Result: CLCC Won

Report: (Submitted by Shashi, CLCC Captain). For Ron Knight's report please click here.

Wow this was a history, CLCC was in Finals, first time in 5 years and We were travelling away for victory. Light rain night before didn't effect ground a bit. It was dry day and a perfect weather for the MACC Championship Game.

Here we go again, Toss won by CCC and elected to bat as the record for Shiloh ground says batting first wins 8 out of 10 games. Captain Shashi knew this from the beginning and while talking with the team mentioned it, that I don't want to win the Toss, because if I win the toss then I will have to elect to bat first, which my team don't want to do it. Well Luck favored captain and took the pressure of Shashi by losing the toss.

Umpire Ron and Ferguson were very helpful as always busy preparing field and ready to start the game of the year.

CCC was looking for a target of around 170 plus as there record says after making that kind of total they have never lost it. The home court advantage was a big bonus to CCC and they started of with there best opener Ahmed and Rajeev. It started slow since CCC was unable to score runs as they wanted to, desperation gave CLCC a wicket when Sanjay did a superb fielding and threw the ball back to the bowlers end while Rajeev was way out of the crease. First wicket as a run out is always a bad luck according to CLCC's Captain. CCC didn't want to do this mistake again as they saw CLCC's aggressive fielding and a tight line of bowling. CLCC very wicket hungry and they had to try something in order to take wicket as CCC were 24/1 in 7 overs and the pressure was on. Shashi introduced "PK the Terminator" a new name given by the supporters on side line. 4th ball a perfect Yorker and the stumps came out of the ground and bells were flying in air, clean bowled sent Shahid to the bench, 2/28 8 overs. CCC has to send Prabhu a very good player to handle the innings. Runs started to come out at a slow pace but PK struck again and got Ahmad out LBW when he was all set to score huge, score 3/40 12 overs. Vijay joined Prabhu, score board started to roll at drinks break CCC were 3/50 in 15 overs.

CLCC had controlled the game well they were on a top of the game, the challenge was not to let score CCC above 170. Well after 15 overs it was perfect for CLCC.
After the break CCC came out with a new game plan and started very well. Runs were coming all over the field, things were getting out of control, Then when lightning struck again on CCC, as Prabhu hit a ball towards deep mid-wicket was a perfect good shot and both batsman thought it went pass the boundary and stop running, but Ashish the fielder running behind the ball saw ball stopping before boundary line, well picked up threw to the bowlers end. Oh what a screw up, a very though call for Ron to give that one run out. He went all the way to boundary and saw that the ball must not have reached the boundary line the fielder did not signal anything made his decision easy and gave Prabhu run out. CCC were really upset and unhappy since the ball should have traveled across the boundary line but due to heavy grass it stopped before the boundary, instead of four runs lost the very important wicket. What a turning point for CLCC. score 4/60 in 17 over.
Bejoy was the man for CCC, he started to slog the ball every where runs started to come from every where, score board was rolling, CLCC needed a wicket, Shashi brought the wicket taker Gopal, as he has always given break at the crucial moment to CLCC. Weapon worked got another wicket as Praveen got bowled out. But Bejoy was going strong and lead CCC to a very good score of 157, which was very competitive as they know better about Shiloh pitch.

CLCC were little concerned but happy about stopping CCC way under 170. It was a time for CLCC to prove that all the big names they go it is any worth. A big game plan by Captain, as he sent Gopal and Sanjay to open the innings. The change was Parimal the master of cricket with lots of ability was held for a later arrival. Quick loss of a wicket in 1st over gave a hick up to CLCC, but it was not a run out, it was a catch. Kunal joined Gopal and didn't last long and got bowled by the superb in swing of Arun, 1/16 2/22 3/23 and 4/29 what a collapse.

The 4th wicket was of CLCC captain as got LBW on Aruns extra ordinary in swing. As always LBW decisions are always unhappy for a batsman and though for umpires. But it ended up being a good call by Ron.

Ani came as 3rd down batsman and he saw the other end never got stable as we lost 5th wicket at a score of 49 in 10 overs.

The target of 158 to win looked like the Mt. Everest very very hard, almost impossible at this stage, as the bowling of CCC was great.

Well Shashi made a another big change as he sent Chandu and held Parimal and Abhi. Man what a game plan, it was all Ani, an innings of the life. Ani took the charge and guess what ball was every where, he could see the ball like a soccer ball every thing was coming on the middle of the bat. Every ball he hit out of the boundary line was a perfect shot with no doubts. The funny thing was whenever Ani hit a six only people you see on field were the two batsman, every body else including umpires were looking for the balls.

Score board was rolling and getting close to 158, Ani and Chandu played a role of there life to get there team CLCC a cup home.
CLCC were smelling the win and then when we lost Chandu after his great partnership with Ani at a score of 19 and team score of 6/137 in 24th over and following him quick wicket of Abhi at 7/152. We lost

Ani's wicket following Abhi at 8/154, after long innings of 84 with 7 huge sixes and 5 superb boundaries with life memorable innings.

CLCC needed 4 runs to win and then when the experience of Parimal got used by hitting the ball over the keeper's head in a dead spot got us a winning boundary.

Yes Yes we did it, we are the Champions for 2003 season. This was a perfect game for the cup. All the players on both side worked hard for this but Finally the Cup was ours and was brought home by Ani by scoring 84, He was the Man Of The Match for the Finals.

Thanks to all the supporters and the umpires for doing a wonderful job. Also thanks to CCC for food and drinks during the lunch.

This was the great year, see you all next season.

Shashi
CLCC

For Ron Knight's report please click here.