Cricket brings us to places where we will not go otherwise -- even if it is the nice green and picturesuq neighborhood of lake Konstanz. Last Sunday we travelled to a village called Baindt. There were some hiccups in our travel plan. Even though all players were ready to leave Freiburg at 0600hrs (amazing that all were there) but some expected circumstances meant that we left only at 0830 hrs. The 170+Km journey was a very nice as we went through the black forest. We were surprised to see the playing area. Most of the ground and the pitch was set on the rubber surface that is often used for running. The outfield on two sides was natural green, on one side it was the sand pit used for jumping events and the area behind the wicket keeper was essentially a wall. But it is only the game of cricket which because of its amazing flexibility and scalability that we could play without much compromise to the laws of the game and the quality of play. In fact it was a rather tight game.
On Sunday morning we realized that Saghir would not be able to make it to the match. Fayas was already unavailable. We summoned Kami to bring one of his mates and somehow we managed to have an XI. With Saghir missing our batting was seriously depleted. His absence was to affect the bowling as well but to a lesser extent.
FNCC Innings
We were invited to bat first on an expectedly bouncy track. Following the tradition of this season we introduced a new opening partnership -- something nobody ever expected. Usually I bat at no. 11 and if possible later than that. But that day I convinced Rehan to give me a chance. We started off well, duly assisted by the extras. In the third over Rehan became aggressive to unsettle the bowler but he could not maintain the tempo and tossed a catch at mid-off -- it was not his lucky day. Vishv joined me. Bowling also got pumped with that wicket. Vishv showed a great character and played very balanced innings. Together we were watchful against Khan and Rehan and aggressive on others. Vishv got out in the 10 over -- undone by a classic delivery of a left-hand bowler. I soon followed in the 12th over -- mostly undone by my indiscipline which actually makes the no. XI batsman. But I was happy that scored 20+ runs. That time we were cruising along at six an over. It was good but it certainly could have been better.
Adnan took the responsibility and played a very nice innings, great mix of timing and shear power. Actually real power was shown by Bala -- one ball he seemed to just defend and that landed on the cover boundary. Angelo was unfortunate. But the debutant pair of Imtiyaz and Kami had their cameos and we ended up with a decent score of 180 runs.
The bowling was rather inexperienced, those kids were sort of medium pacers, except for Khan and Rehan who bowled beautifully. Both Khan and Rehan were very economical. But Ravensberg tried to make up for their lack of experience in terms of their fielding -- it was very difficult to field in that awkward shaped ground and heat.
Ravensberg Innings
We started of with yet another opening attack. This time Nila opened the attack with me. We both were economical but not very effective in terms of taking wickets. In the second spell we tried to cash in on the effects of our economical spell. Sharat, Kami and Imtiyaz all tied up the runs and in the process took three wickets among them and another one was tun out. With 32 on the board and four wickets down in 10 overs, FNCC were sniffing an early return to home. One of these wickets was an amazing catch by Kami off the bowling of Imtiyaz.
Perhaps we became complacent, or the heat and lack of sleep last night and drinking water in the filed were the reasons, either way Khan who was the main force in the bowling, started to smack the bowling. He was also helped by the slow bowling, which he was able to pick. But he got most of the help from our fielder, we just could not hold any catch for almost 10 overs and dropped more than five catches of Khan alone.
Between 11th and 21 over we took only one more wicket and gave away nearly 80 runs. This was kind of triggered by one over of Sharat in which he conceded 21 runs. Of course we were getting frustrated but in the back of our thinking it was clear that Khan would not last and once that happens we will wind it up in few deliveries. Our frustration was also developing because umpiring was rather poor -- in one instance a thick outside edge to the wicket keeper was not given out.
Thats when Nila brought the breakthrough. Khan was judged LBW. Khan complained that it was bat-pad -- he had an injury to show for that -- but we all know how fragile is our brain in deciding order of events separated by few milliseconds. It could easily have been pad-bat. Then after much noise from the batting side, sense prevailed and Khan left.
After that there was little resistance but nothing substantial. Suddenly we also started to hold catches. Eventually, Ravensberg teams folded 24 runs short of the target with two overs to go.
The after match
FNCC secured a victory they they thought was theirs to begin with. But it is not really that clear. Ravensberg team gave a great fight, especially, it was a great effort from them in batting. But FNCC have no one else but themselves to blame to insert a defeat in the jaws of victory.
A lot to think and ponder. Conditions cannot be blamed. Ground shape or heat as a good team we should be prepared. We showed great resilience in our batting -- Vishv was great. With Kami and Imtiyz (who can bat in the middle order) we have more depth in our batting. It also very nice to see Adnan taking up the responsibility in the middle overs.
In the bowling, Sharath must have learned a much needed lesson. He bowled beautifully except for one over and in the end that could have been the difference in the match. I was below average in my bowling -- I need to work on my shins. But Imtiyaz and Kami bring in more diversity and options in the bowling. If we start to hold the catches I think we can do really well.
But the biggest surprises of the day were (1) that I opened the innings and (2) more than that I scored some runs. It was funny that when this was told to those who know me and were not with us in the ground -- they just could not believe it at all. But this is certainly a false dawn and I should not think much of me as a batsman.
