That Last Over !

Night cricket tournament in NITK was like the festival time for cricket lovers perhaps even better than the “CONFLUNCE” time. The time when we felt supremingly confident, continuously enjoyed every moment likewise academic toppers must have felt during exam time. We were winning all the league matches but we knew that the next match is going to be a special one. That night we had our contest with “SIMPLY SOUTH” whom the non-cricket playing cricket analysts of our college described as “SIMPLY THE BEST TEAM”. They comprised of the best cricket playing talent from south India studying in NITK. Tomer lost the toss and we were forced to bat first which we had disliked throughout the competition. But our team had some good batsman like Major Saab, Tomer, Gaurav Yadav and some part timers like me, Rakesh and Dahiya and we were able to put a decent 59 on score board in 8 overs.

During the 5 minutes break, every member of Aashiq – 8 (Yes that was the name of our outfit) thought of easily winning the match but we didn’t had idea of the fierce competition we will be put in by those simple guys.

They started their innings and Rakesh & Dahiya captured their couple of initial wickets easily therefore boosting the morale of team as well other members of our group who unconditionally cheered for Aashiq – 8 throughout those 2 weeks. We were on a high but now their biggest asset Gowri Shankar was on the pitch. He was a complete southpaw therefore giving him advantage of scoring runs on his on side.

Over the next 3 and half overs he hammered me, Rakesh and Dahiya all over the space in between A,B and C block of Hostel Number – 4 thereby leading his team to 49 in 6 overs. Their team members who stood near the batting end were on a super high. They lead by Vishwanath were continuously raising slogan in favor of their team in their vernacular there by boosting the morale of the batsman on crease. On the verge of losing the match, every member of Aashiq – 8 except Tomer was frustrated and deeply annoyed by their morale booster voice. The hardcore supporters of Aashiq – 8 comprised of Makkar, Ankur, Shakul, Guru, Rana, Gulia and lead by Raja realized the low level of our morale and started rhyming their slogans like

“COCA COLA PEPSI COLA HU HA HU HA”.

Standing near the bowling end, they all were continuously bucking up the bowler. Obviously we felt somewhat up by their support. By that time situation was so tough and tense that we all were thinking of wining the match anyhow.

Now only two overs were left and simply south only needed 11 runs to win. Rakesh and Dahiya were over with their quota. Our tensed but super confident captain/WK was revising his options. With ball in his one hand and brushing his hairs with other, as he was heading to me, I confusingly stood and was contemplating the future of the match.

Suddenly I realized that captain kool is standing before me and said “What to do Bro? Would you like to go for this over?”

I hesistingily replied “Then who will bowl the last one?”

As we were in a discussion, Gaurav Yadav came and asked “I will go for this one”.

Tomer bemusingly said “What?” 

Yadav authoritatively said “Yes, I will be bowling this over”.

Me and Tomer saw eye to eye and without uttering a single word asked each other “Will he be able to do the trick?”

We both were quite unsure of Yadav’s bowling skills. There were two reasons behind it. Firstly he was not a rated and recognized bowler in fraternity and secondly we have seen him bowling a few times. But I and Tomer both were not able to get any name for this kind of situation. Yadav didn’t give us enough time to think and he again asked

“What happened?”  While asking this, a sense of annoyance and anger could be seen on his face as he had got a reputation of being short tempered.

Left with no choice and seeing the oozing confidence of Gaurav Yadav, Tomer handed the ball to him and made his way to behind the wickets. I tensed and nervously headed to boundary line.

Calm and composed, Yadav started bowling and contrary to everybody's thinking, he bowled five non scoring deliveries to Gowri. With each dot ball, we were bucked up and praising him continuously for his pressure tackling skills. I ran to him 1 or 2 times to pat his back and buck him up but he was in his own world and didn't pay attention to anything except bowling another dot ball. But a part timer is committed to do a mistake on assignment and proving this perception right, he full tossed the last delivery to batsman. Gowri wasn't a part timer and taking full advantage of the bad delivery hammered the tennis ball over my head to maximum. Everybody was stunned and heard Vishwanath and his team raising his voice again to push our frustration to zenith. Yadav made an eye contact with Tomer who ran to bowling end and deservingly said "Well Done" and patted his back.

"One over and simply south needs only 5 runs to win"

As the commentator's irritating voice struck my ear drums, i saw Tomer coming to me.

He handed the ball to me and said "Bro, now onus is on you."

I took the ball and amid all the tensions grooming in my mind, headed to bowling end. As i reached to umpire to say "Right arm, Round the wicket", Rakesh suddenly came and said

"Don't be in tension bro, just concentrate on the 'KUTTI'(bitchy) bowling and match will be ours."

I and Rakesh had mastered ourselves bowling on leg stump therefore making it difficult for right handed batsman to score run on their off side. We termed it as "KUTTI" bowling.

Without speaking a single word, I just nodded in yes to him. Raja, Shakul, Guru, Makkar, Ankur, Rana, Gulia who were all standing near to bowling end, once again cheered for us in ear bursting volume.

Prepared to bowl, standing in the 2 feet run up box,  i suddenly saw upwards and all around. Oh My God! each balcony of hostel number - 4 was packed and had an eye on us putting more pressure on me.

"What to do" was going in my mind continuously and i was stuck at my position. Umpire indicated that i was taking too much time and signaled me to go for the over.

"No we can't lose this match" i thought this for a few seconds, had a look at Shakul who gave a thumbs up to me and bowled the first delivery. Facing batsman hit the ball hardly and colliding to A block wall, it went to offside therefore adding one run to their scoreline.

