Day 12 - It's a wrap!

It has been a brilliant trip.

Except for how the Sydney test ended. I was on my way out of Sydney when I heard the commentary in the cab on the way to the airport and on TV in the lounge before boarding. Just before I boarded, we still had about 45 overs to bat with 5 wickets in hand. Was always going to be touch and go.

But it shouldn't have been. Once again, the umpires bailed out the Aussies. This time Rahul Dravid was given caught behind by Bucknor when replays clearly showed it was off the pads. Ganguly was given out to a catch which was not clean. And both of them were well on their way to save the day for India.

We went on to lose the test match in the most dramatic fashion - 3 wickets in 5 balls of the penultimate over bowled by Michael Clarke wrapped things up. No - I won't criticize the last 3 Indian batsmen. You can't expect 9-10-11 to save a game your top 8 couldn't.

Even the forecasted rain didn't rescue India.

On top of all of this, Bhajji has been banned for 3 Tests. He is denying these quite vehemently.

THE UMPIRES screwed with India. They cost us about 250 runs (Symonds and Ponting in the first innings and Hussey in the second innings) and heaven knows how much more (Dravid and Ganguly). This time, bad decisions have well and truly changed the result of the game. India would have won this in 4 days had the decisions been correct.

Oh well - they're gonna argue about the umpires and about the alleged racist comments from Bhajji and everything else. I'm off to KL as soon as I land in Singapore and then Manila the following week.

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.

Day 10 - A gem to behold

The trip has been worth it. Everyone's hero - Sachin - scored a ton. And what a brilliant one it was. It was a privilage to watch this innings at the ground. Thank you Sachin. In fact, it was so good, we watched the 2 hour highlight package on TV later in the evening.

Strokeful yet controlled. Aggressive yet staunch in defense.Cheeky yet straight out of the copybook. He also played an instrumental role in goading Bhajji to a bashful 60 and thus overhauling Australia's massive total. His celebration when he got to his 100 was a sight to behold. A befittingly resounding standing ovation from the 30,000 people at the SCG providing the soundtrack to what was a spectacular visual feast. It was like a film where the comedian (in this case Bhajji), cuts into that emotionally packed moment like a pesky fly and gives Sachin the biggest hug since Munnabhai's "jaadu ki jhappi" (magic hug).

Bhajji played his own brand of cricket. Starting off as if we was ploughing his fields in Punjab, but then settling in to blast crucial runs.

With 2 days to go, this is anyone's test. Australia could come out and score some quick runs and put India in by the end of the day. Bhajji and Kumble could have them in a web and have them all out for 200. Or it could rain (which is in the weather forecast for the next 2 days).

This promises to be a cracker and a great climax to a great trip.

One last noteworthy point. We're in this test match because of the old guard - Sachin, Saurav, Rahul and Laxman. Yuvi and Dhoni have scored all of 30 runs between them on the tour so far. But they've gotta come good. And soon.

Day 9 - In with a shot

Ok... This one will be short and sweet.

The cricket - we did well. Dravid played for a typically gritty 50 (but he does need to get a move on sometimes), Laxman played one of his beauties that he always saves for Australia. Unfortunately, we lost both of them to bad shots towards the end of the day. We need Sachin and Ganguly to stick in there if we're going to overhaul the Aussie total. At least there's a fight happening.

In other highlights... Vikas stole my memory chip for the camera and left it at home (the prick), we went shopping where Lal and I bought pointy shoes and Vikas bought all of Bondi Junction and lastly, dinner at a pub called the Australian - great Pizzas!

Hopefully more good news from the cricket tomorrow.

Day 8 - So near yet so far

The first day of the test. This was going to be the test of India's mettle.

And start off well we did. Half way through the day we had the best test team on the ropes at 130 odd for 6. And then Symonds and Hogg took charge and took them close to 400 for 7.

