May, 2012 – Uni Boys Teach Shoddy Sharks A Lesson

J-Cup, Sharks vs Uni XI, Sano 1, 19/05/12
By Kris Bayne

Chiba Sharks’ T20 season kicked off in a very pleasant Tatebayashi against University XI and Keio Knights. It was a mixed day, with some players debuting with wickets, some veterans getting among the runs, a few being left aghast and a couple probably wishing they’d stayed in bed. A frustrating loss to University was followed up by a resounding win over Keio, but, ‘cricket is as cricket does’, or is it, ‘cricket needs a box for your chocolates’…. Anyhow, our squad for the day was quite an interesting combination of old (Dave L, Vicky, Prashant, Anton, Kris B.), still fresh (Sumon, Tommy and Charles) and brand new (one-gamer Murad, and three outdoor debutants in Ruman, Chris Molloy and Rocky). Our first match was against the University XI on a freshly mowed Sano 1 pitch.

Batting

Vicky captained (Dave L as 12th) for this one against the students. Talent-wise, they boasted a number of National Squad players so they would be no push-over and a few things were sure bets – they were a young, fit, and fast unit. Vicky won the toss and we batted, with the Sano outfield in good nick underfoot and a cloudless sky above.

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Kris opened with Murad. It is fitting to note here the untimely death of guitar legend Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn (Booker T and The MGs, Blues Brothers Band etc.) in Tokyo this week. Kris might be the only one who knows who he was but he obviously felt an affinity and duly died at the crease – done for a duck bowled around his legs (1-2).

Prashant and Murad then set about establishing themselves, but the going was slow and at times bewildering. The bowling was quite good but we probably needed more bat on ball. The fielding was, as expected, slick but most frustrating was the umpires’ decision to apply, at each ends, different and ‘new-age’ interpretations of the JCA or even the global T20 Wide delivery rule, even after our enquires that they would at least be consistent in our bowling innings. It turned out later that one of them had been judging wides based on where they pitched rather than where they went by the batsman. Never mind, same rule for both teams.

After a sluggish first five overs (1-12) Prashant starting hitting them sweetly over square or down the ground and progressed steadily toward a half-ton. Murad also picked up the pace with some good boundaries and sensible running but eventually holed out for 22 (2-65).

Then progressed a list of batsmen who added single digit scores while Prashant motored along. Sumon (6) launched a big 6 but was soon run out by a rocket arm from Ogawa lurking in the deep, Charles snuck a nice four under a fielder in his 7 before playing “the wrong shot”. Vicky (6) also found the boundary until the ball found his middle stump. Anton (3 n.o.) got some wood working (somehow avoiding a run out) and supported Prashant (58) to a well-made, better-than-a-run-a-ball half century before he was out caught off the last delivery of the innings.

We could speculate wildly on where we would have ended up had we had wides/additional scoring chances. But our final score of 4-118 was not flattering to us and even without speculating we should have had 10-15 more. It would now be up to our bowlers, but it was at least something we could make a fist of defending.

Bowling

It was vital we get an early break as we suspected a longish University tail. Vicky opened up and the 2011 JCA and Winter League bowler of the year was right on the money again (except for two wides which didn’t go down well with the ‘keeper, considering). Runs came off thick edges or pads, though. Chris Molloy debuted at the other end and in the course of his three opening overs induced some dodgy shots.

Sumon took the first bowling change and, bowling with a little more juice than usual, he immediately pinned the batsmen down, sending down a timely maiden and was very hard to hit. Murad did much better with his length and only a couple of loose balls blotted his two overs. The big problem was that the openers were still there, looking quite comfortable as Tatebayashi heated up, the ground dried out and we dried up.

Prashant took up the challenge. His two overs were not able to compliment his great innings however and his recurring problem of too much length came back to haunt him as the now set batsman sent three consecutive balls to the boundary. We needed to find a new way through and so the ball was thrown to young Rockey in his debut. He had impressed with the yellow ball and so we were keen to see how he’d do.

His first few balls were a bit tentative, but by the over’s end, the batsman had just about squirted one out of his block hole and a catch had gone down on the boundary. It was noticeable from behind the sticks that he found a couple more yards in pace as he went and he was rewarded with his and, finally, our first wicket, caught by Vicky (1-91 after 14).

We had six overs and just 27 runs to play with. Vicky returned and to our dismay a thick outside edge went screaming to the boundary (not the first, either). Rockey and Chris returned but we could not lock them down. We were again our own worst enemy in the field. We had put down our usual share of catches, fielders positioning themselves well but their technique letting them and the ball down. Two catchable balls met terra in Chris’ final over until Murad finally showed us how to do it, snapping up Chris’ first wicket as a Shark.

In his final over Vicky sent down a missile barrage and one finally got through, splattering the stumps (3-118) to tie up the game. Sumon returned and his first ball went right through, hitting the top of middle and also decapitating the ‘keeper. The new batsman, however, calmly pushed the next ball for a single to ensure a win for the University XI.

We had our chances. I am not sure which batsmen was dropped, but at least four catches went begging, and at least one of them must have been University opener and national player, Ohta, who ended up 66 n.o. We have to improve on this aspect of our game. BUT, let’s look at positives. Prashant got back in the runs, Murad did it tough for a while but found his range. Chris shows he brings another string to our bowling attack and Rockey returned the faith shown by Vicky who threw him the ball. And I didn’t let through any byes and still have functioning fingers, obviously.

Next up Keio Knights, without a shrubbery. (Coming on Wednesday)

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