But all in all as Rehan summarised it really well, with our performance on Sunday last, we did not deserve to win. Hopefully, when Ravenberg visit us tomorrow we can show them how good a side we are. With the return on Vijay, Raghu and Saghir we have a much stronger side available tomorrow.
On Sunday morning we realized that Saghir would not be able to make it to the match. Fayas was already unavailable. We summoned Kami to bring one of his mates and somehow we managed to have an XI. With Saghir missing our batting was seriously depleted. His absence was to affect the bowling as well but to a lesser extent.
FNCC Innings
We were invited to bat first on an expectedly bouncy track. Following the tradition of this season we introduced a new opening partnership -- something nobody ever expected. Usually I bat at no. 11 and if possible later than that. But that day I convinced Rehan to give me a chance. We started off well, duly assisted by the extras. In the third over Rehan became aggressive to unsettle the bowler but he could not maintain the tempo and tossed a catch at mid-off -- it was not his lucky day. Vishv joined me. Bowling also got pumped with that wicket. Vishv showed a great character and played very balanced innings. Together we were watchful against Khan and Rehan and aggressive on others. Vishv got out in the 10 over -- undone by a classic delivery of a left-hand bowler. I soon followed in the 12th over -- mostly undone by my indiscipline which actually makes the no. XI batsman. But I was happy that scored 20+ runs. That time we were cruising along at six an over. It was good but it certainly could have been better.
Adnan took the responsibility and played a very nice innings, great mix of timing and shear power. Actually real power was shown by Bala -- one ball he seemed to just defend and that landed on the cover boundary. Angelo was unfortunate. But the debutant pair of Imtiyaz and Kami had their cameos and we ended up with a decent score of 180 runs.
The bowling was rather inexperienced, those kids were sort of medium pacers, except for Khan and Rehan who bowled beautifully. Both Khan and Rehan were very economical. But Ravensberg tried to make up for their lack of experience in terms of their fielding -- it was very difficult to field in that awkward shaped ground and heat.
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| FNCC and Ravensberg teams after the match at Baindt |
Ravensberg Innings
We started of with yet another opening attack. This time Nila opened the attack with me. We both were economical but not very effective in terms of taking wickets. In the second spell we tried to cash in on the effects of our economical spell. Sharat, Kami and Imtiyaz all tied up the runs and in the process took three wickets among them and another one was tun out. With 32 on the board and four wickets down in 10 overs, FNCC were sniffing an early return to home. One of these wickets was an amazing catch by Kami off the bowling of Imtiyaz.
Perhaps we became complacent, or the heat and lack of sleep last night and drinking water in the filed were the reasons, either way Khan who was the main force in the bowling, started to smack the bowling. He was also helped by the slow bowling, which he was able to pick. But he got most of the help from our fielder, we just could not hold any catch for almost 10 overs and dropped more than five catches of Khan alone.
Between 11th and 21 over we took only one more wicket and gave away nearly 80 runs. This was kind of triggered by one over of Sharat in which he conceded 21 runs. Of course we were getting frustrated but in the back of our thinking it was clear that Khan would not last and once that happens we will wind it up in few deliveries. Our frustration was also developing because umpiring was rather poor -- in one instance a thick outside edge to the wicket keeper was not given out.
Thats when Nila brought the breakthrough. Khan was judged LBW. Khan complained that it was bat-pad -- he had an injury to show for that -- but we all know how fragile is our brain in deciding order of events separated by few milliseconds. It could easily have been pad-bat. Then after much noise from the batting side, sense prevailed and Khan left.
After that there was little resistance but nothing substantial. Suddenly we also started to hold catches. Eventually, Ravensberg teams folded 24 runs short of the target with two overs to go.
The after match
FNCC secured a victory they they thought was theirs to begin with. But it is not really that clear. Ravensberg team gave a great fight, especially, it was a great effort from them in batting. But FNCC have no one else but themselves to blame to insert a defeat in the jaws of victory.
A lot to think and ponder. Conditions cannot be blamed. Ground shape or heat as a good team we should be prepared. We showed great resilience in our batting -- Vishv was great. With Kami and Imtiyz (who can bat in the middle order) we have more depth in our batting. It also very nice to see Adnan taking up the responsibility in the middle overs.
In the bowling, Sharath must have learned a much needed lesson. He bowled beautifully except for one over and in the end that could have been the difference in the match. I was below average in my bowling -- I need to work on my shins. But Imtiyaz and Kami bring in more diversity and options in the bowling. If we start to hold the catches I think we can do really well.
But the biggest surprises of the day were (1) that I opened the innings and (2) more than that I scored some runs. It was funny that when this was told to those who know me and were not with us in the ground -- they just could not believe it at all. But this is certainly a false dawn and I should not think much of me as a batsman.
But all in all as Rehan summarised it really well, with our performance on Sunday last, we did not deserve to win. Hopefully, when Ravenberg visit us tomorrow we can show them how good a side we are. With the return on Vijay, Raghu and Saghir we have a much stronger side available tomorrow.