Now it's not that they got stuck in that bothers me. It's some of the other issues that seem to be surrounding the Indian team that are bothering me. They don't behave like a team... Leave alone a tight, well-oiled unit that a top professional side should be. A few instances...

1) Yuvraj clearly has a problem with the rest of the guys. He didn't join in most wicket celebrations. He looked disinterested and aloof through the day. Was rolling the ball in from the boundary only half way to the bowler.

2) Practise before play was a mess. People milling about. Missing catches. Laughing and joking in small groups. The Australians were at the other end of the field in all their intensity.

3) Fitness is a major issue. I'll say no more on that.

4) Younger players like Ishant need to learn to deal with disappointment. When his appeal was turned down (wrongfully so), he was like a petulant child kicking the ground and complaining (everything short of refusing to bowl). Just get back to your mark and get him out again you mutt!

All in all, it's a combination of super divas in the team, lack of fitness or even an attitude to get there and just basic pride in playing as a team for your country missing.

I don't know if we'll win this test, but we're certainly nowhere close to being a great team. A lot of this may be more apparent when you see the team at the ground rather than on the tele.

One bright spark is Sachin. Even after all these years at this level, the man revers the game and hasn't gotten too big for it. He focuses on the fundamentals and gets them right. If we had 11 players with his attitude (not necessarily his talent), this team would be achieving great things.

Oh well.

We also did head out for drinks at Double Bay with AC and a bunch of others... That was fun. More alco! Which brings me to the t'shirt Lal is wearing right now... "The liver is evil. It must be punished"!!!

Day 8 - So near yet so far

The first day of the test. This was going to be the test of India's mettle.

And start off well we did. Half way through the day we had the best test team on the ropes at 130 odd for 6. And then Symonds and Hogg took charge and took them close to 400 for 7.

Now it's not that they got stuck in that bothers me. It's some of the other issues that seem to be surrounding the Indian team that are bothering me. They don't behave like a team... Leave alone a tight, well-oiled unit that a top professional side should be. A few instances...

1) Yuvraj clearly has a problem with the rest of the guys. He didn't join in most wicket celebrations. He looked disinterested and aloof through the day. Was rolling the ball in from the boundary only half way to the bowler.

2) Practise before play was a mess. People milling about. Missing catches. Laughing and joking in small groups. The Australians were at the other end of the field in all their intensity.

3) Fitness is a major issue. I'll say no more on that.

4) Younger players like Ishant need to learn to deal with disappointment. When his appeal was turned down (wrongfully so), he was like a petulant child kicking the ground and complaining (everything short of refusing to bowl). Just get back to your mark and get him out again you mutt!

All in all, it's a combination of super divas in the team, lack of fitness or even an attitude to get there and just basic pride in playing as a team for your country missing.

I don't know if we'll win this test, but we're certainly nowhere close to being a great team. A lot of this may be more apparent when you see the team at the ground rather than on the tele.

One bright spark is Sachin. Even after all these years at this level, the man revers the game and hasn't gotten too big for it. He focuses on the fundamentals and gets them right. If we had 11 players with his attitude (not necessarily his talent), this team would be achieving great things.

Oh well.

We also did head out for drinks at Double Bay with AC and a bunch of others... That was fun. More alco! Which brings me to the t'shirt Lal is wearing right now... "The liver is evil. It must be punished"!!!

Day 7 - Lazing in Sydney

NOTE THAT I'VE UPDATED SOME PHOTOS IN PAST ENTRIES

Today was "recovery day".

We woke up late after a big NYE night! Walked to Darling Harbour for a great lunch mainly consisting of seafood fare. Took the monorail to Pitt Street from there to check if the shops would be open. In true Aussie fashion, they weren't. So we just walked to the Opera House, around to Maquarie's Chair (which happens to be the only spot (on land) from where you can photograph the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the Sunset in the one frame). Took some pictures from there (for the millionth time). Walked back to the Opera House and sipped on some Mojito's at the Opera Bar (probably my favorite bar in the world!!).



