As we come into the week of the 2009 Chak De Indians Cricket Match we look back fondly on the review of last years match.
South Triumph in SA Epic !
On a beautiful sun drenched day, the Thames Valley University Ground in Ealing was the scene of the inaugural Sharaby Army North v South cricket challenge match and what a pulsating contest it turned out to be !
The two captains met for the toss shortly before the match commenced with South Skipper “ Daddy ”J Patel choosing correctly and not surprisingly, given the look of a under prepared wicket, he asked visiting captain Herbie Jassi to bat first.
Openers Mick Nunwa and Davinder Sagoo duly strode to the crease and battle was about to commence. It was clear from the outset that the North’s game plan was to make sure they saw off the early danger and thus ensure they batted out their full quota of 30 overs. However this policy was scuppered to a degree when Sunny Singh, making the most of pressure put on by Min Duhra’s opening over maiden, got young Davinder to play at one and the ball ballooned straight to J who took the catch easily. The North were 7-1 as No 3 Batsman Raj walked in. The opening bowlers continued to keep things on a very tight rein with Min bowling 3 overs for just one run at one stage and this stranglehold resulted in Raj being dismissed in the 5th over for 6 runs by Jigs Chana and the North were now 15 for 2. Kal Singh now joined Mick at the crease and they set about recovering the situation and Kal after a circumspect start, started to find his form hitting 3 boundaries in quick succession. However, he went for one too many and was well caught by J again at Long On and at this point the North were teetering at 31-3 with 11 overs gone. Deepak Kashyap was the new batsman and after a bit of verbal sparring with Min, he confidently despatched a short ball to the deep mid wicket fence. However disaster struck soon after when he misjudged a slow flighted ball by Raj Popat and was clean bowled. This left North in a perilous position of 37-4 and things got even worse when Vik Gulati, with his very first ball of off spin, got Mick to come down the wicket only for him to miss the flight off the ball, Bill Sidhu then doing the rest behind the wicket nonchantly.
North were now in deep trouble with Harminder Sagoo and Vishal Dutta at the crease….something special was needed and how they delivered. Vish cleverly saw off the express pace of Sunny and then both he and H set about the Souths part timers. Both Batsman played some delightful shots and the run rate was now being accelerated at some pace, with H hitting only boundaries in his innings of 20. Together they took the score beyond the 100 mark and the North were now looking at a very respectful score to set the South later in the day. It was at 121 that H went after a short ball from Kushal Babla but miscued to Avtar Banse. Undeterred Vish continued his marvellous innings and duly Retired Unbeaten at 25 to a tremendous and deserved round of applause by the North team. Gurj Johal and Herbie then came together and Gurj started well hitting a Kush full toss to the fine leg fence. However feeling the effects of a hamstring twinge, he had to call for a runner and so Vish walked back in. Herbie was now beginning to open up and two towering sixes ensued and the lusty blows took North past the 150 mark in the penultimate over, and despite a late flurry of wickets, two to Jigs and one to Vik, the North strode off feeling that they had done as much as they could ( given they were 54-5 at one point ) in setting South a tough run chase.
Following lunch, the South openers Bill and Tarri walked out to face the new ball pair of Bob Singh and Vish. The batsman started well, giving the innings a brisk start, however there was a huge let off when Taari miscued one only for H to drop it, the disappointment was there for all to see. However the North soon hit back, with Bob Singh, clean bowling Bill for 7 and at the other end Vish was bowling a lovely line and length. Min came in and No 3 and the North knew that they had to get him early and this was shown even more so when he clobbered a massive six off a free hit in what was the shot of the day. Together with Tarri now playing confidently at the other end, they began to open up and runs were flowing far too swiftly for the liking of North skipper Herbie. A pivotal moment in the match then occurred, Min nearly holing out to the Long off boundary only for Bob Singh to put down a difficult but catchable chance off the bowling of the unlucky Amar Marwa. Min decided to make the most of his second life and numerous boundaries followed as the South looked set to run away with the game at this point reaching 70 for just one off 13 overs. Tarri and Min were now closing in on their respective 25’s where they had to retire , and the North at this point decided this was their chance to get back in the game. Once both batsman had left to standing ovations from the jubilant South players after playing two lovely knocks, Herbie decided that the pace had to be slowed down and introduced Kal , Balwinder and Gurj into the attack. It was doing the trick as Kush in particular found it difficult to get the ball away…..all three slow right armers were keeping a close rein on things and the required run rate was rapidly increasing. J began to feel he had to take control and attempted to cut one of Gurj’s deliveries only to get a top edge and despite a moment of confusion with Amar, wicket keeper Mick duly snapped up the catch and the North sensed this was their chance. Sandeep Bajaria joined his cousin and its fair to say the Souths innings was stagnating to alarming levels, so much so that only 10 runs were scored in a 5 over spell. Balwinder was now in the middle of a lovely spell and duly picked up both Sandeep and Kushal in quick succession .
