Brilliant captaincy very nearly wins the game for Super Kings (MCC vs. Super Kings) - 17 July 2021, Saturday, Lincoln Park - Part 2

  MCC won by 12 runs

MCC 159/3 in 20 overs (Avinash 70 off 40 balls with 4 boundaries and 4 sixers, Nikhil 33 off 39, Chandra 0/16 in 3 overs, John 0/25 in 3 overs, Aditya 0/32 in 4 overs)

Super Kings 147/7 in 20 overs (Jeff 31 n.0 off 18 balls, Zubair 29 off 20 balls, Shiv 28 off 19 balls, Vikram 21 off 28 balls, Shikar 1/24 in 4 overs, Garuav 1/22 in 4 overs)

https://cricclubs.com/MilwaukeeRegalT20/viewScorecard.do?matchId=414&clubId=110

Chasing 160 at Lincoln is not a difficult task. However, the longer boundary coupled with a stiff breeze makes it a little more difficult today as the options for boundary hitting on one side (bowling from pavilion end)  are limited and really needs good running between the wicket to compensate.  

However, 160 to chase in Lincoln is a set play; score about 70/2 by the tenth over and then the required rate of 9 in the remaining ten overs can be easily accomplished, granted a couple of good overs and taking the game deeper (MSD way) .  At least, that’s what on paper is the manthra. . 

My thought process was that Aditya will have Zubair open with Vicki and then have himself Shiv and Jeffrey follow.  Like I said, 70 in then overs and with such a strong backend, we should be good.

 

I was totally surprised to see Aditya asking me to pad up first with Vicki.   I had requested him to not consider me to open unless absolutely necessary for this game.  In fact was thinking about skipping the game as I felt that some of the other players in the team are not getting their chances because of me.  Anyhow I padded up.  

Although I am opening after many many years, and as much as I appreciate Aditya giving me the opportunity to open in  four games so far, I have not really used the opportunity well.  In two prior games, I had given catching practice to lone fielders in the deep (squarish long on and deep square leg) and had scored only 44 runs in four innings, inclusive of a golden duck.  

 

Vikram, stylish and solid

Vicki, my opening partner,  is one of the newcomer to the team and unfortunately did not get off to a great start to the season a he was  getting out to single digit scores.  In practice, he looks such a compact batsman with solid defense and plays with a lot of bottom hand and packs a punch when he hits.  So, all of us in the team knew that he is just one game away from becoming a solid and consistent performer. 

Thankfully that’s what happened in the previous game against Punjab where he scored an elegant unbeaten 53 while chasing 93 to win.  I was his opening partner in that game as well, playing second fiddle, ensuring that he gets strike as he was playing really well.  I was so happy that a newcomer in the league got to get going with my partnership and was sure that he will do well today as well.

 

Vicki started solidly against Arvind Singh who has lost quite a bit of pace and was not as nippy as he used to be. In fact, during MCC batting while I was outside, we were talking about good old times when he mentioned that he is being hampered a lot with knee pain andis not able to accelerate his run up, which is so vital part of Armory.   

After scoring one run in three balls of a neat clip to mid wicket, I was out next ball, in fact the first ball from left armer, Ankit. The ball was short and wide of the off stump which I tried to hit over the top of the point fielder but ended up hitting straight to Kamal. Yet another catching practice and an extremely tame way for a opening batman to get out.  

We talk about cricket being a one ball game. There are players, who game after game, make it count by hitting tons of runs and then those in the other end of the spectrum who perish tamely and sadly that’s what is going on with me.  I know Aditya counted on a few boundaries from me and that I will score quickly and was very disconsolate for getting out so tamely again  9/1 in 2.1 overs

 

Zubair joined Vicki who played beautifully indeed, including a great upper cut boundary in the first over,  and  within no time  moved onto 21 when he was tragically run out, attempting a non-existent single when he committed too much for the run and  couldn’t turn back.   Seeing how Vicki bats with such assurance, Vicki will be one of the most consistent batman in the league as he has great array of shots and a clear mindset. 46/2 in 7.4 overs.  Not too much off target of 7 RPO by ten overs.