Had had enough of walking by then, so cabbed back to Chinatown for a fab Korean dinner. I stuck to a fairly basic meal while the rest of the boys experimented with some spicy hot-pot soup style stuff. The consensus was that there might be a holocaust of sorts in their room tonight... (did I mention I was glad to be on the couch!!!).

Ended the night with a light round of Poker.

Over to cricket tomorrow. SCG - a ground we've done fairly well at. However, if our performance is anything like in Melbourne, we have another think coming. Before the match itself there are a couple of things pissing me off...

1) On the news here tonight, they mentioned that word from the Indian camp is that we're going to stick to the same line up.... GOD HELP US!!! Also Zaheer has an injury scare... GOD REALLY HELP US!!!!

2) They showed some video shots of both teams going through their drills. The Aussie team looked focused and intense in their practices. Everyone was running about, looking involved and serious. On the other hand, the shots of the Indians showed the following - (a) Ganguly dropping a skier, (b) Karthik missing the stumps from 10m away, (c) I-don't-know-who misfielding, (d) Other players milling around, catching up on the latest gossip and so on.

3) Harbhajan has made another foot in the mouth statement. He claims he has Ponting's number. The last thing we want is to get Ponting any more determined than he already is to do well in the Sydney test!

4) Lalchand Rajput has made a statement that there's a problem with Yuvraj's attitude... GIVE ME A BREAK.... You're the fucking team manager. Handle team issues within the fucking team!!!!

These are things that make me feel like even in the unlikely event that we go on to win the test, we're not poised to be a great team in the foreseeable future. What's particularly sad about that is the fact that in the past 10 odd years, we've had 4 of the world's top 10 test batsmen in our team, but we haven't achieved anything bar a marginally improved away record (which, by the way, is driven by our bowling and what's more, our home record has slipped a bit - so go figure!).

But then it's the new year... we should be expecting new things I suppose???? Spoken more in hope than in conviction.

Day 6 - New year... on the rocks!

Wishing everyone a very very happy new year! Hopefully some of your biggest wishes will come true in the coming year (let's face it... Not everything will come through for you)...

Personally I'm really looking forward to 2008. I smell change. And that's always a good thing.

But with regards to more pressing matters, after getting to Sydney last night (30th), we slept in and got out only at 3pm for a very late brunch followed by shopping. I love shopping in this country because it's one of the few places in the world I feel normal in terms of sizes. I actually have the luxury of choice with clothes and shoes. The downside is that things are bloody expensive!!!

After spending the afternoon at Pitt Street (where we met Venkatesh Prasad who said "the boys are raring to go!!!"), we headed back to our apartment before heading out again for NYE celebrations.



And what a celebration it was!!! The city was pretty much closed to traffic and hundreds of thousands of revellers (us among them) congregated at vantage points around the harbour to watch the annual Sydney NYE fireworks. We watched it from the Rocks (art district of Sydney) where the pubs were open and everyone was out on the streets. It was beautiful and vibrant... Also sometimes rowdy. But always under control.



Something like this would've been impossible in India or the Philippines or even in Singapore... all elitist societies where the social gap between the rich and poor is ridiculously drastic. The well off don't want to be seen shoulder to shoulder with the not so well off. It was entirely different here. Refreshing!

After the midnight fireworks, we headed to a bar in the city itself and spent a couple of hours there.

All in all, a fantastic night. And the fact that I'm posting this before sleeping is testament to my sobriety!

Happy new year from Sydney folks!!

Day 5 - Goodbye Melbourne, Hello Sydney

Good day today. The fact that India faced a miserable loss meant that we had an extra day to hang in Melbourne. We started the day late after the big ABSINTH night last night - woke up only when the hotel management told us we had already overstayed two hours beyond check out time.

So checked out and checked into the Ponna residence to have lunch - lovely rice paper rolls made by A and her mum (Thank you A and mum!).

Headed to St. Kilda's beach and played a bit of beach cricket. I'm thinking some of the girls were also better than the way the Indian team fared! But I won't bitch about the cricket anymore.


