Saturday, July 18, 2009

Practice (normal Sunday) matches - 19/07/2009

So guys, after a 2 month hiatus, we are back in action.

Play Confirmed
Amongst ourselves.
Everyone Welcome.

Date: Sunday, 19th of July 2009
Assembling Time: 8:00 AM
Play Start: 8:15 AM
Venue: Lori Place (Just off Gallagher's Road),
Glen Waverly
[Backyard of Mt. View Primary School]


Confirmed:
Sanjiv
Ankit
Nihit
Amit
Ravin
Archit
Shobhit
Teji

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Match Result/Report (Lanka vs Melbourne tigeroos) - 17th May 2009

Match played at Lori Place Oval, on 17 May 2009: 10:00am - 1:30pm

Max Overs: 20
Toss: Won by Melbourne Tigeroos who elected to bat first
Result: Melbourne Tigeroos won by 5 runs

Summary (based on scorecard accuracy)
Tigeroos – 8/136
Jeet 31(28), Vicky from 2 innings 22(16), Ankit 16(21)

Lanka – 5/131
Milinda 40, Manch 32
Harry 1/17 (4 overs)

Note: official scorecard to follow...


Match Report: The game finally got underway just after 10am, with the Tigeroos allowed to bat by default (due to incomplete numbers).

The game began horribly for the Tigeroos with the openers involved in a bout of confusion, which although humorous at first, led to the bizarre run out of Savya. Vicky and Kevin settled to add quick runs for the second wicket, with Vicky being the aggressor. His four over extra cover was the highlight of the partnership. But another couple of unnecessary runouts, first Kevin and then Vicky, really dented our momentum. We were beginning to play and run like headless chooks at that stage.

Enter Jeet. With assuredness in his batting strokes and especially his calling, he and Ankit formed a solid partnership when one was desperately needed. Ankit was bowled in trying to up the ante and his wicket was quickly followed by that of Amit, caught behind straight after hitting a lofted boundary over cover. The innings was precariously poised and it was the smart running between the wickets by Nav and Teji and some lofty blows by Harry and Vicky (in his second stint) that accelerated the Tigeroos score to 136 after 20 overs. It was a good score given our horrible start and a tricky one to chase.

The disciplined opening bowling by Harry, Jeeth and Vicky ensured a fantastic start for the Tigeroos. The scoreline after 5 overs read 0/14. Our tails were up and we could sniff a hint of victory. This proved to be premature. The Lankan openers were still at the crease and started to open up by rotating the strike aggressively and hitting the odd boundary. Our depleted number of fielders (we were 2 short) did not help our cause. Amit did his best to make the match more interesting by conceding a 6 and then a 4 in his only over. Just when the Lankan opening partnership of 68 was threatening to take the game away from us, Ankit made the first breakthrough by bowling Manchi (the aggressor) for 32. Vicky, in his second spell, pegged Milinda’s (the other Lankan opener) middle stump. All of a sudden we were back in the game. The bowlers picked up extra pace and kept things tight. A couple more wickets fell at regular intervals (taken by Nav and Teji) and the equation had become 16 required from the last 2 overs. It could’ve gone either way, but for Harry’s excellent second last over (1/5) and Vicky’s great last over (conceding just 5 runs).

All in all, our bowlers were disciplined and Kevin did a great job behind the stumps. However, bowlers were not supported ably by our shoddy fielding through a couple of dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities. Nevertheless, it was a good effort in the field given that we were 2 fielders short.

It was a good game of cricket (and thanks must got to the Lankan's sportsmanship for allowing us two of our batsmen a second go) Keep up the good effort boys.

Report courtesy of Amit Sharma

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Practice (normal Sunday) matches - 10/05/2009

Play confirmed
Amongst ourselves
Everyone welcome.

Date:......................Sunday, 10th of May 2009
Assembling Time:... 8:30 AM
Play Start:..............8:45 AM (SHARP)
Venue:....................Lori Place (Just off Gallagher's Road)
...............................Glen Waverly
...............................VIC 3131
...............................[Backyard of Mt. View Primary School]

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Practice (normal sunday) matches - 03/05/2009

Play confirmed
Amongst ourselves
Everyone welcome.

