Return of the Jedi...I mean...Titans

Granted we have not mastered the light saber AKA cricket bat as yet...but we sure can bowl. The skid is halted in a "thriller" (ooohhh Mikey we miss you...aaahhhh) as both sides score 161 total runs in the game....lol.

Let's start from the top down...team leaders/ veterans first.

Paul - 6.5 (1.5 batting, 2.5 fielding, 2.5 bowling, 0 discretionary)
Bowled well minus the one bad ball that went the distance...a wicket in the first over was what the team needed...unlucky to have the straight forward catch of their best batsman dropped in the 5th over. Batting was dogged again but this time loss of concentration did him in. Loses half the discretionary point for not batting out the 42 and the other half for bowling the one bad ball in a tight game...kudos for playing with smashed toes though...lol.

Tanmay - 6.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Batting was cut short due to a plumb LBW. Bowling was simply incredible with another 5 wicket haul on the season...might have had six for a league trophy if Dalip held a chance.

Tiki - 5.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Surprised by a full toss that ended his innings in quite an ungainly manner...that we all nervously laughed about in between innings. Keeping was special...unlucky to not get a remarkable stumping given. Loses the discretionary point for not getting runs again and dropping the last wicket of Atif's bowling.

Wazza - 6.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Costly run-out. Fielding was solid. Bowling was wonderful with 3 wickets and great economy.

Dalip - 7.0 (2.0 batting, 0 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Top scorer again in a low scoring match. Dropped a catch with the game in the balance. Loses the discretionary point for not making a 50+ after yet again getting a start and the drop. +2 bonus points applied from the India United game for the 80 odd runs made.

Rakesh - 6.0 (1.0 batting, 2.0 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Batting as usual was inspired until his demise to a slower ball. He needs to realize that bowlers are out-thinking him...and that is not acceptable for a smart Indian to have that happen repeatedly...lol. Looked a touch slower in the field...thanks to one too many good Mommy meals.

Umair - 6.0 (0 batting, 2.0 fielding, n/a bowling, 4.0 discretionary)
Stumped off an off-spinner falling over in defense...you had to be there to see it to believe it. Later attributed to forgetting proper shoes...lol. Showed good hsutle in the field, but needs to deliver more with the bat as that is now his role...make as many runs as possible...simple.

Atif - 6.0 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 0.5 discretionary)
Great full bowling spell economical and testing. Batting dissappointed again. Dropped a hugh catch but took an incredible caught and bowled that was close to the one Chuck took agains PSL. It is an instant nominee for CATCH OF THE YEAR.

Bala - 7.0 (1.5 batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Fielding was good. Showed the ability to up the ante when he bats in his natural style. All he needs to do now is consider the field palcements and he will be a weapon for us with the bat down the order. Loses a discretionary point for not getting us through a few more overs.

Vedere - 8.0 (1.5 batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 4.0 discretionary)
Fielded great and came not out. Good support again from this youth.

Gowtham - 6.0 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.5 discretionary)
Fiedled really well at silly throughout the game. Did not use the opportunity to bat as long as possible with no expectations or stress on his shoulders...loses half a discretionary point there.

5-3-1 and the bowling continues to be dominant. Will the new look order come good? Stay tuned for next week's blog. My guess...is yes.

Game 8 versus PSLCC

Loss # 3 was by run rate but in the end a silly misunderstanding in accepting of light...was a costly lesson to learn. They were a much worse team than us...we gave this one away.

Let's start from the top down...team leaders/ veterans first.

Paul - 5.0 (2.0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 0.5 bowling, 0 discretionary)
Bowled very poorly gifting 42 runs in 4 overs for a solitary wicket. Batting was dogged and just as the acceleration was about to begin was cheated out with a terrible stumping call.

Tanmay - 8.5 (2.0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Batting looked promising but then a really bad LBW decision was given out prematurely. Bowling was stingy and pried out two wickets.

Tiki - 8.0 (2.0 batting, 3.0 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Was given a terrible LBW decision...unlucky as he strives for runs. Keeping was good .