Headed to the airport after a couple of beers and some food at the beach.

After and hour long (or short) flight, we landed in Sydney and checked into our luxurous serviced apartment where I negotiated my way to taking the couch and letting the rest of the boys share the one bed we have!!... Does pay to be tall sometimes!!!

More from Sydney tomorrow.

Day 4 - Absinth makes the heart grow fonder

Ok. We lost the match. In a nutshell it was a pathetic display. India played like they had hand grenades thrown at them. Ganguly continues to impress. Laxman looked good all too briefly. Sachin gave us another teaser, looking great while he was there, but then suddenly getting himself out. The future of Indian cricket (Yuvi and Dhoni looked lik they'd rather be somewhere else).

All in all, this Indian cricket team did not show any fight. Gave in to a less than hostile Australian attack. Fielded worse than Boycott's mum. The bowling was one bright spark. The contrast between the teams could not have been sharper. And then there are Bhajji's comments to put up with.... He needs to play a game as good as he talks it.

Kumble has a lot to think about. Who opens? Does he bring in Karthik with his record in England? Does he bring in Sehwag with his very poor recent domestic form but proven game changing capability? Who sits out? A class batsman like Dravid? Recent double centurion Jaffer? The future - Yuvi? And I haven't even mentioned the bowling line up! Clearly more questions than answers!!!!

India will have to show a lot of grit and character to not lose to a 4-0 whitewash here.

Cricket apart, today was great. The fact that we lost means we have an extra day to chill before we head to Sydney. After the loss, we trudged back to woop-woop (Aussie for a far away place) to our hotel for our evening nap. Headed out to Chappel Street for a quick bite followed by some serious clubbing.

Erinc, a good old friend and a Melbournian joined us in our exciting adventures. In fact, at some point in the evening, we went back to his place where he concocted some amazing cocktails for us! Thank you Erinc!!

Highlight of the evening was this very chic bar in the city we went to. Was on the 15th floor of a building. We were introduced to a sin called Absinth. 70% alcohol. Broken up with some caramelized sugar and a dash of cold water. And it was deadly. Lal has little memory of the sequence of events that followed. Including a conversation with some ladies where Erinc was proclaimed as Italian, Vikas asked one of the ladies to work on her Italian accent and Vikas being asked be her in return to work on his own. The night ended was Souvalaki's (kinda kebab wraps) in the city.

Tomorrow we'll probably check out some more of the city, say our goodbyes to Melbourne and head to Sydney - a city I really love!!

Day 3 - It's gonna be a long hot summer

We only slept at about 530 last night... So no chance of getting early to the game. Which is just as well since we were subject to a wild leather chase with Australia turning the screws, scoring at almost 4 an over through the day.

So we didn't go to the game at all today. Today was Discover Melbourne day (more like Discover drinking in Melbourne day). Woke up in time for a 4pm lunch. Got out to discover the hottest sun I'd ever experienced. Headed to the city after that and A took us to an uber chic bar called the Melbourne Order. A very skeptic Ponna and A then headed to watch Priscilla Queen of the Dessert and the rest of us headed to another bar (yep - lotsa drinking went down yesterday) called The Long Room - another very hip bar and sank ourselves into a few more Mojitos.

A couple of hours of that later, we caught up again with Ponna, A and the rest of the crew and headed for an Indian dinner - a resto which had it's first night open that night. Food was pretty good actually.

Then, after getting refused at a couple of back alley bars, A took us to docklands to a bar by the Yarra river, called Fix, that I thought was yet another very chilled out place to hang at.

Finally got home at about 4am after a very nice drive to the other end of Melbourne to drop A home (as a side note I think A has been a very lovely and warm host to us... She's taken pains to show us around and take us to the cool placed that Ponna doesn't have the slightest clue about!!! :)). On the way back from her place, Ponna was sleepy at the wheel and got me to drive part of the way home in the borrowed 5 series bimmer. Good car, very responsive engine, very balanced steering.

