Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Farewell Hangout......!
Today was a special day.This was the last time my gang was going to hang out.Vishnu is flying to san diego on 13th,vineetha left for kerala today , don't know if she ever will come back to chennai again and shruti will leave for southampton on 21st , thereby jus the 6 of us left... and that too krishna might leave us soon.... so it was kinda farewell day today... We went to ascendas for the lunch , and as usual we were late. Today the lunch was on vishnu for he wanted to give us a treat before he left.As usual we thronged KFC and McD and had a sumptous lunch... Then we started for sathyam to see WALL-E. This movie was awesome , no dialogues for almost 80% of the movie , but the way they picturised Robots with emotions kept us engrossed throughout the movie. It was a masterpiece and everyone loved the movie.Then it was time for the farewell , the moment i hate when it happens... No1 showed much emotions though , except for vineetha , she broke down...The tears in her eyes told the pain in her heart... I really felt bad for her , she would miss us a lot , we never knew when we would meet her again...And finally it was time to leave.... I didnt have much of a feeling then at the theatre , but when i write this now am feeling really bad...I have no idea when we'll all be meeting again as a gang but am so eagerly waiting for that very day.....2010 or 2011 , fate determines it...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
My First match in the city cricket league(A Heart-Breaker)
Been a while since i posted my last post.....Its good writing again into my blog...
This sunday(17.8.2008) i had made my debut in TNCA 4th division league , and it turned out to be awesome day. This is was the third match for my team Prasad cc and my first.On the back of 2 defeats in d first 2 matches , we badly needed a win here , so we had rigourous practice sessions the days before.The match was at MIT(Chromepet) and i reached the place around 8 in the morning. We had a warm up session for an hour and the match started at 9 30. We lost the toss and fielded first, we had a reasonably good start , we took a wicket early in d 4th over and we were bowling well.I got my chance to bowl in d 8th over since i'm not good in controlling the swinging new ball and so i don't open the bowling. I bowled reallly good and even had only maiden over of the match to my name. Then i struck , a wicket in my 4th over(14th over of the innings) and they were 2 down for 50.Then we hardly had the luck on our side , they kept on scoring at fast rate and finally they scored 264 all out in 49 overs.It was a such a tiring day for us running all over the ground when they were scoring. The pitch was a dead one , no pace watsoever in it , so it was a day for d spinners to shine.Still i bowled well enough to be the most economical bowler of d day bowling 6 overs at the cost of 15 runs with a wicket. Set a stiff target of 265 , our batsmen had to shine.We started of with a bang a la sehwag style, Jani smashed the bowlers apart , and he even hit 3 cosecutive 4's but got out the fourt ball going for another boundary.Then we lost another quick wicket , but we stablised there after with both pramod sir and satish scoring well.Even aftr pramod got out , we had guru who was in awesome form scoring. At the 2nd drinks break at 31 overs, we were 165 for 3.We were cruising to victory , until tragedy struck.Immediately aftr the break , satish got out for a well made 64. Then it was guru's turn to get out chasing a risky single.Now we were in trouble , and thge rest of the batsmen failed miserably except Udhay anna.Finally we were 8 down for 230 aftr 47 overs.That is when Ravi sir went in.Let me describe ravi sir, He's 42 years old , owner of the 4th largest construction company in south india , and plays cricket for the passion he has for it. Never seen him bat before but he heard if he hits , it goes out of the park.He's such a nice person and u'll never tag the word aggression with him if u see him.Back to the match , he had wild swings at every ball but he connected with none.So finally we needed 22 of the last over which we thought was completely impossible. Ravi sir started the over with a bang hitting the first ball for a 6.Then a no ball , then a boundary and then again a huge 6 from ravi sir.Now we needed jus 5 runs from 3 balls , we had come so close.Next ball was a dot ball , nw 5 of 2 , thn ravi sir hit it high in the air and got out.Aaaaaaah , we cudnt beleive it.nw we needed 5 of 1 ball with me at the non striker end.Uday anna went for a paddle sweep but we cud get only 2 runs for it.A heart breaking finish , we fell short by just 2 runs.So close yet so far :(