 

Z, Mr. Consistent

By this time, Z was also in his elements and was playing fantastically as well.  Z, ever since joining Super Kings, has been the most consistent batsman and it’s always guaranteed that he will score a minimum of 25 runs.  He is one of the few batsman that I have seen who has shot all around the wicket, picks the length and, more other than not, finds the gap.  Delightful batsman and a great team man, always willing and a captain’s delight.

However, this season, he has become one of the COVID victim in term of fitness and really struggles to keep his stamina.  Although he did his customary two gigantic sixers over mid wicket, one can see that he was finding it difficult to run many singles and still keep his stamina.  

 

Just when Super King was looking pretty, Zubair got out to a lofted shot with no real power, to be caught at long on off a skier.   Only seven runs short of the target of 70 by the tenth over but have lost the crucial wicket of Zubair. 63/3 in 9.5 overs.

 

Now comes the busy end of the run chase and Super Kings were in a good spot with Aditya, Shiv and Jeff batting with Rahul to slog at the end (Rahul cameo was so instrumental for the tie against Panthers a few weeks back.

 

Shiv, stable as ever (28 off19 balls)

The captain (Aditya) and the vice-captain (Shiv) played sensibly by knocking singles and keeping the run rate manageable.  They had a wonderful partnership of 41 runs off 27 balls, which included two fantastic sixers by Shiv over the mid-wicket in the 14^th over bowled by Muhammed.  Unfortunate as it is, just when Super Kings were considering a comfortable victory, Shiv perished to an ungainly, against the wind lofted shot,  to be caught on long on off the bowling off Shikar for 28 runs off 18 balls. 

The teenage sensation was bowling well from the pavilion end and it was always going to be tough to clear the long boundary, considering such stiff breeze.  But again, with Aditya still there and with Jeffrey next to come and needing 56 of 39 balls, nobody can blame Shiv as he had played brilliantly, not only in this game but the entire season despite being demoted from his favorite opening spot. Shows the leadership skills of Shiv to sacrifice his favorite spot  and that’s where the culture of Super Kings, which I fought hard to mold, lives and as the ex-captain gladdens my heart so much. 

 

Absolutely need to talk about the teenage sensation, Shrikar Sudha. I think he must be in the mid teens, probably fifteen or sixteen. But what a wonderful spell of bowling.  Shrikar bowled unchanged between the 8^th and 15^th over and had fantastic bowling analysis of 4 overs for just 24 runs on a day when the asking rate was 8 runs per over and getting the prize wicket of Shiva.  It didn't look as though he is a teenager, playing only his second game. Such maturity and that too such composure against good batsman is very commendable indeed and sky is the limit for such unbridled talent indeed.

Shrikar, teenage sensation, 1/24 in four outstanding
overs of spin bowling 

It was remarkable to see such an youngster, understanding his role to bowl to bowl a tight line and forcing the batsman to play against the stiff breeze.    Shrikar bowled beautifully, tossing the ball up and having the ball dip and slanting towards the leg.  Can't help acknowledging the MCC team (and Shaker bhai) for backing the youngster and my admiration for Shaker bhai went so much higher for continuing to bring in so much of fresh, young talent to the league.  It was interesting to note that Shaker bhai himself was of similar age when he got to bowl in Lincoln in the mid nighties and he was so happy to see history repeating and he being instrumental of writing such a glorious chapter in our league.

 

Apart from Shrikar, Gaurav also bowled brilliantly and in fact gave away only seven runs each in in the crucial two death overs (bowling from the river end where wind was helping leg side shots) and also prizing out captain Aditya in the 16^th over.  His spell of 4 overs for 22 runs with Aditya’s wicket was outstanding indeed and he is really a very special bowler as he is a good understanding of his limitations and bowls to the field, not too flashy but very methodical.

