{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf949\cocoasubrtf350
{\fonttbl\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Georgia;}
{\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;}
\margl1440\margr1440\vieww9000\viewh8400\viewkind0
\deftab720
\pard\pardeftab720\sl300\sa260\ql\qnatural

\f0\fs26 \cf0 31st May 2008 - RCC vs DCC at Shiloh\uc0\u8232 Start at 11:15 a.m. DCC won the toss and elected to bat. Proceedings started for RCC by Brother Bhu and Faraz. Both opening bowlers did a great job...especially faraz...got a quick early wicket and had the batsmen hopping around. all the bowlers did a great job to contain the batsmen and especially Pratik and Rahul both. Things started falling apart in the field with regards to fielding for RCC. I myself made a couple of blunders and we had the ball flying all over the place a few times giving over throws and stuff....all in all a bad day in the fielding area, but the brighter side is that inspite of that we kept them down to just 148 runs wich was very very easy to chase in 35 overs. \u8232 RCC went into bat with both strong openers...one classy and one stylish....Manish and Fahad respectively. both gave a nice start to the team with Fahad showing his flashy strokes....unfortunately Manish was given LBW (wich is not a surprise in MACC) to a ball pitched on the legside and he came back to the pavilion. Satbir was in next and he stood there for a while during wich Fahad got a life from a dropped catch but was unfortunate to get out the very next ball for a quick fire 32 runs from a excellent out swinging delivery from Rahul. Next man in was Andy who couldn't survive a lot of balls as once again a LBW decision sent him back to the pavilion. Snehal took a gamble of sending Sam (myself) in around the 7th over\'a0to hold one end and build a partnership (what i do best with the bat) with Satbir and we were pretty successful in that. unfortunately Satbir was struggling with his footwork (his body was sore...thanks to his visit to Big Tony...hahahaha)\u8232 and he got out and then came in Faraz....with a very very determined look on his face (wich apparently looked depressive to me...hehehehe) but again he got cleaned up by a low fulltoss....the only thing Faraz was sad about was that out of the three stumps only two fell down..last one was still standing....what a BOGUS bowler Faraz...hehehehe...then the middle order kept collapsing with me holding the other end as much as i could and treating every ball on its merit....and we kept losing wickets....a few unlucky decisions...a few mishits....the runs were never the concern...had we stood there for full 35 overs we wud've cruised home confortably. In the 28th over Miraj and myself tried to steal a single but i guess luck was completely out for us and we got a direct hit and i was run out with only 17 runs remaining to be scored. I knew it for sure that if i had stood there then i wud've finished the game in our favor...i was totally determined to do it but\u8232 i guess that was the only way they cud get me out and they did.....after that unfortunately miraj and brother bhu cudn't hold the end and we lost the last wicket and were bowled out for 132 runs with 7 overs to spare and 17 runs short.\u8232 Guys all in all our top order and middle order needs to fire....we have the potential...talent...but we need to put it into practice...we need to show that by our actions and performance that we have the talent and potential and not just by words. Practice makes a man perfect....lets have more people show up at practice...and with summer here the day being longer....sunset close to 8:30...even if every1 shows up by 6 latest then we can still get a good two hours of practice...those who can make it by 5:30 are always welcome as they can help setup the mat and nets and stuff and get things going....but pls pls pls guys make it a point to b there by 6 and pls pls we need more appearances than the regular's showing up. there are a few things we need to put in play when we practice too....which we will talk about this friday at practice....too long to b put here. i guess Satbir and Snehal will hold a small discussion with the team (all those who make it) and\u8232 we should make practice some serious practice than fun and experimenting stuff....first we shud get our basics in line wich at least gives us something to fall back on while in a game and then once we've got the basics rite...then we shud go and experiment new stuff. i know there are a lot more intelligent cricketing brains than me out here in our team....but i guess this does make sense. practice is the emphasis here....we need every1 to realize that practice is not something that is voluntary...it is mandatory for us to succeed as a team...and in practice also we need to have a mindset as if its a game and play shots and bowl and field accordingly.\u8232 Guys we are RCC...one of the few best teams in the league and we have to live upto our standards....again we've got all the talent and with the amount of batsmen we have who are capable....even if two of them fire in each game....we can make it happen...we can win....we are currently at a status of 3 wins and 2 loses...considering that we got 8 points from two washed out games...wich means one win and one loss and having won two actual games....and lost this one....all the further games are with tough teams....i wud put it as competitive teams who will beat us if we drop our guard even for a little bit....so guys lets put our act together and show that we are the team to b treated with respect and we can beat ne team in the league and emerge as the champions.....right now there are concerns of us even whether we are going to be able to make it to the playoff's or not....i'm sure we will...but we need to do that convincingly...not like barely make it\u8232 there.\u8232 all in all....we need to raise our standards...and go in with full force and minimal flaws....and grab victory in every game.....GO RCC!!!}