Match Report: Spirits Vs. Kemcho 24 July 2011

Dear All,

It was a lovely day for playing cricket, overcast sky offered much sought after shade. Last of the Spirits team members ambled by around 1:15 pm or so - as usual. Here is how it all happened on the day....

• Skipper Laksh was duped by Chetan into a re-toss, which was promptly lost by Spirits in continuation of tradition and was not-so-promptly put into field (Chetan consulted some astrologers, team members, bystanders, groundsmen and the fusbal teams for 20 minutes before deciding to put us into field).
• In a not-so-mild deviation from tradition though, the skipper decided to open the bowling.... ably supported by Greame
• Excellent bowling by Greame who drew the first blood (caught by Laksh) through a mix of short balls and good length balls. He looked DANGEROUS!  Went on to take 3 wickets for 17 in his spell of 4 overs - excellent spell.
• Skipper, on the other end, bowled an equally good spell and trapped the danger gujju man (Amit) lbw and clean bowled another one. In between, he also managed to hold on to two catches (or was it three?). 4 overs 2 wickets for 18! Well Done!
• Ranga and Ravi were brought into attack next, both claiming a gujju scalp each. Ranga extracted the Spirit's revenge of re-toss by removing Chetan for a golden duck! At this stage Kemcho was reeling at 42 for 6 wickets!
• Akash and Sumit were the next change - Akash claimed one scalp too.
• GRAND ENTRY by Andy: how he lured those unsuspecting gujjus with his dollys and pies.... went on to create a hat-trick chance which was very much possible had Sandeep not decided to move field on that crucial moment ;-). Andy also proved to be one of the most dedicated and willing fielders - diving on a couple of occasions to stop sure twos and fours! Excellent stuff Andy.
• Satish bowled a couple of economical overs too.
• Kemcho ended up scoring 155 in 26 overs.
• Kalpesh and Gaurav went in with a happy frame of mind, however something pissed off Gaurav who bludgeoned the opposition bowlers for a quickfire 37 (including a MASSIVE six to their ace bowler). Kalpesh on the other hand was too keen to get back to his beers and returned after handing a catch to the bowler for 2 runs.
• Sandeep went in next and how he ran! And how he made Gaurav run! A quick 36 from him and back to pavillion for some well deserved rest.
• Sumit went in next, traumatized the bowlers, himself and the spectators with his forward defense. Glen the umpire decided enough his enough and promptly sent him back to pavilion at the first lbw shout from Kemcho camp!
• In the meantime, Akash made a cameo appearance... went out for a golden duck trying to hit a six but finding a man on the rope instead
• Ranga and Laksh were in no mood to play cat and mouse and decided to finish off the match... Laksh played a captain's inning of 30 not out, Ranga batted beautifully for 26... Spirits reached the target in 22 over. A THUMPING VICTORY.
• Beers came out promptly, fines were collected, more beers came out.... and I don't know what happened next...

Man of the match: Laksh for excellent bowling, catching and batting

Highlights of the match: Gaurav and Sandeep for stellar batting performance, Andy's hat-trick (almost) and dives, Greame's fiery spell and fielding, Ranga's composure.... the list goes on.

Wooden spoon: Chetan for duping our captain and getting out for a duck! :-)