No Upstate blackout, as SUNY shine at Hoosac
Man of Kent Cricket Club go down at home by four wickets, in a fighting performance against the SUNY Albany CC.
Match report by Nigel Johnson
Hoosac, NY. Well, it was somewhat of an eventful week, and as usual this season, the weather kept us guessing up until the last moment. Torrential down pours in various adjacent locales caused some consternation among the faithful, as Sunday approached however, not a drop of the abundant, clear, celestial, fluid fell on our beloved turf wicket at Hoosac School, still damp and unable to dry in the 100% humid conditions of tropical Upstate NY. So as game time neared, Peter and Jody appeared like lawn elves in the gathering mist, (or should it be Elvis’s,) primping and marking the wicket, and outfield to it’s pristine best.
At the end of the week, and across the miles many a chuckle rang out in the land of flying carpets as news spread of the power outage in the this North East corner of the United States. Having endured for many weeks now, the fruits of liberation - lack of sanitation, food, and basic utilities, the Iraqi citizenry could not help but enjoy the irony of our electrical grid failure, causing distinct discomfort here in the homeland. “We don’t mind sharing,” they said followed by, “Praise be to Allah!” However, for the most part people dealt with it calmly and there was even some camaraderie exhibited in the Big Apple, in the new team spirit, nurtured since 911. As Tim had commented, we even listened to, and took notice of our Governor, a scary thought, and we must put it down to the heat.
In the interim, deep in the command bunker somewhere below a Washington DC Dunkin Donuts, our political masters were wondering if their victory in the war against terrorism (otherwise known as “Dubya Dubya III”) had backfired, and perhaps Osama had joined forces with Ken Lay to form Enron Bin laden Inc; to spike those kilowatt share prices just one last time. Still, it was back to normal quickly, as the inevitable lawsuits were filed and the acrimonious finger pointing began. Meanwhile on the right coast an Austrian “Terminator” revealed to Jay Leno, that he was running in the maybe race for the Governorship of CA, or the latest GOP tactic to undermine the democratic process. All he needs now is the slicked down hair, a little mustache, and a funny walk! And I hear Poland has mobilized.
So what of the Great game you say, and as England ground out a close victory at Trent Bridge against South Africa, the Man of Kent team gathered to face the mighty SUNY Albany team, victors in a recent round robin tournament of other local cricket teams. Well, that was the plan. It would appear that an early start and the MOKCC team seem to be as compatible as J-lo and Ben in a decent movie, as the SUNY team walked the wicket awaiting our arrival. Slowly the troops mustered, marshaled this week by yours truly, and Vice-captain Vic, who came armed with a large cauldron of bubbling chicken curry.
Although admiring of the well rolled wicket, SUNY captain, Sairam still decided to field first in the dewy conditions, having won the toss, - a wise decision as opening bowlers Rajesh and Anser found some early movement and a low bounce to keep the openers; Mandar and Vic’s interest.
However, they did get of to a decent start putting on a 70 run opening partnership giving the home side some hope for a decent total. Seeing Vic scamper for those singles really got the heart rate pumping, and those ghee laden platelets circulating at a great rate of knots. But just as the pair were settling into a good rhythm Mandar hit a straight drive that Vic was unable to avoid and he took a nasty hit on his forearm. At first we thought is was just Vic’s ploy for an early water break, but true enough a large welt emerged on his arm and began to grow and throb like Bob Dole’s pencil on Viagra. Vic had to retire to have his forearm iced down.
Nawal eagerly stepped in as number three and his youthful legs were of great benefit to Mandar who was beginning to accumulate runs like candidates on the California Gubernatorial ballot. Nawal survived a few early shouts, including an amusing mix- up between wicket keeper and first slip, which resulted with the ball on the ground, and the air surrounding it rather blue! Still the partnership made it to drinks without a slip up. After drinks, SUNY’s Ulhas had a useful middle spell picking up three wickers in short order, including yours truly still trying to find some elusive form, and a touch of luck at the off.
Sam joined stalwart Mandar and they steadied the innings into three figures and hope of a decent total. However pushing the run rate along against an experienced side with depth in bowling is difficult and Sam was smartly caught by Prahlad, off Anser for 10 runs before entreating Vic to return to the wicket to keep the momentum going. Both valiantly fell going for their shots but not before Mandar had completed a fine innings of 73, and Vic adding a heroic 19, in difficult personal circumstances. Allan and Peter completed the 30 overs for a total of 134, a Man of Kent best, at home against some useful, if erratic bowling. But was it enough against the visiting side.
A brief break for food and drinks saw Zohair and Sairam pad up to open for the SUNY team, and both openers set the pattern of the innings by rotating the strike and putting away anything short or wide. However, Mandar struck first for the home side with a well-taken catch in the deep by Charlie at long on, taking the wicket of Zohair for 11 runs. Four runs later saw a really first-rate piece of luck fall to the home side as a grounded stroke was driven straight back at the bowler, Sam. Although unable to catch the ball, Sam did have the wherewithal to deflect it onto the stumps, stranding a disconsolate Sairam who looked set for a big total.
Tushar and Ulhas regrouped and proceeded to put on a 90 run partnership that had the visitors seemingly heading for a comfortable victory, but then that wouldn’t be cricket. Up to the mid innings drinks break the SUNY team looked at ease, as they were able to exploit any chinks in the MOKCC amour, like for example; our half centurion plus, Allan at 69, (years that is, not runs.) Allen game fully chipped in a couple of lofted overs prior to the break as the MOKCC looked to upset the rhythm of SUNY middle order. Strangely enough the bowling had not been that bad, but the strike rotation keep the scoreboard moving at a demoralizing rate, as the runs clicked off and the wickets could not be found in the drying, flat batting track.
After the break a final assault was made on the partnership, and in Mandar’s final over a worthy break came the home side’s way. After making a fine half-century, Ulhas was caught behind by stand in stumper, Stuart. Mandar’s third victim came in the next ball as Tim hung on to Anser’s wild swing, but poor Mandar had come to the end of his allotted overs with a tantalizing hat trick unrealized, and he had to be content with just a two wicket maiden, to complete an adrenalin fueled spell. It was at about this point that the clouds took on a very menacing look, and the cricket god, Persaudious spoke in distant thunder, was Messrs Duckworth and Lewis to going to raise their unwelcome heads?
At the other end Sam got in the action uprooting Gurinder’s stumps for a single, now was a batting collapse imminent, the home side could only hope, and hope springs eternal, especially when Charlie slipped one straight through the gate of Abhishek to see another wicket fall in the next over. The Man of Kent side were elated to see the wickets total rotate upwards on the scoreboard, but less so to see the runs total similarly rotate as the chasing margin decreased at an alarming rate. Tusher held his nerve and the winning run, to a personal unbeaten 31, as the tourists made the victory a certainty, albeit a little nervy at the end.
So with much
friendly banter and talk of a rematch in Albany, we awaited Joe with the food,
did I mention we awaited Joe with the food? We began to look forward to our
game this week with our friends from the Tri-City cricket club, and we still
awaited Joe with the food. Finally Joe was spotted on the horizon, and we
eventually ate heartily to complete a good afternoon and a decent showing
against a very good local side. Our steady improvement continues, and it was
an entertaining and thrilling game to participate in, but clearly there is
still much to do.