The North were now sensing a famous win, although Vik Gulati came in and started to restore normal service for the South hitting two glorious cover drives off Gurj. The brummie though was soon to get sweet revenge in unbelievable circumstances. Vik went after a wide one from Deepak and was sensing another boundary only for Gurj to somehow ( surprising even himself ) pluck it out of thin air to the shear delight of his team mates. Chaos ensued as Gurj set upon a shirt waving celebration that Sourav Ganguly himself would have been proud of . The match was now nip and tuck and set up for a thrilling climax….Jigs and Lal were in the middle and batting sensibly and showing all of their vast experience, hitting loose ones to the fence and taking singles very well but then Balwinder , brought back by Herbie in a last ditch effort, had Jigs plum LBW and umpire Haps Nirwal raised the finger of death. Despite the wicket though, Lal was batting with real confidence and the North were looking at defeat with just 14 needed off 4 overs. Sunny was playing a good supporting role at the other end and together, despite the desperate efforts of the North, they took the South home to a wonderful win . The winning run came via an extra and it was followed by the entire South line up running on to the field, shirts off and being waved in celebration, taking in their moment of triumph. It was a deserved win, following outstanding efforts by Min, Taari and J, who took got a splendid four for plus three catches but let it be said the North more than played their part in what turned out to a classic game of cricket. It was not only the South who had won but the Sharaby Army as a whole too. Roll on 2009’s game.
South Triumph in SA Epic !
On a beautiful sun drenched day, the Thames Valley University Ground in Ealing was the scene of the inaugural Sharaby Army North v South cricket challenge match and what a pulsating contest it turned out to be !
The two captains met for the toss shortly before the match commenced with South Skipper “ Daddy ”J Patel choosing correctly and not surprisingly, given the look of a under prepared wicket, he asked visiting captain Herbie Jassi to bat first.
Openers Mick Nunwa and Davinder Sagoo duly strode to the crease and battle was about to commence. It was clear from the outset that the North’s game plan was to make sure they saw off the early danger and thus ensure they batted out their full quota of 30 overs. However this policy was scuppered to a degree when Sunny Singh, making the most of pressure put on by Min Duhra’s opening over maiden, got young Davinder to play at one and the ball ballooned straight to J who took the catch easily. The North were 7-1 as No 3 Batsman Raj walked in. The opening bowlers continued to keep things on a very tight rein with Min bowling 3 overs for just one run at one stage and this stranglehold resulted in Raj being dismissed in the 5th over for 6 runs by Jigs Chana and the North were now 15 for 2. Kal Singh now joined Mick at the crease and they set about recovering the situation and Kal after a circumspect start, started to find his form hitting 3 boundaries in quick succession. However, he went for one too many and was well caught by J again at Long On and at this point the North were teetering at 31-3 with 11 overs gone. Deepak Kashyap was the new batsman and after a bit of verbal sparring with Min, he confidently despatched a short ball to the deep mid wicket fence. However disaster struck soon after when he misjudged a slow flighted ball by Raj Popat and was clean bowled. This left North in a perilous position of 37-4 and things got even worse when Vik Gulati, with his very first ball of off spin, got Mick to come down the wicket only for him to miss the flight off the ball, Bill Sidhu then doing the rest behind the wicket nonchantly.