It was neither an outstanding delivery nor the batsman hit the ball to maximum but both the teams clapped for their players.

Rakesh ran to me and once again repeated "Well done and concentrate on the KUTTI delivery." I again replied in Yes.

But now it was altogether a different story as southpaw batsman Gowri was on strike. Again "What to do" occupied my mind taking me to totally confusing world. Totally into an uncertain state, i headed to bowl the second ball and pitched it in between off stump and wide mark. But Gowri who was superbly confident in earlier 36 balls, looked bit apprehensive this time and couldn't hold his nerve. He became so vulnerable as he too awkwardly tried to defend a ball that was more or less a perfect meal to hit the maximum. And the next moment was ours. Ball edged into middle stump leaving him and his team members red faced. Every team member and the hardcore supporters of Aashiq-8 run to middle of the pitch and hugged each other. Everybody was appreciating me and suggesting/advicing me for the rest 4 balls. Amid all the well dones and come ons, i felt somewhat relaxed. After a few seconds celebration, everybody moved to their respective positions once gain. I specifically adviced Tomer to stop single run behind the wickets.

As 4 balls left and as much runs needed, Tomer's favourite Ganpathy was on crease. He was neither a recognised bowler, nor a batsman and pressure was clearly reflecting on his face which leaded me to feel more confident.

"No he can't score on my bowl" i thought and bowled the third delivery of the over. Not sure whether it were the Ganpathy's apprehended moves around the crease or my confidence, i ended up pitching the ball at perfectly good length. It bounced slightly higher and headed straightly into Tomer's hand.

"Bowling Yaar! Bowling" Tomer appraised me in his soft voice as i got many kudos from team members. Now confidentally i headed to run up end as Raja and Guru patted my back. Overconfidently as i tried for a yoreker, Ganpathy hit the next lower full toss ball very hardly straight to the Gaurav Yadav on boundary line adding a single to their score. I heaved the sigh of relief as ball wasn’t hit for the boundary.

 “What are you doing man” I scolded myself and committed not to do the experimentation for the rest couple of balls.

As I heard “Take it easy”, “Don’t worry” and many supporting words, I turned back and reached the runup box.

The batsman on crease was one who haven’t been on strike for many times. Vishwanath reached and adviced him something. I was in great dilemma and didn’t know where to bowl. I called up Tomer and asked

“Where to bowl bhai, I am not getting anything.”

Tomer replied “Don’t get confused. Just concentrate on leg stump. Maximum they can get is a single.”

I thought for a second and nodded in yes.  But truth is that I was baffled and was quite unsure of where to bowl.  Prepared to bowl as i saw at batsman, he was looking quite confident. As the tennis ball left my hand, I realized it may go all the way to add one extra run in their score without subtracting the ball count by one. But batsman on crease had some other plans and he moved 2 inches away from leg stump to do a Tendulkar and ball hit on his leg.

Batsman tried for a single but they couldn’t as Tomer was quick enough to grab the ball and in a position to run them out by a distance of almost 20 yards. Another dot ball and match reached to the most exciting stage.

Two guys sitting in the balcony of first floor of C block doing Arun lal and Maninder Singh in hindi, Speaking of the situation like “Exciting match”, “1 ball and 3 runs required”, “Let’s see who wins” were trying to be funny by adding the ‘F’, ‘L’ and ‘C’ words which surely was irritating the crowd.

As Vishwanath gave some advice to the batsman again and I was about to bowl the climax ball, Rakesh came to me and said.

“Bro, now everything is on you. We can’t lose this match. Remember, if we lose, for rest of our stay, Public will irritate us by remembering of this match. And don’t forget how these guys have continuously annoyed us by those “Hu Ha, Hu Ha”. Go and show them what we are capable of.”

Although situation of “1 ball and 3 runs required” was more favorable to us, the sense of “Losing the match” was overpowering my confidence.  Now that’s the time I prayed to ultimate savior “Bajrang Bali Hanuman” and mumbled few lines of “Hanuman Chalisa”. Prepared to bowl, I recalled the Rakesh advice of “KUTTI” ball and “At leg stump” by Tomer.  There was pin drop silence in the ground and everybody was waiting for the fate of the match. I closed my eyes for a second to concentrate and bowled the climax delivery.  As I saw heading it to the leg stump, batsman tried to hit it too hard and by making the contact with bat, ball hit the lower portion of the A block wall and went towards the fence of Hostel number 5.  I, Tomer and Major saab ran to pick it and we saw batsman running on 22 yards strip. I never saw Tomer running so quickly and as batsmen tried to run for a 2nd, he grabbed the ball and put all the three stumps down to ground.

Everybody who was watching that contest was stunned and I remember very few guys in audiences clapped for us. Perhaps they didn’t expect us to win or they didn’t want us to win. Most of them left the ground and balconies as soon as result was in our favor perhaps didn’t want to see our celebration. But we erupted with joy and that too loudly. We hugged each and every member of the team and celebration continued almost for 4-5 minutes. That was perhaps the best feeling I ever had in a cricket match. We were on top and felt like we had passed the biggest hurdle of B. Tech. A sense of anger could be seen on the face of most of the members of opposition team and they were clueless on “How to react to that situation.” They all were standing at the same position and seeing us celebrating.  As we moved towards ‘Eklavya Bhawan’, Raja stopped us near the small entry gate and once again we did

“COCA COLA PEPSI COLA HU HA HU HA”.