Report by Arun D
Brief Scores
Blazer – 197 for 9 in 45 Overs (Tejas – 50 , Jimmy – 39 , Natty – 27)
Seamers – 96 All Out in 27 Overs (Bhavin – 40; Sparshith – 3 Wickets; Arun , Sathy , Ajay – 2 Wickets)
Blazers Innings:
It was the Prestige Championship Knock Out Playoff between Seamers and Blazers played at Ortega. Captain Tejas won the toss and had no hesitation to Bat first. Blazers started with the opening combination of Jimmy and Natty who started off in attacking fashion putting away anything full or short. Jimmy in particular was in ominous touch spanking anything short , he was supported well by Natty who put away the bad balls and ran hard between the wickets. The spinners were brought on after 10 overs and they bowled a very good 5th stump line getting turn and bounce. Both Openers fell in 13th Over after a 70 run opening partnership and Blazers went into the 1st drinks break at 73 for 2 in 15 overs.
The 2nd session of the game belonged to the Seamers whose spinners kept a check on the runs and took crucial wickets. They were aided by good catching in the slips. Anirudh , Sparshith and Arun fell in succession to slip catches and Tejas and Sathy were left to do the rebuilding job. Sathy was unfortunate to have been given out Run Out to a direct hit on running the 4th run. Tejas and Baba were watchful and ensured there were no further wickets lost till drinks. Blazers went into the second break at 125 for 6. In the last session Tejas and lower order showed some tenacity and played cautiously by taking singles and putting away the bad balls. Tejas played a master class innings scoring a 50 and was supported well by Jwal and Ajay. Ajay played a cameo in the end which consisted of a huge six of a fast bowler at long off. Blazers ended the innings with a competitive 197 for 9 at the end of 45 overs.
Seamers Innings: After a sumptuous lunch the teams were ready to resume the 2nd innings. The opening bowlers for Blazers were Arun and Chetan. Arun struck immediately of the first ball the innings getting the Left Handed Opener out caught behind to Baba who took a smart catch diving forward. Seamers batsmen looked in a hurry and had no clue on how to bat at Ortega. Arun again struck in the 7th over getting the other Opener out to well judged catch by Tejas at mid off. Sathy was brought on first change and struck with the first ball he bowled hitting the batsmen dead in front of middle and leg stump. Sathy was on fire with the ball and on the field. He got another batsmen bowled and held on to two sharp catches of Sparshith and Ajay. Seamers went into the first drinks break at 36 for 5.
Second session started with Blazers looking to wrap things up quickly and had brought spin on from both ends, Bhavin was batting beautifully for the Seamers while wickets kept falling at the other end. Sparshith got him out caught at mid on by Anirudh and once he was gone, Sparshith and Chetan ripped through the tail to earn Blazers a comfortable win.
MOM: Tejas
Positives: Good Team Spirit , Excellent catching and Bowlers bowling to a plan
Negatives: Middle order collapse ( Lost 5 wickets in space of 20 runs )
Sunnyvale Cricket Club 