THE CLASH OF TITANS

His arms were exhausted, his legs tired. It was difficult for him to focus, but he knew he had to deliver with the next ball. Bare footed, he ran down to the popping crease and delivered an absolute cracker, the batsmen tossed the ball back to him .......off balanced in his follow through, SAURAV dived to his right and plucked the ball out of the thin air. He came crashing on the ground but felt no pain... the only feeling was the feeling of ecstasy. For he became the first GMPian to take a hattrick and he knew this wicket was the last nail in coffin of BM/PMIR team. The wicket gave GMPians their victory what was left now was mere formality. But during last two hours game had swung both ways.

It all started with the toss.GMP captain SANJEEV won the toss and took a bold decision to bat first. The decision soon came under scrutiny with GMP losing wicket in very first over. ANURAG became victim of a misunderstanding and was run out. NEERAJ started well but didn't last long and with both the openers back to pavilion GMP was already under pressure. But then MOHIT came in. In difficult times he always stood tall and this day was no different. He started the counterattack scoring runs all around the wicket. The scoreboard got new life and started moving at aggressive pace. His straight batted shots were treat to watch. But at the other end......wickets kept on falling, while SOUMYA was unfortunate to be run out, SURAJ and RANJAY fell cheaply.

Then PREMANGSHU came in. The architect by profession designed a solid structure, playing cautiously, pushing the ball artistically in the gaps. PARTH took over after MOHIT fell. And he decorated the solid structure with some lusty blows. The ball started disappearing in the park more frequently. The score soon reached a 100 mark. But it was not over as yet and there was another twist in the tail with GMP losing wickets in a hurry towards the end. SANJEEV slipped while stealing a quick single, he was injured in the process and was run out. SAURAV and SUVDEEP fought the remaining battle and GMP reached 108/9 in 15 overs.

Seeing the reputation of the BM/PMIR batsmen 109 was gettable total.GMP took the fields without captain SANJEEV with SRIDHAR substituting for him. Acting captain SAURAV and SUVDEEP opened the balling attack.BM started aggressively and at one point of time it looked like they will live up to their reputation.
But SAURAV gave them the first blow, the ball was lofted in the deep and ANURAG took an amazing catch with a single hand. Saurav uprooted the wickets in the very next ball.
With two quick wickets GMP was back in the game. Mohit came as the first change and while balling he emulated his batting performance. Balling a very tight line he dried the BM scoring and went on to take three wickets. Parth continued his good form with the ball and took two wickets, and ranjay chipped in with one wicket.
But pick of all ballers was Saurav who after taking two consecutive wicket came back in second spell and in the very first ball took a diving catch in his follow through to take the first hattrick. He went on to take four wickets. Overall GMPians were good on field except for one or two rare miss fields they fielded well. With Sridhar doing fabulous job in the slip cordon and Neeraj taking three catches behind the wicket it was good team effort.
The team was whole heartedly supported by Hemant, Gautam, Romil and sweet little Ria (Romil's Daughter). In the end it was well deserved victory for the GMP, but they missed Dr. Pracheesh on the ground.