In the meanwhile, India is 6 for no loss, chasing a mammoth 499 to win. We'll be at the ground willing the boys on. But we're up against it.

Day 2 - The Phantom of the Indian Opera

This time I got more of my fearless forecast right... It was warmer and sunnier. India got the last wicket early. We lost 2 quick wickets.


But after that, once again, India went into meek capitulation. It's not like the wicket had any devils, but the discipline among the Australian bowlers to get into the good areas just got to the Indians. Having said that, the one thing that made the day bearable was Tendulkar's innings. It was sublime and dominating. But again - against the run of play, he was gone! Going back to the theory of winning sessions, after day 2 - Australia is up 4-2 after taking all 3 sessions today.

The day was also studded with other interesting observations...
1) Cricket watching in Australia is a pleasure. As against India, where it's a pain to get tickets to the game, get to the stadium, get into the stadium, find a seat, find food and water, deal with security... everything, here it is seamless and an ABSOLUTE PLEASURE!


2) The crowds were very boisterous.. especially in the section we were seated in during the first 2 sessions. Smack in the middle of the Swami Army. Chants ranged from the usual "Sachin Sachin", to the offensive "Show us your passports / Show us your handcuffs" (directed at the Indians by the Aussies and to the Aussies by the Indians respectively.... or should I say disrespectively), to the absurd "You are a wanker".

3) The security guys were sensible. Unlike in India, where every security person seems to be on a power trip, weilding his "lathi" where he can, these guys had the crowd under control while providing a long leash. They'd let a lot of things to pass off as fun while ejecting the odd ball out of the stadium to reinforce who was in charge.

Anyway - after the game we had a bit of an adventure with the Melbourne railways to get back to our hotel to freshen up and then headed out to the next big treat of the night...

Watched Phantom of the Opera at this quaint old theater - Princess Theater. It was absolutely outstanding. The music and elaborate sets combined to make this a very haunting and moving experience. It was stunningly beautiful. Beautiful enough to bring a tear to Vikas' eyes. :) Enough said.

This still wasn't the end of the day. We capped it off with dinner at a very average Italian place, followed by Karaoke (led by A), where Andy rocked the show, followed by Odeon - a club at the Crown Entertainment complex and lastly Bangalore and me (for some strange inexplicable reasons) hanging out at the casino, watching Lal lose money and Vikas win money at poker, inspite of our sleep deprived states.

All in all, the cricket was salvaged by Sachin's innings, the evening was fantastic, we are all very tired and are likely to sleep in.

I'm not going to hazard a fearless forecast for tomorrow. It hurts too much.

Day 1 - Boxing day is all that it's hyped to be... and more

So I got all my predictions wrong... Except for the weather forecast!!! :)



Boxing day at MCG is an experience to behold. Got there after sacrificing omlette orders that took way too long.

Settled down on the upper tier in time for the first ball. India lost the toss and were fielding. Annhiliation followed. Australia racked up 111-O at lunch inspite of a pretty hostile opening spell.

We decided to take India's fate into our own hands. Being the superstitious Indian cricket watchers that we are, we decided to change things up and made the ultimate sacrifice for the troops. We left the stadium (the real story is that we just didn't want to watch Australia chalk up 400 for too few in the day) and headed for the Great Ocean Road. The radio was on through the journey and YES we were ruing not staying back at the ground BUT maybe the wickets would not have fallen had we stayed back. This was further evidenced later.. But I'll come to that in a minute.



Great Ocean Road was a beauty. The weather was crisp. The sea was angry. And the sun was shining bright! Only hinderance was wayyyy too many flies... Never really understood that about Australia.

On the way back, Ponna had the sudden epiphany that the BMW we were in had a fucking tele in it! Pulled over and watched a bit of the game ('cause sensibly enough, the tele won't work in a moving car), including the over when Mitchell Johnson was caught at short leg but wasn't given. As soon as we turned it off, a wicket fell (hence the theory that we should not we "watching" the game... Subsequently modified to Lal and Vikas should not be sitting adjacent to each other while watching the game).

