Once you step on the field...

VVCL in its fifth edition has begun, although earlier than past years, thanks to the sparse rains of the year 2015, and the players who have turned up on field for the past two morning sessions have felt better with their ageing bodies. The thought of returning to fields, which once were second home during childhood, have brought warm memories back along with the excitement to savour few more in coming days.

The hectic calendar in which everyone of us is trapped into and are desperately looking for the welcome break with a space for oneself, can be easily found on the playground that provides equal opportunities for every individual to showcase his ability, being part of a team that cares for him and strives hard for achieving a common goal that is ‘to bring back life onto the fields that alike global warming are causing serious health & social issues since the young generation is turning their backs to it’.

In the world full of people those who have become slave of their habits like fresh air of air-conditioning rooms, breakfast over a burger, pizza for lunch, smartphones for entertainment & social gatherings on whatsapp are dangerously moving ahead towards disaster that may lead the coming generations’ to stay aloof with deteriorated social values. VVCL is a small medium that allows some resistance and provides opportunity to reverse the adverse effect caused by the lifestyle we live with. Though it comes with a price of sacrificing some sleep during Saturday mornings, a temptation that is hard to resist but once overcome, will lead you to good old days that were spent enjoying field games competing alongside your best of the best friends.

And, once we step on the ground the inner competence within each one of us finds its way out, and the sheer presence over the outfield seduces us with aura which one can only be experienced than expressed. 

Visible Improvement – Catches, win Matches

On the 29^th 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.

Sweet Centre – VVCL Season III

The VVCL team in its third season has at last found its prolific batting performance in today’s game. Their two batting stalwarts; namely Rahul Kamat & Selvakumar P, contributed heavily with the bat to ensure victory for their individual teams. The ball found boundary line on numerous occasions as both made a mockery of decent bowling attacks. Rahul in particular was severe in his inning that consists of 4 sixes, while Selva’s knock came just in time during the final’s ensuring the 2-1 series victory for Chetan’s side. Vijay’s knock in finals was excellent too as he was able to consistently find the sweet spot on the bat and send the ball towards boundary to gather crucial runs. One particular cover drive which enables him to collect three runs was probably the ‘shot of the day’.

The ground fielding continues to be inconsistent which added to the Captains woes, although there was a noteworthy improvement in catching. Bowlers from both sides did a fair job as most were on target except for an over or two. Chetan, the best bowler of the lot continues to struggle with his new bowling action which does not yield him the swing or pace that once use to be his flagship weapon. Even though he did not leak runs in dozens, but the lack of wickets would hurt his claim of being the premier bowler.

This season the players appear fitter with extra loads of stamina filled inside them. The batters have used the long handle well to keep sailing the ball long in air, the bowlers are able to put some excellent over’s and only if the ground fielding improves drastically the team would be ready to put their foot forward and register into their initial tournament.

The hopes are high in some of the players who wish to take this serious bunch of cricketers into the next level.

Sarcasm exemplified!

Today evening when I woke up from deep sleep my back bone emitted immense pain, thanks to the Cricket match played in wee hours at Goregaon. The match ended with a crushing defeat to our inexperienced team that was never in the game right from the initial over I bowled which cost a dozen of runs.

The local team thrashed and toasted us and accumulated a whooping 150 runs in a matter of mere 12 overs. A veteran batsmen named Ganesh, one who was nearing 50 years of age & who appeared loose and laid back punished us for dropping him twice.

Then came our turn to smack few mighty blows and prove our mantle. Our innings begin with total disarray as  the opener lost his middle stick on the very first ball. We could gather only 29 in half a dozen overs and were blown away and out of the match. Only then Rushi & I decided to cut loose and our pull, hook and cross bat heave yielded 75 runs in the next 6 overs enabling us to cross a century of runs. A defeat that was inevitable tasted sweet for the runs we could gather against a far better team.

Almost all defeated team produce inner grudges by intent or unknowingly. Was that the case with us? Can't answer that. When I woke up in the evening I could hear my wife & daughter playing a traditional game which we all have played in our childhood. On hearing the wording in that game I could not control my instinct and laughed out audaciously from the bottom of my naval only to realise that the back is hurt while the possible victim was unleashed that moment. 

While moving in circular motion my daughter followed her mother who was narrating:

"डोंगरा ला आग लागली, पळा-पळा"

(Fire on the mountain; run, run, run.)

Now few of you would realise the rational behind this blog and might have a little pleasant smile deep inside your heart.