Date:......................Sunday, 3rd of May 2009
Assembling Time:... 8:30 AM
Play Start:..............8:45 AM (SHARP)
Venue:....................Lori Place (Just off Gallagher's Road)
...............................Glen Waverly
...............................VIC 3131
...............................[Backyard of Mt. View Primary School]

Confirmed:
Sanjiv
Jay
Ankit
Archit
Savya
Mukul
Shobhit
Pankaj
Nihit
Ravin
Teji
Gurjit


Comments:
"All those who have confirmed availability for play, should be on the ground on time - no excuses! No show equals no match play." - Sanjiv
Those who played the match last week should bring the $3 to give to Kevin for the match ball.
Please confirm on either the blog or Sanjiv regarding your availability.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Match Result/Report [MT vs Gujju XI] - 26/04/2009

Match played at Lori Place Oval, on 26 April 2009 : 9:30am - 12:30pm
Match abandoned due to rain, to be continued on 03/05/2009
[edit] Match abandoned.
Max Overs: 25
Toss: Won by Melbourne Tigeroos who chose to bat first
Result: Melbourne Tigeroos - all out for 141 in 22.5 overs, Gujju XI - 3/39 in 7 overs


(The detail and accuracy of our scorecard reflects Amit's methodical approach- thankyou very much. Hopefully we can continue this as it allows a better analysis of our performance)
Match Report: On a day forecast at a max of 14, MT turned up for the match at Lori Place prepared to brave the chance of heavy rain and hail. Having won the toss, we elected to bat first in a game extended to a 25 overs a side.

Jay and Kevin got us off to a steady start with a couple of drop catches going in our favour. The 49 run partnership in 47 balls was characterised by sharp running between the wickets despite Jay’s sacral vertebral nerves causing him some discomfort. Kevin’s lofted four down the ground off his third ball and Jay’s deft off side glance running fine of third man as well as his trademark leg side flicks and pulls asserted their authority over the Gujju’s unremarkable bowling effort. In a rush of blood, facing Chintan (who had on many previous occasions been quite verbal about his opinions), Kevin sent one down mid on’s throat.

Asith came in, but as the pavilion reminisced and gushed of his efforts in previous matches, Asith’s innings never really got going and he was caught by a delivery that kept low.

Ankit joined Jay in the middle for a 57 run stand coming in just six overs. Jay anchored the innings and decided to play carefully to last out the overs while Ankit relied on the off side as his major scoring region – striking three fours and a flat six over deep extra cover. Towards the latter stage of the partnership Jay could not miss the middle of the bat and brought up his 50 in 48 balls.

Post drinks break, Ankit struggled to find his momentum and was stumped on a wide ball which ended his cameo of 24 off 19 balls. While Jay went on to make a few more before being caught on the boundary, Jeet agonisingly went out hit wicket after making 8. Thereafter, mayhem ensued as we fell like dominos – one by one. The collapse was highlighted – or more appropriately characterised by a string of run outs, false shots and rushes of blood. At one stage – 2/118 off 17.4 overs, and 3/132 from 20 overs, 7 wickets fell for 9 runs in the space of 17 balls, leaving us with a score of 141. Having lost 8/23, this brought down an expected total of 160-170 in 25 overs to a borderline defendable score of 141 – believe it or not, bowled out in 22.5 overs. Despite our deep batting line up, and our steady start 11 batsmen could not fulfil the 25 over quota – and we hope that this is an aberration.

However, the management in Sanjiv and Jay entrusted the first use of the Kookaburra in Teji and Jeet to get us to our first victory against the Gujju’s since as far as the mind can remember. While Jeet kept his bowling on a good length and in and around middle and off stump, Teji obliterated their top order inducing two mistimed pulls both to Kevin at short midwicket, and sending his third wicket’s off stump to his Box Hill residence to keep as a memento. Despite the success of the first four overs and having conceded just 13 off them, the next three absorbed some of our energy on the field as the Gujjus ended up with 3/39 after seven overs – ahead of the required run rate. In all, we gave the Gujju XI 12 wides (most coming off the last three balls), and although this could be attributed to the slippery ball it still remains an area of improvement. Pratik R from the Gujju XI was looking threatening on 13 when the game was abandoned as the Barsaat Devtas decided to provide some much needed relief to the tributaries of the Yarra River and farms in Victoria.

The match will either remain abandoned or be continued next Sunday.
[edit] Match was abandoned

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Match - Sunday 26/04/2009

Match Confirmed

Opponent:.......... Gujju's Team
Date:................. 26/04/2009
Assembling Time:. 9:00 AM
Match Start:........ 9:30 AM
Venue:............... Lori Place (Just off Gallagher's Road)
........................ Glen Waverly
........................ VIC 3131
........................ [Backyard of Mt. View Primary School]
Playing XI:.......... Jay
........................ Kevin
........................ Ankit
........................ Jeet
........................ Asith
........................ Ram
........................ Amit
........................ Navneet
........................ Sanjiv
........................ Teji
........................ Savya

Monday, April 20, 2009

Match Result [MT vs Avi's IBM] - 19/04/2009

Match played at Lori Place Oval, on 19 April 2009 : 10am - 2pm

Max Overs: 20
Toss: Won by Avi's IBM who chose to bat first
Result: Melbourne Tigeroos lost by 19 runs (scorecard not available for Avi's IBM Team)


- Click scorecard for enlarged and clearer view

Match Report to follow...

