Game 6 of the 2017 season for the in-form Falcons was as simple as it could get, as the Falcons wrapped up another victory making it 6 wins in 6 games for the season. With 15 overs to spare and the Tuscon Cricket Club, 175 runs behind their target of 302, if one thought the high of the season was already attained, new members from the squad came to the fore finding form and familiarity in their new roles to top it off on a cold and windy afternoon at Mansfield park.
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| Ending 2017 on a high (From R to L: H. Shahriyar, R. Mehta, M. Rohit, Dixit, J. Patel, Y. Sharma, H. Mistry, M. Manikarnike (squatting), C. Dekhne, A. Tummala, Siva) |
The Falcons won the toss on a cold morning, elected to bat first. C. Dekhne walked in to open with a new face on the other end, H. Shahriyar. The innings started off with W. Papria keeping a tight hold from one end, while M. Lateefuddin leaked runs at a brisk pace helping the Falcons' openers maintain a moderate run rate until C. Dekhne fell against the run of play when he was out lbw to W. Papria. With the Falcons at 1/16 after the first 10 minutes of play, Y. Sharma who was promoted up the order for this game walked in to an unfamiliar situation to the Falcons dug-out since the openers had put up big opening stands in games leading up this one.
But, Y. Sharma and H. Shahriyar eased through the TCC bowling line-up which didn't have much that could trouble the batsman. Over the course of the next 14 overs, these 2 batsmen put up a sturdy partnership striking bad balls to all parts of the park, playing every ball at it's merit. Against another run of play, the Falcons would go on to lose H. Shariyar through a run out and J. Patel through a catch that lobbed straight back to the bowler, S. Chaudhary, off of a dolly. That left the Falcons having to build a partnership again, which is exactly what they got when H. Mistry walked in. For the next 10 overs, Y. Sharma and H. Mistry found themselves in a brisk partnership striking some poor bowling through mid-wicket and executing some pleasant drives through covers bringing the score up to an already mammoth 239 off 31 overs. Soon after Y. Sharma was out bowled looking to up the ante for a well constructed 133(110). The rest of the middle order and lower order including M. Rohit and A. Tummala got out going for the kill, but not before they had elevated some damage through some clean strikes as the Falcons posted 7/301 in their 40 overs.
Openers for TCC, A. Amarnath and S. Chaudhary got off to a good start making use of the brisk outfield and the breeze which didn't help the the opening bowlers R. Mehta and A. Tummala stay on target, conceding extras that they usually wouldn't have. But, R. Mehta came back well to pick up A. Amarnath off the third over. Even with the fall off the wicket, early on, TCC were moving along at a moderate run rate as A. Tummala and H. Mistry kept a tight line for the next 5 overs without any reward. A. Tummala didn't go unrewarded as he picked up S. Chaudhary towards the late end of his spell. Wickets kept falling even as TCC gathered runs through some mediocre ground fielding from the Falcons within the 30 yards circle.
The frequent fall of wickets ultimately proved too costly, especially with a mammoth run chase ahead for TCC as all Falcons bowlers, A. Tummala(1), R. Mehta (3), H. Mistry (1), M. Manikarnike (2), Dixit (1) and M. Rohit (1) got amongst the wickets through some tight bowling to wrap up the TCC middle order and the tail for 126 off 25 overs.
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