All in all, 2 fantastic sessions for India. And if the theory about winning more sessions wins you the test is true, then we're 2-1 up! But they have the runs on the board and we don't.

Anyway, we ended the day with another lovely Sri Lankan dinner at the Ponna's.

I'll hazard another fearless forecast... Another sunny day tomorrow. India will wrap up the last wicket within the first 5 overs and then lose 2 quick wickets... Jaffer and Laxman. Dravid and Sachin will steer us to safety and we'll end the day at about 280 for 6.

Probably the most critical day of the series tomorrow. If India capsize, it could be a long hard Australian summer!

Day 0 - Chilling in the Melbourne Summer

This is not quite the southern hemisphere summer I was looking forward to. Melbourne is chilly. Jackets essential!

But before I get to Melbourne - the flight. Long and painful. Price of my last minute booking was that I flew to Perth from Singapore, hung out at the airport for 3 hours in the dead of night before my next flight to Melbourne. During the first leg of the trip I watched the new Wes Anderson movie - the Darjeeling limited - which was bitterly disappointing.

So got to a chilly Melbourne around noon, got picked up by Ponna, Andy (Ponna's bro), Lal and Vikas (who ironically left Singapore a couple of hours after me but got there a couple of hours before) and headed out for a lovely Sri Lankan christmas lunch with Ponna's extended family.

Post that, a detour for Ponna, to perform his duties as the good boyfriend we all know he is, to deliver Christmas presents before heading to the hotel, downing a couple of large scotches (very good and very expensive single malt acquired at the duty free - Highland Park 21 years - thanks Comu) on the rocks and crashing.

Woke up, headed to the Ponna's for a bit, discussed chick flicks, constellations, planets, life in Australia, politics of the sub continent, the wicket for tomorrow's game, team compositions and headed out to dinner at Chapelli's on Chappel Street... Kinda the equivalent of Orchard (without the massive malls) in Singapore or Linking Road in Mumbai (ok maybe not).

Now, for tomorrow. My fearless forecast... Hot and sunny day tomorrow. India will win the toss and bat. Put up 250 for 5. Dravid and Jaffer will open. Laxman one drop followed by Tendulkar, Ganguly, Yuvraj and Dhoni. Bowlers will be Kumble, Zaheer, RP and Irfan. We'll draw this game. Key performers will be the Mumbai brigade - Sachin and Jaffer with the bat and RP and Kumble with the ball.

However, if Australia wins the toss and bats... Now that's a whole different story... And not a very happy one for India!!!

Let's hope I'm not eating my words tomorrow with my fearless forecast!!!

Over to the MCG!!!

For an alternate view of this adventure, check out Resident Dormitus

AUSSIE KI TAISI tour diary DAY -1

Ok... In the next hour I'll head to the airport to land in Melbourne on Christmas day - in time to prepare for the big day... the BOXING DAY test - India v Australia.

Watch this space for musings from the land down under, the cricket and adventures of the troops (with characters like Y-kas, Lal and K.Bangalaore from Hydrabad and Ponna, this promises to be a CRACKER of a 10 day trip).

Next update from Melbourne!

3 weekends, 3 wins

This past weekend P&G Cricket Club notched up it's 3rd straight win! This is a record of sorts in the history of P&G Singapore Cricket. For starters, we've never won 3 in a row in the league. A couple of years ago, 3 games is all we won in the entire season. This time around we've won 3 of 4.

Anyway, we had a team of 10 and batted first against Fusion CC (a side we had previously beaten in a friendly inspite of having only 8 players). Esh (16 off 30) and I (29 off 36) provided the team with a solid foundation (54 for 0 in 10). Two quick wickets later Bakir (34 off 28) and Tapish (27 off 45) consolidated, taking the score to 122 in 22 overs. We had a bit of a slide towards the end, ending all out for 161 with 1.1 overs to go.

