Defending a score of 148 in 25 overs on a small St. Johns ground of Koramanagala, is a difficult job. Especially so, when you know that the batting of the opposition team is a formidable one. However, we knew that to win we dont need a miracle but some disciplined bowling and good fielding. We had a small team briefing by the captain, that is me, and promised ourselves some committed effort.
There is always a sense of positive anticipation when the first ball is bowled. Whether it continues to stay like that depends on its actual outcome, which in this case happened to a pulled boundary. A pull, is the most authoritative cricket shot and its like taking you by scruff and giving a tight slip. You are immediately on the back-foot. I ran to bowler, gave some tips and came back to my fielding position. However, those tips didnot seem to work and the first over ended with 12 runs. Things didnot improve much as they raced to 50 in 6 overs. However two quick wickets brought us back into the game. But it was only a temporary relief, as the next batsmen continued to plunder runs at will. With they needing only 17 runs of 7 overs with 8 wickets left, I know now, that we need a miracle.
I heard and read people telling to fight till the end. I played and watched enough cricket to know, that its difficult to end up on the position side, in this type of situations. However hard you try to keep your mind in positive frame, that things can change for you, you seem to know and believe from your past experiences that its not going to workout for you, no matter what you try. Experience has its down side. I handed the ball to a part time spinner, just to try something different, and went to my fielding at gully and I always fielded there. It is one of the most exiting position to field, as you have to anticipate every ball to come to you.
The first ball was short ball on the offside. Part time spinners always bowl short. The batsman was in a hurry to windup and played a hard perfect square-cut. However the ball was in the air to my left. In a instant reaction, I dived to my left and took the catch with both my hands. It was one of most memorable catches for me, till date. However in the process, I bruised my left hand with some blood coming out. However in the ecstacy of the moment, I didnot feel pain, and everyone congratulated me for a great catch. When something like this happens, for a moment you will be in a different plane and that joy cannot be described and no pain can actually bother you for that moment. In what you can call nothing short of a miracle, the opposite team lost quick wickets and we won by 1 run.
After the match, while washing my hands, I feld a little pain in left hand and realized the bruise is going to take two good weeks to heal. Over the next two weeks, whenever I folded and raised my full-sleeves, I felt a little pain. The pain may not have lasted more than a second, but it always brought joy reminding me of that wonderful catch and a miraculous victory, so much so that, I didnot want the bruise to heal forever. Yes, pain is good, if it can remind you of the good times.
Whenever I am down with some not so good situation, with little hope, I always remember of this match and possibility that no matter what, things can change for the better. The freshness of the catch and victory still stays on top of my mind.