This sunday(17.8.2008) i had made my debut in TNCA 4th division league , and it turned out to be awesome day. This is was the third match for my team Prasad cc and my first.On the back of 2 defeats in d first 2 matches , we badly needed a win here , so we had rigourous practice sessions the days before.The match was at MIT(Chromepet) and i reached the place around 8 in the morning. We had a warm up session for an hour and the match started at 9 30. We lost the toss and fielded first, we had a reasonably good start , we took a wicket early in d 4th over and we were bowling well.I got my chance to bowl in d 8th over since i'm not good in controlling the swinging new ball and so i don't open the bowling. I bowled reallly good and even had only maiden over of the match to my name. Then i struck , a wicket in my 4th over(14th over of the innings) and they were 2 down for 50.Then we hardly had the luck on our side , they kept on scoring at fast rate and finally they scored 264 all out in 49 overs.It was a such a tiring day for us running all over the ground when they were scoring. The pitch was a dead one , no pace watsoever in it , so it was a day for d spinners to shine.Still i bowled well enough to be the most economical bowler of d day bowling 6 overs at the cost of 15 runs with a wicket. Set a stiff target of 265 , our batsmen had to shine.We started of with a bang a la sehwag style, Jani smashed the bowlers apart , and he even hit 3 cosecutive 4's but got out the fourt ball going for another boundary.Then we lost another quick wicket , but we stablised there after with both pramod sir and satish scoring well.Even aftr pramod got out , we had guru who was in awesome form scoring. At the 2nd drinks break at 31 overs, we were 165 for 3.We were cruising to victory , until tragedy struck.Immediately aftr the break , satish got out for a well made 64. Then it was guru's turn to get out chasing a risky single.Now we were in trouble , and thge rest of the batsmen failed miserably except Udhay anna.Finally we were 8 down for 230 aftr 47 overs.That is when Ravi sir went in.Let me describe ravi sir, He's 42 years old , owner of the 4th largest construction company in south india , and plays cricket for the passion he has for it. Never seen him bat before but he heard if he hits , it goes out of the park.He's such a nice person and u'll never tag the word aggression with him if u see him.Back to the match , he had wild swings at every ball but he connected with none.So finally we needed 22 of the last over which we thought was completely impossible. Ravi sir started the over with a bang hitting the first ball for a 6.Then a no ball , then a boundary and then again a huge 6 from ravi sir.Now we needed jus 5 runs from 3 balls , we had come so close.Next ball was a dot ball , nw 5 of 2 , thn ravi sir hit it high in the air and got out.Aaaaaaah , we cudnt beleive it.nw we needed 5 of 1 ball with me at the non striker end.Uday anna went for a paddle sweep but we cud get only 2 runs for it.A heart breaking finish , we fell short by just 2 runs.So close yet so far :(
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wimbledon has a new king.....!
It was a match up that everyone knew even before its start that it would be one of the greatest matches in tennis history,Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer(Part 3) on centre court.And truely it lived upto its billing.Wimbledon has a new king. Rafael Nadal dethroned Roger Federer after a five-year reign by winning the longest-ever Wimbledon men's final.
The consistently heartstopping 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7 classic began at 2.35pm and thanks to a couple of breaks for rain (surely necessary for the spectators to catch their breath), it ended at 9.15pm with the 22-year-old from Mallorcan dropping to the ground with his arms outstretched in celebration.
Watching the four hours and 48 minutes on-court action, from the vantage point of the royal box, was Centre Court legend Bjorn Borg. Nadal had matched the Swede's fantastic feat of winning the Grand Slams of Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back and had also prevented Federer surpassing the five titles in a row he collected between 1976 and 1980.
Conditions for the latest duel between tennis's two finest players could not have been more demanding. The rain, which delayed the start for 27 minutes, eventually cleared but the chill, gusting wind which accompanied it persisted throughout the match, blowing winning shots off course and making life even more difficult for the two competitors. That they coped so well spoke volumes for their skill and adaptability.
With the five-time champion looking less than his authoritative best, it was Nadal who struck the first heavy blow, capitalising on successive Federer errors to break for a 2-1 lead.
From the start Nadal concentrated his battering-ram attack on the Federer backhand, aiming every serve and looping forehand in that direction and it kept the champion in an unaccustomed position - on the back foot. Federer prospered more when he switched to net-rushing but he could not block Nadal's inexorable advance towards the first set.
The Spaniard managed to fight off a break point to stay 3-1 ahead and he needed to avert two more as he served for the set, which he clinched on his third set point after 48 minutes, courtesy of another brace of ground stroke errors from Federer.
It was the first set Federer had dropped since the final of the French Open, when he was routed by the same Nadal.