Wazza - 6.5 (1.5 batting, 3.0 fielding, 1.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Missed out on his 50 with a score of 42. Fielding was solid. Bowling was OK with 2 wickets and over 5 economy.

Dalip - 6.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 4.0 discretionary)
Did not register meaningful runs. Took a smart catch.

Umair - 8.0 (2.0 batting, 3.0 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Great catch to remove Eifel on 91 runs. Came not out, but loses a discretionary point for the "light mix-up".

Atif - 8.0 (2.0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 0.5 discretionary)
Great full bowling spell conceding only 2.33/ over and claiming one wicket. Came not out, but loses a discretionary point for the "light mix-up"...gains 1/2 back for the bowling spell.

Bala - 9.5 (n/a batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 4.0 discretionary)
Fielding was good. Bowling was crazy good as he picked up three quick wickets very economically in four overs. He has arrived as the 5th bowling option.

Reddy - 6.5 (n/a batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 4.0 discretionary)
Looked aggressive and athletic in the field.

Vedere - 8.0 (n/a batting, 3.0 fielding, 1.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Bowled a full nine overs for one wicket and just below 7 RPO...that is a below average performance with the ball..I would have expected more wickets. Fielded great with two catches. A decent day with good contributions to the team.

Gowtham - 8.5 (n/a batting, 2.0 fielding, n/a bowling, .5 discretionary)
Nothing special to report on the day...but he looked alert in the field...mostly.

4-3-1 and the slide continues.

Game 7 versus United Sports & Social Club

Loss # 2 was relatively comprehensive as we lost by 52 runs. They were a much better balanced team than us.

Let's start from the top down...team leaders/ veterans first.

Paul - 6.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Bowled economically and picked up two wickets. Batting was more like slogging and ended poorly for him and the team.

Tanmay - 7.5 (1.0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Batting looked promising but then an unnecessary swipe stared the slide. Bowling was simply awesome with a five wicket haul.

Tiki - 6.0 (0 batting, 3.0 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Batting failed to register a meaningful score. Keeping was GREAT . Loses a discretionary point for his batting woes...four innings in a row now without real runs.

Wazza - 6.5 (1.5 batting, 3.0 fielding, 1.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Did some hard work at the crease batting to get to double figures and again gave it away. Fielding was great. Bowling was off the mark with 1 wicket and over 6 economy.

Chuck - 1.5 (0 batting, 1.5 fielding, 0 bowling, 0.0 discretionary)
Duck with the bat and 2 overs for 21 runs with the ball, let a four go...ay chiwawa...talk about a piss poor day. It'll be a good day for Titans when he starts focusing again on his cricket.

Dalip - 7.5 (2.0 batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
46 and stumped was a bad result considering no 50 and being dismissed in that manner again for the season. Also, the second time this season he barely missed a 50. Took a smart catch. Loses a discretionary point for failing to grasp the importance of carrying on once he gets such a good start.

Umair - 3.0 (0 batting, 0 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Don't come to cricket without sleep...his batting was lackluster and his fielding sleepy.

Atif - 6.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Another failure with the bat. Bowling was super spell as he was unlucky to go wicket less bu eight overs at 2.5 runs is brilliant.

Bala - 6.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, 3.0 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Lost his wicket too suddenly AGAIN. Fielding was good. Bowlign was tremendous as he picked up two quick wickets very economically in three overs. Seems to be comign to the party as a bowler...to the delight of the skipper and senior players.

Reddy - 5.5 (0 batting, 2.5 fielding, n/a bowling, 3.0 discretionary)
Duck with the bat. Looked aggresssive in the field. There is a hint of promise in this player.

Vedere - 7.5 (2.5 batting, 2.5 fielding, 1.5 bowling, 1.0 discretionary)
Batted at 11 and came not out. Bowled some good ones and some bad ones. Fielded well. A much imporoved day from him.

4-2-1 and the slide continues.

Game 6 versus India United

Our first rain-out of the season...so we get 2 points on that basis.

Dalip made a smashing 80 odd runs...and that will earn him two bonus points on the next blog.