A Cricket Match

Introduction : Last year we played a match which I will long remember. It was played at the invitation of famous Cantonment Cricket Eleven.

Team in the field : We reached the Cantonment Club. George, the skipper f the other teams shook hands with our captain. He led the party to the field. Our captain lost the toss. We then look our positions in the field. Near the stumps lay the red ball.

Beginning of the ball : The batting began. A stout long man came in to bat. He played for a few minutes only and was then caught. One wicket was down with no runs we were all  so excited. Was the opposite team going to be easily ? Presently the second batsman appeared. He very first stroke showed him a skilled player. He batting was firm and swift. He began pilling up runs. We did not lose heart. We changed our bowlers, Raj came forward. With his second ball he took the batsman by surprise. Before the batsman could strike the ball, it had clean struck one of the stumps.

The betting ontinued, but no other player of the opposite team played  so well as the second. They played a good game but our bowlers proved too strong for team. The sixth batsman seemed to be in good from. He added considerably to the score. The Cantonment team were all out by lunch hour. The score stood at 207.

The game and score of the other team : Lunch being over, the referee gave a whistle. The player stood in the field again. Now our side went in to bat. Our first batsman made a poor start. After cutting a fast ball or two he seemed to lose his grip on the bat. He could not score many runs. Our two wickets fell in quick succession. Cricket is a game of chance. So we though it was too early to lose hope. As Ramesh, one of our best batsman, went forward, we hoped he would recover lost ground. He started well, brought the score to 50, but then a fast ball struck him on the face. He was carried away unconscious from the field.

After brief interruption the game was resumed, our side went on batting, raising the score. Shanti our eighth batsman proved the hero of the day. With great confidence he hit back every ball for full two hours. He scored a century and twenty runs. our score had already exceeded that of the opposite team. Befor the stumps were dawn our captain declared at 375. The last man was not out.

Conclusion : We thoroughly enjoyed the match. Though we won, we appreciated the game of the opposite team. Victory or defeat does not matter.