Reddy's Corporate Cricket Tournament - 2008

Cybernet SlashSupport defeated Sutherland Global Services by two wickets in the final of the Reddy’s Corporate cricket tournament.

Natz, captain of CSS had everything set in his mind before even the team started its trip to the ground. He pretty much wanted everything to happen the same as it happened a week back on the semi-final day and replicate the events.
So the first challenge was the toss and he had sent Arvind (his lucky charm) for the toss. Arvind came back winning the toss. There was no thinking on the plan, CSS put Sutherland into bat and set a target to chase.

The team composition, this was again a no-brainer, though Natz had a couple of options this time. Natz called for a quick team gathering and announced "The same eleven is playing today, no change".

The three seniors in the team working with the umpire to select the ball to bowl with.

Toss is won and the ball is selected and the team is ready to go. One last bit that needs to be done. The team briefing by the captain on what is his plans and expectations on the field. The instructions again was pretty much a repeat of the semi-finals. Natz says "Its clear and simple, there will be one voice heard on the field and that will be mine. You all know your roles and do it. No over throws, no catch drops and mis-fields. We have 110 minutes and lets do it. Put your *beep* hands and lets go for it".

That was it. The team took the field and started their work as planned, should I say "as they did a week back" :)

Vicky started the bowling from southern end. As it happened a week back went for a few in the first over with the batman pre-determined to go for the shots, walked down and hit a few to the fence. Other end, Vishy started and then the things started to change from the week back. It wasnt a maiden :)

Both the openers from Sutherland were very comfortable in making runs at decent rate. Natz tried Prassanna and changed ends for Vishy. But no signs of wicket. Brought on Satish who bowled brilliantly and put the breaks on the scoring rate. On the other end Natz brought his lucky charm and it works. Arvind managed to take the wicket of Venkatakrishnan with the help of a great catch at short extra-covers by Satish.

Shankar from sutherland continued sending a leather to the fence pretty frequently and scored a very well made hundred, while there were a couple of wickets falling on the other end. Sutherland finished with a total of 210/5 in 25 overs.

Then came again the plan, repeat of semi-finals. Natz sent Kiran and Vicky to open the batting. Kiran started off his usual style knocking the ball and walking for a run. Vicky pretty much started the same way as he did in the semis, and could do that for almost the same time as in semis. During his short stay did managed to send the ball to the fence a couple of times. This gave chance to the inform batsman, Prassanna and he started from where he left off in the semis. It was pleasure to watch him hit with ease. Kiran fell LBW for a good ball and this time there was no inner edge. Vishy joined prassanna, and started off with 2 hits to the fence. There was a drop catch for vishy at point and followed by a caught behind appeal. This made vishy to realise his role and decided to give strike to "Prachu" (Prassanna's nick from his friends at Sutherland). Things were going smooth with runs coming at about 8/9 an over from prassanna's bat. Vishy tried to ease the pressure on prassanna and hit one onto long-on but failed to clear.

In came the captain and started off with a six over mid-wicket. Natz hit a few and fell cheap for a good catch. Which gave a chance for Veera to work with prassanna. Veera hit a few great shots, the one I specifically enjoyed was the straight six. The CSS dug-out was tensed and Natz had everyone nailed to whereever they were. The equation was almost run a ball and prassana mis-hit one to be caught. He made 87. The CSS dug-out was very tensed at this point without realising the fact that the "lucky charm" is the next batsman to go in. CSS needed 8 runs in the last over and what else can you expect when you have the lucky charm playing for you. 2 runs from the first ball, and six to complete the match. Arvind completed the match and the "revenge" he was waiting for over 2 and half years.

Well with many things happening the same as it did in the semi's, the result also had to be the same :)

Prassana was declared the man of the final for his 87 from the bat and 2 wickets.

Well played CSS, you deserve this one.

Congratulations!!!!

Team: Natz, Vishy, Seshan, Karthik, Arvind, Veera, Prassanna, Kiran, Vicky, Satish, Balaji, Paul, Hari, Dinesh.

Supported by: Sooriya, Jai, Mitran, VKB, Satish.

For complete scorecard and stats for this match click here