 

Aditya got bowled going for a wild slog and am sure would be lamenting that shot at a crucial time in the game.  With Jeffrey having just joined and since he is capable of monster hits, Aditya would have been thinking about playing second fiddle and taking it deep until that unfortunate split second when he went for the hoick.  Such moments define a game and again it’s hard to fault Aditya as Super Kings needed 45 runs of 25 balls, with asking rate close to 12 (115/5 in 15.4 overs). 

 

Anyhow here we are. 45 needed 25 balls when Rahul came in and could only hit the ball straight to point off the master Shaker, who replaced Shrikar. 

Shaker, brilliant captaincy,
grooming young talent 

Very soon John also perished, run out attempting a non-existent two to keep Jeffrey in strike. Although Jeffrey following his breezy 33 off 13 balls in the previous game with another unbeaten 31 off 18, 160 was a little too much to chase as Super Kings ended up short by 12 runs.

 

Special mention about Arvind Singh who bowled the last over with Super King needing 20.  He bowled the last over well, tucking the batsman with yorkers as well as following the batsman and gave away only eight runs.  Although I have my off and on tiff with him here and there, I really wish Arvind Singh well as he is one of the colorful and very competitive player in the league.

 

In the final analysis, it was such brilliant planning and execution by Aditya and Super Kings today and had the game slipping away only by the last few balls of the match.  As much as the long boundary and the stiff breeze played a big role during their chase, the 21 wides certainly played a big part. 

MCC got to 159 because of two good overs which went for 18 runs each where Avinash pummeled the off side boundary, fully utilizing the breeze.  Super Kings needed similar overs and that didn't materialize today.

Either way, glad to be part of yet another absorbing game of cricket

 

Despite losing , Super Kings can be very proud of a great game against the champion MCC team indeed.

 

Brilliant captain very nearly wins the game for Super Kings (MCC vs. Super Kings) - 17 July 2021, Saturday, Lincoln Park - Part 1

MCC won by 12 runs

MCC 159/3 in 20 overs (Avinash 70 off 40 balls with 4 boundaries and 4 sixers, Nikhil 33 off 39, Chandra 0/16 in 3 overs, John 0/25 in 3 overs, Aditya 0/32 in 4 overs)

Super Kings 147/7 in 20 overs (Jeff 31 n.0 off 18 balls, Zubair 29 off 20 balls, Shiv 28 off 19 balls, Vikram 21 off 28 balls, Shikar 1/24 in 4 overs, Garuav 1/22 in 4 overs)

https://cricclubs.com/MilwaukeeRegalT20/viewScorecard.do?matchId=414&clubId=110

I don't think I have ever been under a captain who has done so much homework for a game and it is a pity that the captain ended up just a little short after an absorbing game against a champion side. But it just shows that the Milwaukee Super Kings is here to stay and win championships, who knows this year itself. 

Coming to the game, probably for the first time Aditya won the toss and decided to bowl first. Frankly speaking, I was expecting to bat first as in a T20 game, especially when you have a good batting line up (not to forget the strong bowling lineup as well although we were missing Arvind Iyengar), chasing a big score will always put the chasing team under pressure especially if they need to chase anything more than 170 even in a  batting paradise like Lincoln.

But Aditya, Super Kings captain,  instantly chose to bowl first and as the game evolved , one can see how much  he has planned the game with minute details and was confidence personified in executing his plans and also with strong belief that his team will  back his plans.

MCC batting (159/3 in 20 overs)

MCC had a decent start with Shafiq and Mahesh.  Shafiq after scoring a run a ball 12 including a six and boundary was well caught by Venkat C off Shailesh who, after a relatively slow start to the season, has picked up steam and is really bowling well, as his hard work in practice sessions and his motivation to the team to work on fitness is showing up and the team really rallies behind someone who is so cheerful and exuberant in his team spirit.   

What can one say about Chandra, who is one of the best new ball bowler I have seen,  as he uses the new ball so effectively by pitching up and also have in-swingers which seem to accelerate after pitching.  He bowed three brilliant overs and gave away only 16 runs.  Still so young and going to be such a force in our league over the years.  In the fag end of my career, it is the opportunity to see such young, vibrant talent that makes me wake up for the game despite the tired and aching body at times. 