Fusion got off to a flyer with 11 off the first 9 balls of the innings before Nitin Goel (2 for 32 in 6) took 2 off 2 balls to peg them back. Bakir (1 for 11 in 5) and Tapish (1 for 12 in 4) were typically miserly. Paddu came in and demolished the tail to be the most successful bowler with 5 for 19 off 4.5.

Another highlight was the fielding. 9 of the 10 wickets we took were catches (Raf had two blinders, Esh had a couple of nice ones behind the wicket and Lal made his look very easy) and the only other one was a run out (took 4 people to make that happen - comedy of errors).

Next weekend we're up against Tanker Pacific - We have a 6-0 record against them but they're still a pretty decent team.

Watch this space for more and feel free to leave your comments here.

Another weekend, another win!

P&G CC made a killing this past weekend again. We beat Singapore Management University by 8 wickets with 11 overs to spare (that's massive in a 30 over game)!! This sets us up nicely for the rest of the season with 20 points from 3 games. Caveat - we're still not at the top of the leader board yet! In fact we're 16 points behind Polaris (current leaders and unbeaten in 4 games), albeit with a game in hand. There are 3 other teams with more points than us, but they've played 1 or 2 games more than us as well. It's going to be a hot season.

They batted first on what was the hottest and most humid weather I have ever experienced (and I come from Bombay!) and restricted them to 141 for 7 in 30 overs, largely due to miserly middle over bowling, especially from Tapish (2 for 16 in 6) and Bakir (0 for 19 in 6), good catching from Matt and a stunner from Paddu. The weather did a turn-around when we started batting and it looked like it would rain any minute. With none of us having any idea about Duckworth or Lewis, we decided to go for the kill. We got there in 19 overs and with only 2 wickets lost. Sriram came back with a bang to score 38 not out in 40 balls and Paddu with a quickfire 29 in 20. Mr Extras top scored with 53 (more than a third of the target!!! (Thank you SMU).

Another highlight was some heated exchanges - one of the fielders got himself into trouble with the umpires for having a go at me and then Sriram got into a bit of an exchange with the keeper.

Check out the scorecard here.
2 parting thoughts...
- Next opposition in 2 weeks is Tanker Pacific. A team we've beaten a 100 times. Having said that, they beat the team that beat our 8 man team in the first game!
- I'd love to play a friendly against a Division 2 team. I think we're good enough to get there on current form. Let's see if we can pull that off this coming weekend.

Look Ma... we won!

And how!

P&G Cricket Club (P&GCC) beat the living daylights (and crap) out of ANZA4 in our 2nd game of the season in the Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) League. This is the 3rd straight year some of us are playing in the league and I've never seen anything like it!

Batted first and scored 182 all our in just under our allocated 30 overs. By no means a massive total. Bunch of us got into our 20s and got out. Was relieved to get some runs on the board finally... topscored with 27 off 28 balls (of course I'll mention that!). Raf, displayed his penchant for some rearguard action and got 23 off 17 to give us a semblance of decency. The massacre came after that.

We got them all out for 38 in just over 12 overs!!! The other Nitin of the team (and the more talented one) got 3, as did Tapish. Bakir and Paddu got 2 each.

Check out some random photos from the game. Watch this space for more news on the progress of P&G CC in the league.

Also - check out the scorecard.

Can't believe we lost that game

We batted well in large part. Ganguly played well. Tendulkar played well. Dhoni played well. Karthick played well. We bowled well also. Sreesanth did not get plastered. Munaf looked the part. Tendulkar was useful. BUT WE LOST!

Esh had a blast tho. Check out the video link below. Note that on the penultimate ball, Dhoni hit one in the air. The Indians started screaming coz we all thot it was a six. Then we saw one of the Lankans catch a blinder. That's when Eshan was... well... expressive of his boundless joy. The prick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFdz90tt8lw