Titan

Grit

Walt H. Rambaransingh

On a perfect day for cricket with cool breezes around Lake Okeechobee, the Titans went to Southshore for the last game of the regular 40 over season.  Southshore won the toss and elected to bat first.  With both regular opening bowlers & both regular opening batsmen unavailable for the game, the Titans began the game with 9 players.

Cyril & Rakesh were the opening bowlers and began a stingy spell for all Titan bowlers to follow. Raka toke the first wicket with just 8 runs on the board for Southshore.  Cyril took his first wicket with a Caught & Bowled at the 30 run mark & started a rampant performance by Titan bowlers.  The pitch was a bowler’s delight.  Highlights included a 3 wicket haul for Cyril (2 Caught & Bowled), a 3 wicket haul for Tanmay (2 as a bowler & 1 as a run out), a 5 over spell by Deo that resulted in 3 maidens & a stingy 2 runs given up, a 1 wicket double maiden haul by Aati in his 2 overs & a stumping by Tiki on Walt’s bowling.  That is the 6th stumping by Skipper Tiki for this 40 over season.  Paul made an extra effort for his team & showed up 1 hour after game start by racing to Southshore in Tanmay’s car.  Atif’s wicket also ties him with Krishna as the leading wicket takers on the team for the 40 over season.  The Titans bowled out Southshore for 69 runs in 25 overs.  Bowling details are below:

Cyril- 8 overs, 0 maidens, 22 runs, 3 wickets, 3 wides.
Rakesh- 3 overs, 0 maidens, 16 runs, 1 wicket, 3 wides.
Tanmay- 4 overs, 0 maidens, 14 runs, 2 wickets, 2 wides.
Deo- 5 overs, 3 maidens, 2 runs, 0 wickets, 0 wides.
Walt- 3 overs, 0 maidens, 8 runs, 1 wicket, 5 wides.
Atif- 2 overs, 2 maiden, 0 runs, 1 wicket, 0 wides.

Since both regular opening batsmen were unavailable for this game, Skipper Tiki & Atif opened the batting.  Atif was out LBW in the opening overs for a duck.  Tanmay entered and seemed settled but gave away his wicket by trying to hit over long on & got caught by Gary (the Titan’s favorite Southshore-ian).  Raka then entered the game but was run out after scoring 1 run in a miscommunication with Tiki.  Atul then came to the crease & appeared to settle in after a sweet leg side shot for 2 runs but got bowled 2 balls later trying to defend a ball from Maxie.  FUNNY POINT- Atul told his Mom that some people labeled his batting as “The Wall” & since his folks were at the game when he was batting & got out, his Mom’s comments as he came out, “ I guess the wall just crumbled, huh?”.   Paul then came in and settled in with Skipper Tiki for an important partnership.  However, Tiki was run out on a 2 run call with ~20 runs needed to win.  Cyril then came in and brought the game home with Paul with 9 overs to go & 4 wickets remaining.

Cyril proved himself as a solid all-rounder for the Titans with his all-round efforts helping the team to the win.  Paul did not bowl but provided a lift with his steady batting bringing the game home for his beloved Titans.  On a day where the Titans did not have their opening batsmen & bowlers, the club had a gritty effort in attaining the win.  The Titans end the regular 40 overs season with a 5 wins 2 loss 1 abandoned record. Post-season plans await.