North were now in deep trouble with Harminder Sagoo and Vishal Dutta at the crease….something special was needed and how they delivered. Vish cleverly saw off the express pace of Sunny and then both he and H set about the Souths part timers. Both Batsman played some delightful shots and the run rate was now being accelerated at some pace, with H hitting only boundaries in his innings of 20. Together they took the score beyond the 100 mark and the North were now looking at a very respectful score to set the South later in the day. It was at 121 that H went after a short ball from Kushal Babla but miscued to Avtar Banse. Undeterred Vish continued his marvellous innings and duly Retired Unbeaten at 25 to a tremendous and deserved round of applause by the North team. Gurj Johal and Herbie then came together and Gurj started well hitting a Kush full toss to the fine leg fence. However feeling the effects of a hamstring twinge, he had to call for a runner and so Vish walked back in. Herbie was now beginning to open up and two towering sixes ensued and the lusty blows took North past the 150 mark in the penultimate over, and despite a late flurry of wickets, two to Jigs and one to Vik, the North strode off feeling that they had done as much as they could ( given they were 54-5 at one point ) in setting South a tough run chase.
Following lunch, the South openers Bill and Tarri walked out to face the new ball pair of Bob Singh and Vish. The batsman started well, giving the innings a brisk start, however there was a huge let off when Taari miscued one only for H to drop it, the disappointment was there for all to see. However the North soon hit back, with Bob Singh, clean bowling Bill for 7 and at the other end Vish was bowling a lovely line and length. Min came in and No 3 and the North knew that they had to get him early and this was shown even more so when he clobbered a massive six off a free hit in what was the shot of the day. Together with Tarri now playing confidently at the other end, they began to open up and runs were flowing far too swiftly for the liking of North skipper Herbie. A pivotal moment in the match then occurred, Min nearly holing out to the Long off boundary only for Bob Singh to put down a difficult but catchable chance off the bowling of the unlucky Amar Marwa. Min decided to make the most of his second life and numerous boundaries followed as the South looked set to run away with the game at this point reaching 70 for just one off 13 overs. Tarri and Min were now closing in on their respective 25’s where they had to retire , and the North at this point decided this was their chance to get back in the game. Once both batsman had left to standing ovations from the jubilant South players after playing two lovely knocks, Herbie decided that the pace had to be slowed down and introduced Kal , Balwinder and Gurj into the attack. It was doing the trick as Kush in particular found it difficult to get the ball away…..all three slow right armers were keeping a close rein on things and the required run rate was rapidly increasing. J began to feel he had to take control and attempted to cut one of Gurj’s deliveries only to get a top edge and despite a moment of confusion with Amar, wicket keeper Mick duly snapped up the catch and the North sensed this was their chance. Sandeep Bajaria joined his cousin and its fair to say the Souths innings was stagnating to alarming levels, so much so that only 10 runs were scored in a 5 over spell. Balwinder was now in the middle of a lovely spell and duly picked up both Sandeep and Kushal in quick succession .
The North were now sensing a famous win, although Vik Gulati came in and started to restore normal service for the South hitting two glorious cover drives off Gurj. The brummie though was soon to get sweet revenge in unbelievable circumstances. Vik went after a wide one from Deepak and was sensing another boundary only for Gurj to somehow ( surprising even himself ) pluck it out of thin air to the shear delight of his team mates. Chaos ensued as Gurj set upon a shirt waving celebration that Sourav Ganguly himself would have been proud of . The match was now nip and tuck and set up for a thrilling climax….Jigs and Lal were in the middle and batting sensibly and showing all of their vast experience, hitting loose ones to the fence and taking singles very well but then Balwinder , brought back by Herbie in a last ditch effort, had Jigs plum LBW and umpire Haps Nirwal raised the finger of death. Despite the wicket though, Lal was batting with real confidence and the North were looking at defeat with just 14 needed off 4 overs. Sunny was playing a good supporting role at the other end and together, despite the desperate efforts of the North, they took the South home to a wonderful win . The winning run came via an extra and it was followed by the entire South line up running on to the field, shirts off and being waved in celebration, taking in their moment of triumph. It was a deserved win, following outstanding efforts by Min, Taari and J, who took got a splendid four for plus three catches but let it be said the North more than played their part in what turned out to a classic game of cricket. It was not only the South who had won but the Sharaby Army as a whole too. Roll on 2009’s game.
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