Saturday, September 26, 2009

RNW have their job cut out from them against FCC

With the first match over and Frost Cricket Club winning a thriller, we egaerly look forward towards the second match. For RNW, the job have been cut out for them against FCC. They need to attack the team with a determined effort. The fielders need to back the bowlers and the batsmen will have to play through the innings. The team has released the playing 11.
  1. Anba
  2. KK
  3. RV
  4. Guna
  5. Kothand
  6. Viji
  7. Vishwa
  8. Shankar
  9. Tashi
  10. Moraji
  11. Sharath
  12. Aditya
There are three changes made to the team. Pradeep, myself and Aditya (Adi) is out while, Moraji, Shankar and RV are in. RV was supposed to play the first match but was out due an injury he sustained in the previous match. With RV, Shankar and Moraji back in the squad, we can expect RNW to go full guns blazing.

I am not sure about the FCC line-up. But rumors has it that Viren might be in the playing 11. He is a formidable bowler and can do some hard hitting with the bat as well. All RNW has to do now, is it go out there and play their natural game. This will ensure their success in this match and the series as well.

Watch out for RNW@twitter as I will be doing some up-to-date posting on Sunday.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

RunsNWickets release playing 11

Yes! The list is finally here. Here are the playing 11 (with the twelfth man) below:

1. Guna (VC)
2. Kothand
3. KK
4. RV
5. Sharath
6. Pradeep
7. Anba (C)
8. Adi
9. Tashi (Rajesh Madhini)
10. Viji
11. Karthi (WK)
12th man: Sankar

There was a mild scare when the Rain God's threatened a down-pour today. However, after some intense praying from me, the Rain God's were pleased and decided not to play spoil-sport.

The match is all set, the ground has been booked (I was told today morning that there might be a cancellation!) and all team members are eager to go ahead.

Lets wait and see what the result is tomorrow. Will give you a full detailed report on Sunday night after the match is over.

Until then, its me signing off!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Epic Battle Begins ...




Watch this space for more information ...

Monday, June 22, 2009

Highlights of Runs N Wickets versus Royal Indians

Registering its first victory during the last weekend match gave our team much needed confidence in our ability to bowl and bat well. Below is the highlights of the match which was recorded by me.




Man of the Match - Guna 68 (59) and 1 wicket.

Second Wicket Partnership between Guna and Murali - 144

Wicket takers: KK, VijayaRaj, Arun, Dinesh, Guna.

Scorecard can be found here.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Runs N Wickets - Logo

Here is our logo :)
Thanks to Karthi Hanumantharau, for taking time to design this one for us!!



Friday, May 29, 2009

Aane De!

My feelings towards the upcoming T20 matches (CSCA Challenger T20 trophy) is captured excatly by this ad for Indian team ahead of T20 World Cup match.



All I got to say "AANE DE!"

Thursday, May 28, 2009

First match Squad - CSCA Challeneger T20 Trophy

The first match of CSCA Challenger T20 trophy between RnW and Stallions @ MNM Jain Grounds. Match starts at 8 A.M. on 31st May 2009 (Sunday).

RnW non-playing members and friends can watch the live score on internet @ WWW.csca.in

The 12 member Squad for first match:
1. Manoj Babu
2. Gunarajan (WK)
3. Muralidharan
4. Pradeep
5. Anbarasan (C)
6. Balaji
7. Karhi
8. Subramaniam
9. Vijay
10. Arun prasath
11. Aditya
12. Viswa

Monday, May 18, 2009

Gearing up - Runs N Wickets 'Warriors'

Last net session was the best, everybody got a chance to play and it seemed that everybody started getting their 'groove' back on. With the upcoming friendly match/series with FCC (Frost Cricket Club) I am excited and ready.

I was able to take some good snaps while our team members were practicing and I am posting them here. Check it out!



Team Runs N Wickets @ YMCA Net Session


KK trying out some few new strokes ...

KK going for the big shot

Later on, I decided to shoot some videos of our team players practicing in the nets. But unforunately, they were shot with a 'titled' angle due to which the video is displayed in a different view. I promise next time I shoot video, I will be more careful!...

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Nostalgia - FCC Vs RnW match in 2008

(I had written this commentary after the match we played in 2008. Hope this will be a good nostalgic moment for our old teamies!)

