Sunday September 5th, 2010 13:33 GMT
Seniors
Colts
Coaches & Officials & Officials

ALI, MARSHY AND VASU SET UP AN EMPHATIC VICTORY FOR THE KNIGHTS
It was very unusual to be playing a league game on a Sunday. Not that it was first time ever but it felt different.
Bright warm weather over the last week meant a dry, flat pitch and that’s what we got. We won the toss and decided to bat first. I opened with
In walked Marshy and started off with confidence he had gained from his previous ton, in last week’s 20/20 game. Marshy had showed the glimpses of returning to ‘form’ in previous two games but today he looked like the “vintage Marshy”. Like he did so many times in the last season, he raced along to 55 in no time and helped us to set up a total of 323. Marshy’s batting form is so vital for our team and it is pleasing to see him score those runs. He not only gets the boundaries but also controls the latter half of the innings very well. Jordy and Mushy individually put up good show in helping Marshy and setting good total. Return of Mushy was another positive point to the team. He batted sensibly and also looked in good touch. Mushy was the one who helped us achieve flexibility (entire last season) by selflessly being a floater batsman.
After the break we started with Vasu and Saz opening the bowling attack for us. Guess what!!! The “canny bowler Vasu” was back. He ran in with purpose and that “extra spice” which had deserted him thus far in this season was back. He was just too hot to handle. He has batted really well this year but it was his bowling which had been below par by his standards. He bowled with variations and put relentless pressure on the batsmen. In his first 4 overs he had one wicket every over. Eventually he collected bunch of 6 wickets for 27 runs in his 9 overs, with other three claimed by Marshy, Ali and Saz. Marshy also took a wonderful one handed catch to dismiss their skipper in the bowling of Saz. They were bundled out for 57 under19 overs. Team energy levels were good. Due to the work commitments Appu had to miss the game along with Safiyan due to the side strain. But the replacements did a fantastic job.
Return to ‘form’ for Marshy with the bat and Vasu with ball is the most pleasing aspects of the day. Both quality all-rounders of our team were little cold in one of the aspects of their trade thus far. But today they just lifted their game to another level and it is very exiting with half of the season to go. We will be tested in our next game against the Watsonions who are in the top three of the table. But if we play like we did today then any thing is possible. I think it is time to be unemotional about the selection and focus on the balance of the team until we are still in with a chance. Until next time ……………LEOPARD.