A weekend with the Rockers
Saturday morning. I was in deep sleep when Ramanan called me. I know he’d call me. I had kept my alarms, but didn’t know if that ringed! I am going to be a part of Rockers team today, who, were the rivals of us once. Although our team is Southern Scorpions, they call our team “Tsunami Guys”. It’s painful that most of the scorpions left our team but they are happy somewhere out of Pune. It’s hard to build another team, so we almost forgot cricket. Ramanan told me that they’re playing a tournament and are in short of people. I along with Thiru, a fellow scorpion, started towards our very own Vishal Nagar cricket ground. They say you have to start the game on time, or else, the points will be reduced. So, we were there on time when the lazy sun was just above the horizon, we won the toss, elected to Bat first.
There were only two good bowlers on the opposite team and we didn’t know that until they bowled all their 4 overs. It was at the end of 8 overs we were struggling at 40 for the loss of 6 wickets. The two good bowlers bowled out all their allotted overs and picked up 3 each. Our star batsmens – Hari, Fazal, Raaga, Vineet (another scorpion), Thiru and another fellow (I don’t quite remember his name – he came along with Raaga) were out cheaply. To avoid a certain embarrassment, Gaja and Karthikeyan put up a partnership after that and soon we were playing good. The other bowlers were mostly Spin and so, it was easy for us to score runs, but avoided some big shots. I’d say that Karthikeyan played an anchor role while Gaja exploded in the death overs.
There was time when I was supposed to bat after Gaja was out. Well, I’d been a decent batsman once, but after sometime, I lost my focus on batting and focused more on my bowling. My role was just to give the strike to Karthikeyan. I should tell that their bowling was not so good (after the first 8 overs) that even I scored a boundary in the final over of the batting power-plays. In the end we posted a score of 96 for 8 which should still be a good one when playing with the tennis ball. The lazy sun was no more as such and was firing up everyone. I remember a TV commercial for Glucovita or GluconD where the animated sun will use a ‘straw’ to drink up all the energy. I felt that way. Pune was no more a ‘pleasant city’ and suddenly I felt like I was in Chennai.
The chase began and our bowlers did bowl well for about 4 or 5 overs. Karthikeyan picked up wickets where Fazal bowled some nice spells. Things were under control until a new batsman with number 10 on his jersey came to bat. One of the fastest bowlers in our team is Fazal and this number 10 tried a reverse-sweep of Fazal’s pace and got a nasty blow on his face. I was shocked to see the impact from the square-leg, but the big-fella kept his cool and acted as if nothing was so serious. Infact, he did score boundaries off Fazal and most of the other good bowlers using the reverse-sweep. Thiru was the man who was at the slip and when all the reverse-sweeps went past him, he had to go and fetch the ball. In the end, it was all over within 15 overs and they win comfortably, losing only 3 or 4 wickets (we lost count).
Sunday morning. Same deep sleep and call from Ramanan. He had to call me thrice because I missed two of his calls. Today, Thiru was not going to accompany me as he’s going to see the Delhi Dare Devils Vs Pune Warriors IPL match at the D.Y. Patil. The slip position would miss him. We had changes in our team (no, no injuries and stories, people were un-available). Raaga and his Companion, Karthikeyan, and Thiru were out and Ashok (Scorpion), Sujith, Pratosh and another Karthigeyan were in. This Fatty – Pratosh, is a very good batsman. Atleast, I believe so. Our earlier encounters with the Rockers were filled with this Pratosh’s ‘wall’. The opposite team was late to come and so, they had some arguments with the points. We still won the toss and elected to bat first again.
Unlike the other team, where only two bowlers bowled well, this team had decent bowlers. Infact, one of them bowled like Irfan Pathan and everytime when the ball zipped past the outside edge, batsman would consider himself as lucky. With the angle he bowls to the right hander, it was tough for us to play. Our batting was not up to the mark as the person who I thought would not give the batting opportunity to others – the wall, Pratosh failed. Even I had to bat in the final overs and thankfully there were no more miracles of me getting boundaries. Some good batting shown by Sujith, Fazal and we posted the same total of 96 on the board. Bowling looked good with Sujith back in the team so, we infact, felt this was a very good score. I bowled the first over of the second innings and picked a wicket of a left-handed batsman. Things were under-control when again a man with number 10 on the jersey came into bat.
I felt a déjà-vu. The man with number 10 played very differently. As soon as the bowler starts his run-up, he walks outside the crease and stands in a position which is awkward. Normally, a bowler can see the side portion of the batsmen (either left or right). When this fellow walks out of the crease and changes his position, the bowler can se his front position, face facing him, with his bat right between his knees. It’s like an umpire seeing the wicket keeper. He then attempts either a reverse-sweep or a fine-leg flick. Either way, he gets a boundary! He kept getting runs and our best bowlers went for many. After a good first spell of 2 overs, I was also taken away with a six and a four – thirteen in my 3 rd over. We almost lost our hope.
KVM or Karthik Menon is a medium pacer. He was given the ball when number 10 was exploding at one end. As always, the fellow came out of the crease, faced the bowler and was ready for a reverse-sweep or a fine-leg flick. With his pace, he could only connect the ball high in the air, towards gully. Ashok, a fellow scorpion who’s had a terrible record in the field, ran-in and settled under the ball. I should say that I was worried. In the end, it was an anti-climax. He took the catch and claimed himself as Ramji in Chennai 600028! The wicket of number 10 did not help much. Others in the team – played well and they were scored atleast 6 runs per over. It was all over in the 13th over when they hit a boundary off Karthigeyan’s last ball. We lost two in-a-row and eventually at the verge of out-of-tournament.
