done better is in terms of saving some extras. They had a very quick and correct fielder who ranout Saghir and who easily saved 20 runs in the cover and point area.
We obviously started our bowling with great confidence. There was a confident appeal on the very first ball just to even up the things (as we lost our first wicket on the first legal delivery). Saghir took a wicket in his first over and then at the end of my first over I also had a wicket (LBW) and both openers were back.
Then started a phase when Basel for the first time looked like set to take the advantage. Just like Raghav another left hander Beau [more on him later] started very cautiously and soon dominated every bowler. He got a good partner in Adeel. At the drinks break they were in a position to take a shot at the match.
Vijay brought in Saghir after the drinks who took Adeel out. Then I came in for one over and Beau who by then had become the prized scalp, fell LBW. Now the match was all but over. Saghir continued and finished with a five wicket haul. Last wicket hung around a bit too much to our taste, but then thats cricket all about. Even when all looks set and certain you still have to finish it. Rehan took that honor. And with some super batting effort of Pandiyan and Raghav and excellent bowling of Saghir FNCC won the match quite comfortably.
I do not want to draw too much from the victory. Basel were short of several of their key player. It was their first match of the season. In fact they bowled us out only goes to show our weakness of not been able to take advantage of a good start. Next time when we play Basel in the second warm-up at their home pitch will bring a whole new challenge. Facebook updates from Basel CC are good indicative of how seriously they are preparing. So it is great that there are new challenges.
One of the best things of the match was Beau (pronounce as 'Bow'). Although he played from the Basel CC this match he is the newest member of FNCC. He batted excellently that too against our match ready bowling attack, meaning he is very very solid batsman and his lefthandedness only adds to the advantage. I am very confident that he will strengthen our batting considerably.
The most negative aspect of our bowling was that they second highest scorer in the Basel CC inning was Mr. Extra. Everyone sent in too many wides. And if our training has to be trusted yesterday they was no real improvement. This is an area where we have to improve a lot.
The knowledge of cricket still remains very sparse in Freiburg. Many visitors to the seepark stopped by and watched the proceeding but then gave up and moved on. This has been the usual. Sunday last was unusual as one indian lady whom we do not know took a lot of effort in trying to explain the game to some of the visitors. Thank you Ms. Anonymous. We need more like you who can educate Freiburg people to appreciate that the mostly brown guys in white clothes are doing something more than just amusing e.g. winning for Freiburg against Basel.
Victories only show weakness of the opponent and not the strength of the winner. And that is why, FNCC should set up their own targets, to reveal their weakness to become better and there is no doubt that they can do better...better than the last season
Good luck nomads.
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