We won against the conditions rather than FCC. It was a day of contrasting conditions. Tough day for our bowlers with wet ball and constant drizzle. Rubbing salt to wounds was the shorter boundaries and 'out of colour' man of the last match Ajay. Captain lost a key spell from him nevertheless bowled himself out very well. This was the time Arunesh sent down couple of good last two overs by gripping across the seam and reading the batsmen intents. Earlier opening the bowling, Sunil picked couple of wickets to keep us on hunt and he could have easily had three.


More 'extras' came in the form of couple of dropped chances, ball running between the legs to boundaries. Tough ones, real tough ones these, unless we are constantly practicing and playing cricket- but nevertheless remain a area of concern/improvement for us. Couples of standouts in fielding were the Murali's sliding catch at point and Diptesh's powerful on-spot throws.

It was a match of three contrasting innings. It was bright and sunny when we went to bat. Murali gave us a wonderful start with couple of classy strokes perfectly timed on the offside. Both of the back foot, one punched through covers and one cut away. He reassured his form with the impeccably timed straight drive. But, I guess he got a bit overconfident during this time which lead to couple of mistimed shots and eventually lead to a mistimed pull which was easily latched upon near ropes. Nevertheless, by this time he had seized the initiative from FCC and set up the runrate.

Then came KK, and essayed a range of shots to completely grab the match out of FCC. He looked he had all the time in the world to play his shots as he looked to concentrate more on his touch and timing. The unforgettable shot was the effortless loft of mediumpacer Sriram which had such a high and wonderful loop before clearing the ropes. The score jumped from 104 to 126 in a span of 6 balls, with KK punishing spinner Mahesh for a bunch of sixes and boundaries. It was the decisive over. The importance of the knock was felt in the way FCC celebrated his fall of wicket. But captain left the job undone.

All this time along, during these two decisive knocks, was a guy who was occupying crease at the other end. He played and missed a bit initially. As he eased out, all he did was put bat to ball and run hard and two, crash boundaries to midwicket if the ball was in his area. What a simple style of playing cricket, I wondered! Two things about his knock; one, he had a very good stamina and two, he never threw up. He sealed the victory for us with two crucial boundaries in the last two penultimate over. Rajesh did it! It was the third decisive innings of our batting.


On a Personal note:
I really enjoyed batting with Rajesh as all I have to do is hit, call and run. Never did he put a foot back during running. Such was the trust he had in his partners call and rather himself that he would reach the crease. Felt worth a point to share and learn.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Here we come!

It was pure fun! The fresh smell of leather and the dirty smell of the kit bag. One year since my senses experienced those!

Last three weeks of nets practice has brought in new team buddies and a new angle to RnW. It looks to be a confident, talented and i must say energetic unit but i must also be candid in accepting that this team lacks the match experience. The matches could throw open a player and strip him apart, as i have found myself in that position many a times. It tests the confidence of the player. We could no more get away with that wide delivery, cannot play a single rash shot which frequently happen during Nets. We will have to bowl that extra delivery in the over and that one rash shot will cost your wicket and the day. Imagine the morale of the fielder in that scorching heat, if a 8 ball over is bowled or if 20 runs are plundered in a over. Its very easy to get 11 drooping shoulders. These are the times to watch out for!

Looking ahead for a match with this new energetic team!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Runs N Wickets is Back!

I officially call Runs N Wickets team 2009 Cricket Season open! Last week nearly 10 guys from Runs N Wickets team gathered to begin the first of many (hopefully) nets session. It was a remarkable sight to see. I saw the usual stalwarts such as Anba, KK (founder) and Shyam coming in and bowling some remarkable spells. I was also witnessed some new joiners like S.Dinesh who bowled beautifully.

I am very much excited and with next net's session already booked, I am very much looking forward to playing matches against our old friend and rivals Frost & Sullivan.

The next net's session is at St. Bede's ground at 6 A.M on 3rd May. Guys, they (St. Bede's staff) has given us strictly 2 hours and hence we need to be tight on timings. Confirm your participation by sending your approval to our group.

Don't forget to around Rs. 100 - Rs. 200 to pay to Anba for organizing the nets session. Also do bring your own abdomen guard and buy a pair of cricket gloves to bat on.

Let 2009 be a year of victories for RnW.