On
the 29th of March 2014, VVCL team took a leap forward when they
encountered two match series against the local team. Although both teams
appeared at par before the match began, the opponents had a slight edge only
because they were young and better fielding unit. Each team boasted a strong
batting line-up while they had a decent bowling attack too.
VVCL
batted first in the initial match. There spearhead batsman Rahul, who was
struggling off-let, gathered some form with his intelligent batting and enabled
a decent score of 53 to defend in six-overs-a-side match. Others pinched in
here and there. The VVCL bowlers, under the flagship of Pradeep, made an
attempt to defend the modest total. They were exceptionally assisted by their
fielders who grabbed all the chances and made the opponent’s batting collapse
in the middle overs. One such catch that Vasant caught near the deep midwicket
boundary line was mind boggling and one that would be remembered for years.
Once the batting stalwarts of opposite team went packing, the veteran bowlers
played ruthlessly with the tail and managed a narrow single run victory adding
a feather on VVCL hat.
In
the second match VVCL team batted again. The opponents were shrewd and made
good bowling changes to go alongside better field placements. The VVCL batters
struggled throughout and managed mere 47 in six overs. Alike the first match,
the VVCL bowlers expected that their fielding unit put an exceptional show to
defend such a small total. And they did oblige; again. The brisk start by the
opponents was dented in the third over bowled by Vijay, in which he grabbed a
Hat-trick and thus beginning the downfall. The fielders caught each and
everything that was struck high in air. Again in the deciding overs, the
veteran pacers had to deal with lower order batsmen which they ably did and a
single run separated the two teams. Thus VVCL team won the second match too.
And
finally after playing consistently for two and half years, VVCL team can now
allow themselves a pat on their back for such a high quality fielding display
one that has made all the team members and well wishers proud. In today’s times
of despair, where the multi-storey structures are guzzling the playgrounds, the
VVCL team has kept their fields alive.
