Omaha Cricket Association

NCC v/s IBL at Des Moines Saturday Aug 23rd ....

Match started with LT loosing the toss and IBL deciding to field. We had a beautiful start again with Bala firing all guns with Bhaskar giving him able company. We were about 50 in 5 overs when Bala got out. Middle order kept going and we were cruising at 8-9 an over for most part. What hurt us more after this was the casual approach of our well set batsmen, Jatin and AB took their time to settle and then threw away the good start - once more, both are getting into the habit of loving the 20's.

Nirmal was very casual in running and it was actually funny the way he got out running while looking at Bhaskar's end when the throw was at his end. That did not put any brakes on the run rate though as Bhaskar kept the score board clicking. We graudally came from 9 an over to 8 an over and at one point we were about 7 an over, but towards the end there weren't enough batsmen and in the end it looked we will be all out as both JJ and Muthu perished while accelerating the run rate in the last overs.

But 215 in 30 overs is always commendable score. Bowling started and as expected IBL came all guns firing. They lost two wickets rather quickly but then their captain Utpal and Mihir started firing cannons, the middle overs were very crucial and we lost momentum , shoulders dropped and heads hanging down as every over saw 2-3 boundaries and average cruising at about 9-10 an over, even the most destructive and choicest abuses by Chinta Mani Siddhartha - Manish were not able to check the micky mouses.

Just then as usual Damian got his trump card and his Midas touch worked - once more, this time it was Kamakatzi Jr - Mamakatzi ( Senthil ), his offspinners were amazing and he was able to contain the batsmen well and that put some pressure on them. Utpal was first to perish caught brilliantly at Deep Mid wicket by Na(n)Dun,

After that heads were up and we came all guns firing, Bhaskar taking one of the best catches of the season at mid wicket running about 40+ yards and taking catch just inside boundary ropes to get rid of well settled batsman.

Jatin and AB bowled brilliantly and wicket kept tumbling our best was after 24th over. At this point the sun was setting low and we suspected foul play that IBL will play some dirty tricks and call bad light if they lost wickets, and that is exactly what happened, wihtout either batsmen compaining their captain just walked in with utter disregard for umpires on field and litereally forced his batsmen to say it was bad light, we had no option but to repect the game as decision on light is batsman's decision, on the hindsight had they not lost 8 wickets they probably would have gone for 11 runs in 2 overs but the last wicket changed dimensions of the game. The cry baby came out of box and in the end helpless Damian had to settle for a tie/ draw.

It was a sorry end to a fairytale ending that we were scripting after their knights had done a fabulous job, but those are they ways of this game. In the end it was a big morale victory for NCC, we remain on top of the ladder and assured of a home semi-final now. It was stupendous effort and NCC showed what team game is with everyone chipping in with their contributions and efforts, at this point i can say for sure that this trophy is ours to take and we will bring it home.

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As seen from long on to long on .............