Titan

All Shoulders, No Head.

Walt H. Rambaransingh

Game 7 of the 2013 40 over campaign brought us back to our home turf at Miramar Regional Park South.  After a tough loss at United SC the week before, the Titans looked to regain their form against Paradise SC without their elected skipper.  Paradise SC won the toss & elected to bat first.

Krishna & Phani opened the bowling.  Phani took the first wicket in the 4th over.  Paradise SC amounted 85 runs after 12 overs.  Then Deo came in to bowl after a finger injury sidelined him for several weeks.  It seemed as if Deo never left as he took two successive wickets in his first three balls backed by good catches from Tiki & Dalip.  Tiki’s catch was a skyer to long off in windy (20+ mph) weather.  Dalip’s catch was a scorcher that would have assuredly gone for 6 if it had not been caught.  Deo, however, was not done.  In the 17th over he took his second set of back to back wickets with support from Tiki who took another skyer catch at long off.  Deo took another 2 wickets, the last of which was supported by a blazing catch by Prabhu at backward square leg that would have assuredly decapitated him if he had not caught it.  At the end of the 1st innings, Deo took a total of 6 wickets while Phani took the remaining 4 wickets.  Titans bowl out Paradise for 191 runs in 32 overs.  Bowling details are below:

Krishna - 6 overs, 0 maidens, 48 runs, 0 wicket, 5 wides.
Phani- 8 overs, 0 maidens, 32 runs, 4 wickets, 11 wides.
Sammy- 7 overs, 0 maidens, 38 runs, 0 wickets, 4 wides.
Deo- 8 overs, 0 maidens, 41 runs, 6 wickets, 4 wides.
Prateek- 3 overs, 0 maidens, 29 runs, 0 wicket, 4 wides. 

The Titans’ target score was 192 runs.  Chucky & Tiki began the run chase for the squad.  Tiki lost his wicket in the first over .  Sunil then came in but after scoring a quick boundary, he was caught behind on an edged ball.  Sahel followed and settled down the batting after the quick loss of 2 wickets.  Chucky (16 runs)started batting with flair with a couple boundaries but unfortunately lost his wicket while ducking under a delivery & trying to play it at the same time.  Sahel began the comeback by scoring a strong 58 runs.  Krishna chipped in with a quick 13 runs while Prabhu “lost” his wicket to a controversial decision by the umpire that had him run out to the bowler after the bowler completed his bowling action at the non-stiker’s end of the pitch.  That sparked a fire into the Titans squad along with some choice words from the opposition.  Dalip then entered and began the final chase to the target runs with Sahel on the other wicket.  That partnership did not last long as Sahel lost his wicket.  Sammy then came in but got out quickly.  Phani followed and began a game winning partnership with Dalip supported by loud, voracious support from the sidelines with Phani scoring a solid 19 runs and Dalip scoring a decisive 56 runs.  Titans CC win by 3 wickets over Paradise SC after successfully chasing down 192 runs in 28.1 overs.

This was a competitive win that was savored by the Titans players.  There were many highlights including Deo’s 6 wicket haul, Sahel’s 58 runs, Dalip’s 56 runs not out, Phani’s 4 wicket haul & his important 19 runs at the tail end along with solid catches by Tiki, Dalip & Prabhu.  We would be hard pressed to pick only one Man of the Match for this game.  With 3 games left in the regular 40 over season, the Titans look to make a final push for the playoffs.