If you were there last year, you might remember. If you woke your ass, dusted off those shorts and made it to the field in the biting cold, not the pansy stuff this year, you might recall. Ladies and gentlemen, The MICA Cricket League has well and truly kicked off. With distractions like MICANVAS now over and done with, we shift focus to what really, *really* matters.
And if you were there this afternoon, when the mighty Indian Kings fell to a Lucky Strike, by now, I'm sure you know what really matters.
In an exhibition of some thrilling cricket, with cartwheeling stumps, big hits and high-strung drama, Beedi's Lucky Strikes edged out MCL-first timers Indian Kings by a solitary run. And what a match it was.
The new Strike opening line-up, of Bhai and Akhauri set about getting some runs. A couple of good shots from Badey and the Kings were feeling it burn the hair right beneath the runway. A decision from umpire Bana-na had King Captain Gyan (cool superhero name for you, dude!) fuming, and Lucky Strike seemed to have hit cruise control.
A couple of wickets later, not so much. Lucky Strike were struggling with three quick wickets down, when captain Beedi called in master strategist Potler to the crease. And thus began the partnership which took the match away from the Kings. Lusty blows from Potler's blade made everyone rethink their Super Selector strategy, and at drinks, Lucky Strike looked like making a total of 150 their bitch.
If you remember Inglourious Bastards from last year, you might find some similarities with Lucky Strike. The potential to self destruct at a given two overs is well within the known talents of this team. And once again, history was repeated, as the batting petered out for 92. Ajanta suffered an injury that kept him out for the rest of the game as the last signs of batting got out to rash shots.
With a modest target to defend, Lucky Strike obtained permission to use Taher as substitute fielder for the rest of the game. Remember this information.
And thus began a virtuoso bowling-side performance.
The much-touted Dua kept his word, with his opening partner gone, as sixes and fours started coming easy. Shitoot looked good at the crease too, as the Kings made hay while the sun shined. With the light fading soon, and really not a lot of reliable batting to come, the batsmen carried on till mayhem broke out off the field. Badey's lap around the field with a stump is probably etched in MCL memory by now.
Play resumed and the Kings had lost concentration. Led from the front by Beedi in true Inglorious form, the Lucky Strike bowlers Debbie, Nimish, Badey and Potler bowled a disciplined line. With around 40 to get off the last 10 overs, the match had to be won by bowling the Kings out. Omkar Joshi and Tyagi offered stellar resistance at the end, with some fine late order batting.
It came down to a last over that sums up the dramatics of the entire cricket match.
With Potler having just removed Omkar Joshi, Govil walked up to bat. Akhauri called out for a field change, so Beedi asked the game to be stopped. Potler bowled anyway, and Govil lost his stumps. Confusion ensued, as Beedi conceded that the call was made, and Lucky Strike stole the status quo out of victory's jaws, and the umpire called a 'dead-ball'.
It all didn't matter, though, because the next ball, Govil was stumped after some brilliant glove-work by Badey, and Lucky had Struck.
Lucky Strike of the Match: Amit 'Potler' Nayak. Kya re?
With matches coming on thick and fast, MCL 2010 is poised to be entertainment ka baap.
Stay tuned for more Lucky Strike action.