I don’t know what comes in the next week, or even if I’ll play for the Rockers again. I’d not forget the two number 10s who changed the pace of the game. I’d not forget the catch by Ashok. I’d not forget the nightmares of Thiru, fielding at the slip. And, I’ll not forget the sun, sucking all the energy.
Dedicating this to all my fellow Scorpions. Fondly remembering the great time with them.
There were only two good bowlers on the opposite team and we didn’t know that until they bowled all their 4 overs. It was at the end of 8 overs we were struggling at 40 for the loss of 6 wickets. The two good bowlers bowled out all their allotted overs and picked up 3 each. Our star batsmens – Hari, Fazal, Raaga, Vineet (another scorpion), Thiru and another fellow (I don’t quite remember his name – he came along with Raaga) were out cheaply. To avoid a certain embarrassment, Gaja and Karthikeyan put up a partnership after that and soon we were playing good. The other bowlers were mostly Spin and so, it was easy for us to score runs, but avoided some big shots. I’d say that Karthikeyan played an anchor role while Gaja exploded in the death overs.
There was time when I was supposed to bat after Gaja was out. Well, I’d been a decent batsman once, but after sometime, I lost my focus on batting and focused more on my bowling. My role was just to give the strike to Karthikeyan. I should tell that their bowling was not so good (after the first 8 overs) that even I scored a boundary in the final over of the batting power-plays. In the end we posted a score of 96 for 8 which should still be a good one when playing with the tennis ball. The lazy sun was no more as such and was firing up everyone. I remember a TV commercial for Glucovita or GluconD where the animated sun will use a ‘straw’ to drink up all the energy. I felt that way. Pune was no more a ‘pleasant city’ and suddenly I felt like I was in Chennai.
The chase began and our bowlers did bowl well for about 4 or 5 overs. Karthikeyan picked up wickets where Fazal bowled some nice spells. Things were under control until a new batsman with number 10 on his jersey came to bat. One of the fastest bowlers in our team is Fazal and this number 10 tried a reverse-sweep of Fazal’s pace and got a nasty blow on his face. I was shocked to see the impact from the square-leg, but the big-fella kept his cool and acted as if nothing was so serious. Infact, he did score boundaries off Fazal and most of the other good bowlers using the reverse-sweep. Thiru was the man who was at the slip and when all the reverse-sweeps went past him, he had to go and fetch the ball. In the end, it was all over within 15 overs and they win comfortably, losing only 3 or 4 wickets (we lost count).
Sunday morning. Same deep sleep and call from Ramanan. He had to call me thrice because I missed two of his calls. Today, Thiru was not going to accompany me as he’s going to see the Delhi Dare Devils Vs Pune Warriors IPL match at the D.Y. Patil. The slip position would miss him. We had changes in our team (no, no injuries and stories, people were un-available). Raaga and his Companion, Karthikeyan, and Thiru were out and Ashok (Scorpion), Sujith, Pratosh and another Karthigeyan were in. This Fatty – Pratosh, is a very good batsman. Atleast, I believe so. Our earlier encounters with the Rockers were filled with this Pratosh’s ‘wall’. The opposite team was late to come and so, they had some arguments with the points. We still won the toss and elected to bat first again.
Unlike the other team, where only two bowlers bowled well, this team had decent bowlers. Infact, one of them bowled like Irfan Pathan and everytime when the ball zipped past the outside edge, batsman would consider himself as lucky. With the angle he bowls to the right hander, it was tough for us to play. Our batting was not up to the mark as the person who I thought would not give the batting opportunity to others – the wall, Pratosh failed. Even I had to bat in the final overs and thankfully there were no more miracles of me getting boundaries. Some good batting shown by Sujith, Fazal and we posted the same total of 96 on the board. Bowling looked good with Sujith back in the team so, we infact, felt this was a very good score. I bowled the first over of the second innings and picked a wicket of a left-handed batsman. Things were under-control when again a man with number 10 on the jersey came into bat.
I felt a déjà-vu. The man with number 10 played very differently. As soon as the bowler starts his run-up, he walks outside the crease and stands in a position which is awkward. Normally, a bowler can see the side portion of the batsmen (either left or right). When this fellow walks out of the crease and changes his position, the bowler can se his front position, face facing him, with his bat right between his knees. It’s like an umpire seeing the wicket keeper. He then attempts either a reverse-sweep or a fine-leg flick. Either way, he gets a boundary! He kept getting runs and our best bowlers went for many. After a good first spell of 2 overs, I was also taken away with a six and a four – thirteen in my 3 rd over. We almost lost our hope.
KVM or Karthik Menon is a medium pacer. He was given the ball when number 10 was exploding at one end. As always, the fellow came out of the crease, faced the bowler and was ready for a reverse-sweep or a fine-leg flick. With his pace, he could only connect the ball high in the air, towards gully. Ashok, a fellow scorpion who’s had a terrible record in the field, ran-in and settled under the ball. I should say that I was worried. In the end, it was an anti-climax. He took the catch and claimed himself as Ramji in Chennai 600028! The wicket of number 10 did not help much. Others in the team – played well and they were scored atleast 6 runs per over. It was all over in the 13th over when they hit a boundary off Karthigeyan’s last ball. We lost two in-a-row and eventually at the verge of out-of-tournament.
I don’t know what comes in the next week, or even if I’ll play for the Rockers again. I’d not forget the two number 10s who changed the pace of the game. I’d not forget the catch by Ashok. I’d not forget the nightmares of Thiru, fielding at the slip. And, I’ll not forget the sun, sucking all the energy.
Dedicating this to all my fellow Scorpions. Fondly remembering the great time with them.
