Sunday 17 January 2010

Desperately seeking 'victory'


Karnataka lost the nailbiting thriller by just six runs. Overall, the great exhibition of cricket between Karnataka vs Mumbai, paved way for a unanimous comment all over "What a Match..!!! Domestic cricket at its best" .Karnataka started the day trailing by a challenging 203 runs with seven wickets in hand, but Pandey's free-flowing innings threatened to turn it into a stroll. Manish Pandey, who got out for a duck in the first innings, fought back his side with a brilliant 144 from 151 deliveries in the second. With 83 required, Iqbal Abdulla claimed Pandey, and the rest of the bowlers took turns in stunning the Mysore full house again and again. Agarkar fittingly took the last wicket, an easy return catch to send back S Aravind.
Oh..A nail biting, nerve wrecking finish! Rightly quoted or should I say Tweeted by Ayaz Memon "Except that this time Mumbai have finished winners. But in an enthralling match like this, there are no losers. Well played K'taka"

Mumbai reiterated its legacy as one of the best domestic teams in the world after lifting the coveted Ranji Trophy for a record 39th time. They are seven behind New South Wales and eight championship wins ahead of England’s Yorkshire. Commendable feat I must admit. No other side has dominated the national championship as much as Mumbai has done. This can be gauged from the simple fact that after Mumbai, Delhi is the most successful side in tournament's history with just 7 title wins. Karnataka following close with 6 wins in their kitty.
An Excellent game of Cricket...will be remembered for the efforts of the stars of the season (read: A Mithun, Vinay Kumar ,Dhawal, Manish Pandey and Ajit Agarkar)

The RCB stars who shone were-
Manish Pandey,he has all the makings of another Sehwag, but he would please a cricket purist too with his timing and placement. It is not only wham, bam after all. And also his extraordinary catch went on to become a Youtube classic, aptly titled as 'The catch of the century' (video enclosed)
*Abhimanyu Mithun, the leading wicket taker in the series (47) and a 'hit-the-deck' bowler who relies on pace and swears by bouncers and yorkers.
*Vinay Kumar, following his team mate close with 46 wickets,skittled Mumbai on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final.

Brimmimg with talent, hope these youngs guns make it to the national side too (theVirat Kohli way) or atleast to BCCI's list of graded players.