Mahesh Mada, whom I thought to be far better striker off the ball (recall one of his fabulous aggressive knock in one of the Regal finals, forgot which year it was) was very sedate and scored 10 off 17 balls before being well caught of Shiva off Rahul. Score was 40/2 in 6.3 overs which was good for the power play overs but not extraordinary by any means as they have lost two wickets as well.

Then there was a very interesting partnership between Nikhil and Avinash who were remarkably quiet and by the 11 overs, MCC was only 66/2 which is exactly 6 RPO which is quite slow for a T20 game.  But, it was only the quietness before the storm as we witnessed from Avinash's flashing blade later. 

John, who came for the 12 overs, bowled one of the most remarkable spell of leg spin bowing I have seen in the league.  I can't recall having seen too many leg spinners in our league, probably Durai who used to play for United. 

Leg spin is such a wonderful facet of the game and frankly any game of cricket, with a wily leg spinner is something so charming indeed.  Am particularly so happy to see John becoming such a wonderful leg spinner in the league as it was only by chance that I got to meet him.  The moment he uttered the word "leg spinner" during that day, I jumped in joy and had no hesitation in romping him into Super Kings in 2019.  

John, brilliant leg spin bowling

Knowing that leg spin in such an art that requires so much of practice, John practices the art even in his sleep (am sure each of my team members will vouch for it).  Infact, he is not only such a hard worker, mastering such a dying and wonderful art of leg spinner, but a fabulous team player and  an all rounder.  

Frankly the game of cricket is lucky to have such players as such players not only emphasize the importance of hard work but also make the game so fabulous by being exponents of such a beautiful facet of cricket, leg spin. 

John bowled three brilliant overs and gave away only 25 runs.  On might argue that 25 off 3 overs is not a great feat.   What is remarkable is that John was bowling against a stiff breeze and in fact the breeze was so strong that anyone who can hit the ball on the leg side could easily smack sixers.  With a batsman like Avinash batting, it is remarkable that he gave away only 25 runs and this was very decisive spell indeed and it was so enthralling to see the tussle between the wily leg spinner and an aggressive batsman. 

Forgot to tell about the settings of the game. Lincoln was so fabulous to play today with temperature hovering around 70, with very strong breeze blowing from one's right to left if one is bowling from the pavilion end.  Shaker bhai kept the boundaries very long, probably 70 plus at the pavilion end. It seemed  further longer as the three of the big trees in front of the pavilion were cut from the previous week.   As one will see from Super Kings batting, this long boundary from the pavilion end and the stiff breeze were so decisive in the ultimate result of this fabulous game where a couple of hits decided the game.

Avinash, brilliant 70 off 40 balls,

Coming to Avinash and to some extent Nikhi, from a score of 66/2 in 11 overs, MCC galloped to 111/2 in 16 overs, implying that they scored 45 in five overs (9 RPO) which included Avinash hitting a sixer and two boundaries in each of Rahul's and Koushik's over.   Since I was not fielding, I was witness to Avinash's boundary hits and they were indeed so fast and furious indeed.  I don't think that I have seen anyone else who hits the ball so hard and flat  as Avinash packs such a punch and even when someone is outside the boundary, one won't stretch out to stop such a fast travelling ball.  Talk about power hitting. It's right up there. Avinash scored 70 runs in 40 balls with four boundaries and four sixers, mostly peppering the straight or cover boundary and each of those hits were very powerful indeed, flat hit thunderbolts. 

Coming to Kousik, it was a brilliant move by Aditya to have him bowl from the pavilion wind.  As an off spinner, bowling with long boundary and with such a strong wind going against leg side shots, Koushik was the perfect bowler. All that was required was to bowl the off spinners on the middle so that the batsman will be tucked in and  can only hit on the leg side.  Of course with Avinash batting, the ball shouldn't be tossed up. All easier to say but Kousik was bowling his only over and that too to a set batsman. It was a great ploy by Aditya to get Avinash out. But Avinash was upto it by waiting for the ball to arrive and hitting those either on the off side or straighter rather than getting crazy to hit on the leg side against the wind. It was brilliant batsmanship as much as it was brilliant captaincy, which unfortunately didn't' get the fruits. Nothing to take away from Kousik though as he is coming off a thump injury and that too in his right thump.  Like a whole hearted trier, Kousik was there for the team. 

