Hoboken Cricket Club

Match Report: Hoboken CC vs Camelot CC 07/22/2018

This was a must win game for Hoboken CC to secure a place in the semi finals.

Camelot CC won the toss and elected to bowl first (last time we played each other they chased 263 in 35 overs). Given the overnight rain Hoboken CC preferred to bat first as the wicket would get slower as the day would progress. Both teams got what they wanted. A short interference by rain caused the game to be reduced to 33 overs. Hemal and Amit gave Hoboken CC another flying start scoring 20 runs in first two overs. Then Camelot's Treva Patterson struck Hoboken CC hard with his pace and bounce which coupled with slowness of pitch gave our batsmen troubles. We were reduced to 31/3 and then 58/4 by 11th overs. With help of string of short partnerships Hoboken CC made a decent recovery and were eventually bowled out for 165 in 32nd over.

Hoboken CC: 165/10 in 31.2 overs.
Sagar Waghmare: 39, Ron Rameshwar: 27, Karthik: 16, Neeraj Kher:14.
Treva Patterson: 3/37, Andy Harricharan: 3/30, C Calendar: 3/20.

Hoboken CC walked onto the field to defend a below par score. Camelot CC got to a flying start scoring 30 runs in first 4 overs, by then Hardeep and Ron had found their rhythm and started making life difficult for the opposition's batsmen. A numbers of opportunities were created but the batsmen survived. Consistent tight bowling eventually bear its fruit and both openers were dismissed in quick succession by Hardeep and Ron respectively. Walked in Camelot's best batsmen (he had scored 103 against us in the last game). Just like last game we had to give him lives and was dropped at mid off. At this stage Camelot was cruising at 60/2 in 10 overs. We needed a special effort in bowling as well as fielding. And we got it. It all started when Hemal's beautifully flight ball seduced a false shot from Camelot's best batsmen, though false it went miles in the sky but was calmly taken by Ron at long off. What followed was one of the best bowling partnerships I have seen. Hemal and Amit bowled 12 overs together barely gave any runs and took 7 wickets in total between them. Amit keeping one end quite and rushing through his overs and Hemal from other end snatching one batsmen after another with his skills and guile. Hemal took 6 out of the 7 wickets, though Amit had only a wicket to show on record his tight bowling made sure opposition couldn't score freely from either end. This bowling partnership was well complimented by tight fielding (and catching) including a diving catch by Hardeep at square leg. From 60/2 opposition were down to 100/8 and were finally bowled out for 135 in 26.4 overs.

Camelot CC: 135/10 in 26.4 overs
Hemal: 6 wickets (I think this might be a record for HCC).
Hardeep, Ron, Amit and Karthik each took 1 wicket.

Hoboken CC won by 30 runs and has secured a place in the semis.

Special mentions:
Karthik for organizing food.
Amit and Hemal for helping with matting and other hosting equipments.
Kirti for organizing drinks.
Avinash for making himself available at a last minute request.

A team effort indeed!

Post credit: Sagar Waghmare