Senayan create history with final win

Winners of the league Senayan Cricket Club - Jakarta © ICC

Senayan C.C. capped off a deserving victory in the Kabelvision JCA League 2004 - 2005 Grand Final and in the process achieved the unique distinction of becoming the first club in JCA history to stay unbeaten through an entire season. Though the final victory margin of 4 wickets made it look easy it was anything but that. Chasing a modest total of 166 Ceylon did give them a few nervous moments before Amar and Sachin shepherded them to a memorable win.

The Grand final this year attracted a lot of spectators at the Cibubur ground, including the students from local schools from Bogor and Karawang and the presence of quite media journalists from Jakarta Post, Jakarta 24, Island Sportz Magazine and Q Channel. The Indonesian kids from Bogor and Karawang played a 7 over game between them during the innings break cheered by their senior counterparts.

ICF Coach Umpiring Bogor v Karawang © ICC

After having won the toss Senayan stuck to the tried and tested strategy of putting the opposition in. With a gentle breeze blowing across the ground the conditions were perfect for swing bowling. Alas the Senayan bowlers were hardly in the right frame of mind. In what can only be termed as a case of final-nerves they sent down a remarkable 20 wides within the first 4 overs. To add to their woes the Ceylon openers, Ravi and Gaurav were putting the bad balls away with remarkable elan and the fielders putting down half chances with unnecessary generosity. Though Musti took up the attack and stopped the boundaries he too was guilty of spraying the ball around. At this stage it looked like Ceylon were set for something in the region of 250. As a small consolation, Rajesh dismissed Ravi in the last over before drinks to leave Ceylon at a very healthy 80 for 1 at the break.

If the first session belonged to Ceylon the second and third sessions saw the true Senayan emerge. Vibhu and Amar took up the attack and roped in the Ceylon batsmen with a fantastic display of spin bowling. Both the Senayan spinners tossed the ball up and got it to drop as if they had it tied to a string. They snared, or dare I say, flummoxed 6 Ceylon batsmen between them and reduced the run rate to a trickle. From here on Ceylon were struggling to play out their 35 overs. Shanker got the key wicket of Rajesh, rapping him in front of the stumps and then dead eye dicks Rajesh and Sachin scored direct hits to have the last two batsmen run out. Ceylon had crashed from a promising 80 for 1 to 165 all out.

Kids enjoy the action © ICC

The Senayan openers started off in their customary fashion, cautious but steady. They pushed the score along to 39 before Shanky fell to a splendidly athletic catch by Asif patrolling the point region. Musti replaced him and in his skipper's company saw Senayan through to the drinks break without further damage at 45 for 1. On resumption Musti tried to up the tempo but found the Ceylon bowlers a wee bit uncooperative. In trying to improvise he shuffled too far across the stumps and was adjudjed leg before with the score reading 52. Vibhu came in next and the game was delicately poised at this stage. Ceylon could sense that they were in with a chance and it reflected in their bowling and fielding. The bowlers kept a tight line and length while their fielders chased down every ball cutting off hits that were surely destined to reach the boundary. But then Vibhu has the ability to make even good bowling look no more than pedestrian. He got off a flurry of hits that included a huge six at the pavilion end. No sooner had this onslaught settled the Senayan nerves, disaster struck. Rajesh first trapped Srini leg before and then Vibhu clipped a ball straight to square leg where Rajesh took a straightforward but sharp catch. Prakash then came in and went out within the blink of an eye. Senayan had crashed from a healthy 90 for 2 to 96 for 5. Prakash on his way out had whispered to the incoming batsman Prasad, "save me" and that was exactly what senayan needed. A savoir. Not for the first time this season Amar rose to the occasion. First in the company of Prasad, who managed to get some meaty blows away to take the pressure off and then in the company of Sachin. After a few nervous moments Amar settled down to play some impervious shots that took the wind out of Ceylon. A particular shot that will remain etched in the memories of everyone present at the ground will be a scrumptious straight drive that many believe might have singed the Cibubur grass. In the end Sachin also got into the act and finished off the game with shots that pierced a packed off side field. Amar was rightly adjudged MOM for his precious knock of 33 and a match turning spell of 2 for 25.

Though Senayan for a while had made the game look interesting, even leading to one of their supporters to scream "You Blew it" in disgust, they came through at the end. Just like they had done through the entire season, everybody chipped in with modest but crucial contributions and held their nerve when it mattered the most.

The Grand final this year attracted a lot of spectators at the Cibubur ground, including the students from local schools from Bogor and Karawang.