Aditya, brilliant captaincy

There was more to come.  Aditya and Zubair bowled the last four overs quite brilliantly indeed. Despite having wickets left in the tank and with the belligerent Avinash still batting with the champion Shaker, MCC scored only 36 runs in the last four overs.  Although one would argue that this is good one, in Lincoln with wickets in hand, team could easily scored 12 runs per over and or even more if we have to add one big over. But that didn't happen, because of the brilliance of these two exceptional death end bowlers as MCC ended with a par score of 159. But on hindsight, because of the long boundaries today (Shaker's smartness), this was like a 180 plus score.

However, Super Kings gave 21 wides, which is unacceptable in any game and if a team needs to beat champions team like MCC, such unforced errors must be minimized and am sure Aditya has his task cut out to iron the bowlers as he saw from the result of this game itself how those wides were decisive. They will also remember the tie game against Panthers where also wides mattered.  Cricket is such a simple game, played as a one ball game, and the team that minimizes unforced errors will well and truly be on top.   Super Kings are such fast learners that they will iron this out soon indeed. 

Coming to the captaincy aspect, have to give full marks to Aditya, for rotating the bowlers so well, having the confidence to have John bowl from the river end against the breeze and containing a champion team to a par score of 159 indeed. 

MCC also played so professionally as they realized the long boundaries and ran really well between the wickets, did not attempt any shot against the wind and accelerated when necessary. That's what experience does. From 66/2 in 11 overs, MCC went onto score 159 losing only one more wicket, which puts it as 10.3 runs in the last nine overs. Smart batsmanship.

So, at the break, match was even and am sure Aditya was very confident of chasing this par score with good batting depth and capable hitters at the end. 

Run feast at Lincoln with centurians from each team (United Vs. Falcons) - July 10, 2021

Falcons beat United by ten wickets with 33 balls to spare.

United 190/7 in 20 overs (Sid 108 off 50 balls with 10 sixers and 4 fours, Javed 35 off 38 balls)

Falcons 196/0 in 14.3 overs (Kabir 140 n.0 in 54 balls with 16 sixers and 7 fours, Muhammad 39 n.0 off 33)

It's a privilege for folks in Milwaukee that we have the Regal T20 cricket league.

But for this league, life in this foreign land, especially in the summer, would be so boring and insipid indeed.

Thanks to this league, we have tons of happiness and a great feeling of being in our native, as we get to play a minimum of 15 weekends through the summer, a welcome break from the rest of the year, which is mostly spend in hibernation with bitter cold and heavy snow at times.

From the days when cricket was played for fun, the league has grown to be super competitive as some of the cricketers are so extraordinarily talented that anything can be possible as it was demonstrated in this game.

How can it be possible that a team which scored 190 runs in 20 overs have it chased down without any wicket loss by the opponent team and that too in a matter of 14.3 overs.

The answer lies in one of the most extraordinary batsman I have ever seen.

UNITED batting :

Coming to the game itself, United scored 190/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant hundred by one of the most admired and friendly cricketer in the league, Sid Siddharth.

In 50 balls, Sid scored 108 runs, inclusive of 10 sixers and 4 boundaries. Although I was not present in the ground, knowing how powerfully he hits, am sure that many of the sixers would have sailed way past the boundary rope (typically about 65 yards or so).

Sid Sinha is one of my favorite cricketers in the league.

In fact the first time I saw him batting was a few years back when I was the then captain of Milwaukee Super Kings. In that particular game, he opened the batting and saw wickets crumpling at the other end. Within no time, they were seven wickets down for less than 50 or so. Although Sid was still batting, he was so restrained (Pujara like) that I thought that if we keep him at one end, we can restrict the opponents to 100 or so.