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Match - Sunday 19/04/2009

Match Confirmed

Opponent:.......... Avi's Team
Date:................. 19/04/2009
Assembling Time:. 9:00 AM
Match Start:........ 9:30 AM
Venue:............... Lori Place (Just off Gallagher's Road)
........................ Glen Waverly
........................ VIC 3131
........................ [Backyard of Mt. View Primary School]


View Larger Map

Playing XI:.......... Jay
........................ Kevin
........................ Nihit
........................ Ankit
........................ Amit
........................ Asith
........................ Gurjit
........................ Mukul
........................ Savya
........................ Teji
........................ Bisht
12th Man:........... Vicky
13th Man:........... Sanjiv

Monday, April 13, 2009

Introduction

Sunday mornings had become the period of time in the week when the young-at-heart Indian husbands would strap on the pads, thunder down the red shiny, and swing around their meaty sub-continental bats to their heart’s content. Sanjiv Tolat, our captain, the wily off-spinner and the most important cog in the wheel kept that wheel turning for many years and is still the major match organiser and logistical genius behind MT. Some of the other original members of Melbourne Tigeroos still playing regularly today are PV, Jay, Navneet, Rajesh, Sparkal, Satish and Param. Impressed by the blend of professionalism and social nature of the club, a generation of the Gupta family – Nihit, Kevin, Pankaj and me (Ankit) gave a youthful injection to the team. The setting- our home ground just off Mahoneys Road - Bob Sakers Oval. The sight of long square boundaries, relatively shorter straight boundaries and fenced-in lush green outfield instilled in each player an unmatchable sense of anticipation. Soon a host of other curries - Amit, Ajit, Shobhit, Vicky, Himanshu, Dev, Ravin, Mukul and the Jonty-esque Bishty added to the age diversity while our token white guy - Tim and token Asian - Gary furthered this diversity. This acceptance of all players, regardless of age, skill and race encapsulates the spirit of Melbourne Tigeroos - a club which (in its internal games) aims to give everyone a chance in each respect of the game. The only pre-requisite is a love for the game.

Traditionally the 3-4 hour contests consisted of two internal matches - the first one which is 8-10 overs a side and the second which is 6-8 overs a side depending on the time available. The playing area was restricted accordingly to the number of players which have historically ranged from 6 to 22 people. At either end of the spectrum, with rubber, kookaburra's, indoor or bat breaking balls the management of MT have succeeded in facilitating, at the least enjoyable and more often- riveting contests between teams.

In early 2007 we entered our first tournament which paved the way for our transition from a rusty social team to a well oiled unit. We missed out on the semi finals after a controversial match against the eventual winners – a match which went down to the wire. We then played T20s regularly and forged major rivalries against 3 or 4 teams. The learning curve enabled players to understand the intricacies of the game - no longer was it possible to get away with dropped catches, wide balls and soft dismissals - such was the desire to win amongst the team. Unfortunately, this flow was halted by the inaugural IPL and more than half a year went by without consistent Sunday morning cricket being played.

However over the last few months, Melbourne Tigeroos have regained momentum and picked up more players than ever before. The latest "recruits" have been our first Sri Lankan team member - the lethal left handed batsman - Asith, the trio from Punjab who's life on the fast track translates to their bowling - Teji, Gurjit and Vicky, and the man with outstanding commitment - Amit's cousin, Savya. More recently, Jeet and Raj have impacted with bat, ball and most importantly their sharp cricketing brains. The first half of this playing season (when we only played internally) yielded an average of 15 players, allowing us to play with a full field - an otherwise rare occurrence. The second half has consisted of a string of matches against our rivals - "The Gujjus," Avi's team and Asith's Sri Lankan team. It has taken us 5 matches to get ourselves near potential in most aspects but things are looking up for the future.

This team remains a constant amongst the many personal changes in people's lives over the 5 years - for me - from school to uni, for Sanjiv- from a Mazda 323 to a Lexus RX 330 and for Amit - from a lonely hopelessly wishful state to the status of a married man and the exuberance that it brings. These bear just a few positive examples Sunday morning cricket has had on us. Okay, so cricket may not be directly responsible but deductive reasoning says that a whiff of a strong dose of cricket in the Sunday morning breeze, is a breath of fresh air into life itself.

note: I want to get the introduction right, so any comments and suggestions regarding missing players etc are welcome - and I will accordingly edit them in!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Welcome to the home of the Melbourne Tigeroos.

This blog will serve to inform players not on the Melbourne Tigeroos mailing list about match details, results and reports. I encourage you all to comment and suggest ideas (although I do warn you that there is only so much you can do with a blog but is an alternative that sufficies over the website). I suggest that commenting be used interchangeably with email allowing people to confirm availabilities etc.