Siddharth, brilliant 108 with 10 towering sixers

But, he totally shocked me with his batting later and went berserk with the tail enders. He scored an unbeaten 140 odd, which to this day is one of the very best of hundreds I have ever since, not because he scored so much but because of the determination and resolve he had in him even when he saw partners crumbling at the other end. That knock exemplified everything one admires, determination, self belief and fighting for a team cause.

Over the years, I have had many interaction with him off and on and every time I see him, he looks at me as a senior and respects me so much. Compared to him, am so infinitesimally talented, yet he gives that respect for seniority and admires that I formed a team after I was 50 years old.

It is because of such humility in his character that many of us in the league wish him to do well (even when we are opponents) as he is not only an exceptional batsman but also an outstanding fast bowler.

Not only that when he joined for combined practice session recently with my team, watching me bat, he was giving me tips as to how I can improve my feet movement by resting more on my toe rather than my heel.

Here I am, a 55 year old in the last leg of my career, being coached by a super good batsman who is more than two decades younger That shows the passion and respect that Sid has for this great game of cricket.

In the same league, where I have seen a few players questioning why am still playing, here is one who wants to me to do better. My admiration for him went up so much after this, as this illustrates how much he values the game not just for himself but for the game of cricket and the fellow players. Respect is always mutual and Sid certainly earns the respect by being respectful of everyone around.

Coming to the game itself, one of my fellow team member, who was the neutral umpire for this game, was full of praise for the chanceless and fantastic innings by Sid Siddharth.

Sid’s 108 was complemented by a polished 35 by their captain, Javed and a breezy 23 by my good friend Roshan, who is one of the member of the management committee and plays the game with sportsmanship and gentleness which typifies cricket.

Most of the teams scoring 190 batting first would have been pumped up during the break as to chase 190 in 20 overs, although not impossible, requires great batsmen ship skills as not only that that the chasing team has to score at a good clip but also need to ensure that they will not pressured by losing too many wickets at that top. Both are contrasting aspects of the game and can derail the chasing team very easily.

But, am sure that it would not have been the case in the dressing room during the break because of one batsman in the opposition team, Kabir Hussain.

He has scored over 10,000 runs across all leagues in the last five years and has notched up 14 hundreds, 25 75's and 126 fifties at a strike rate of close to 120. Phenomenal statistics indeed.

The way Kabir bats is something so pleasing to the eye as he is not one that muscles the ball but someone who times the ball and places in the gap so precisely. It is this innate ability to pick the length and direction of the ball so quickly that sets him apart from anyone I have seen.

FALCONS (Kabir) batting :

Kabir opened the batting for Falcons and all that required for United (opponent) was to get him out cheaply or at least when he is within 50 as that's the only chance to take this game closer.

Kabir, unbeaten 147 in just 54 balls with 16 sixers!

But Kabir was totally unstoppable and scored, keep your breadth, 147 runs in 54 balls with 16 sixers and seven boundaries (breathtaking 124 of his 147 runs in boundaries).

We are not talking about gully cricket but full fledged T20 league on astro turf with full cricketing gear with reasonably long boundaries.

I was hoping to watch the final moments of what is expected to be a close game as I started my drive to the ground from home (about 40 minutes as we had a game in the afternoon).

When I started from my home, Kabir was batting at around 50 and by the time I reached the ground, the game was already done and dusted five minutes back. Such is the total dominances of this batsman as once he gets going, there is no stopping and I haven't seen any other batsman make such a simple meal of such stiff chases.

Kabir unbeaten 147 was ably supported by the other opener Muhammed who scored in 39 off 33 balls with four sixers as well, which obviously went unnoticed.

But as much as I admire Kabir bhai's batting, I am always upset that the game becomes too one sided when he bats so well. It is nothing against him, but as a cricketer, I want closer games and such extraordinary talent makes it less of a team game and more of one player brilliance.

Either way, glad to see two of my most admired cricketers score a hundred today although I would have wished for a closer game.

Go Regal

Disclaimer: The feelings expressed in this blog are mine and are meant to capture my emotions that day

Link to the scorecard:

https://cricclubs.com/viewScorecard.do?&matchId=409...