Federer's counter-attack was immediate and it rushed him into a three-game lead which he extended to an apparently commanding 4-1 with his sixth and seventh aces, only for the irrepressible Nadal to bounce back with some thrilling, all-action stuff.
To Federer's visible anger, his serve was broken as a stretched volley flew out of play and Nadal pulled level at 4-4 as Federer squandered yet another break point.
Now Nadal was in full, thrilling flow, breaking Federer again to lead 5-4 with another huge forehand and celebrating with pumped fists. As he was serving for the second set, Nadal received a warning from umpire Pascal Maria of France for taking too long between serves.
Clearly unsettled by the timing of that censure, the Spaniard permitted Federer another break point on a wind-caused error, but in typical fashion dug deep and clinched the set when Federer once more mistimed a backhand into the netting. So, having swept five games, Nadal was in the driving set, two sets ahead.
Nadal's authority suffered a scare in the third game of the third set when he slipped in making a sudden change of direction and called in the trainer to check on his right knee. No time-out was requested by Nadal, though his speed around court appeared to be affected for a while.
Conditions for the latest duel between tennis's two finest players could not have been more demanding. The rain, which delayed the start for 27 minutes, eventually cleared but the chill, gusting wind which accompanied it persisted throughout the match, blowing winning shots off course and making life even more difficult for the two competitors. That they coped so well spoke volumes for their skill and adaptability.
With the five-time champion looking less than his authoritative best, it was Nadal who struck the first heavy blow, capitalising on successive Federer errors to break for a 2-1 lead.
From the start Nadal concentrated his battering-ram attack on the Federer backhand, aiming every serve and looping forehand in that direction and it kept the champion in an unaccustomed position - on the back foot. Federer prospered more when he switched to net-rushing but he could not block Nadal's inexorable advance towards the first set.
The Spaniard managed to fight off a break point to stay 3-1 ahead and he needed to avert two more as he served for the set, which he clinched on his third set point after 48 minutes, courtesy of another brace of ground stroke errors from Federer.
It was the first set Federer had dropped since the final of the French Open, when he was routed by the same Nadal.
Federer's counter-attack was immediate and it rushed him into a three-game lead which he extended to an apparently commanding 4-1 with his sixth and seventh aces, only for the irrepressible Nadal to bounce back with some thrilling, all-action stuff.
To Federer's visible anger, his serve was broken as a stretched volley flew out of play and Nadal pulled level at 4-4 as Federer squandered yet another break point.
Now Nadal was in full, thrilling flow, breaking Federer again to lead 5-4 with another huge forehand and celebrating with pumped fists. As he was serving for the second set, Nadal received a warning from umpire Pascal Maria of France for taking too long between serves.
Clearly unsettled by the timing of that censure, the Spaniard permitted Federer another break point on a wind-caused error, but in typical fashion dug deep and clinched the set when Federer once more mistimed a backhand into the netting. So, having swept five games, Nadal was in the driving set, two sets ahead.
Nadal's authority suffered a scare in the third game of the third set when he slipped in making a sudden change of direction and called in the trainer to check on his right knee. No time-out was requested by Nadal, though his speed around court appeared to be affected for a while.
He was at full stretch in the next game, fighting off two Federer break points and, as dark clouds began to mass over Centre Court, the champion went flat out to recover a set and get back into the match. But four more break points went begging as Nadal held for 3-3 before wasting three break points of his own which would have put him 4-3 ahead and perfectly positioned to win.
Instead, with Federer leading 5-4, the expected downpour set in and play was held up for one hour 20 minutes. On the resumption it was Federer who dominated when a tie-break was needed to resolve the set, hammering four aces to take it by seven points to five.
The fourth set did not contain a single break point for either man and when the second tie-break of the match arrived it was a sensation, with Nadal first leading by five points to two and then reaching, and missing, two Championship points before Federer levelled at two sets all when a Nadal backhand error left him the winner by 10 points to eight.
Another downpour drove the players off court for half an hour with the score at 2-2 in the final set and when they returned the light was fading. But the spirit of both finalists burned bright as they hammered the ball at each other just as eagerly as they had done when this marathon first began.
At 3-4 Nadal saved a break point which would have left Federer serving for the title. At 6-6 Federer saved a couple of break points. Finally, in the gloom, the Spaniard broke to lead 8-7 when Federer struck a forehand too long.
So Nadal served for the match again, getting to his third Championship point only for Federer to hit an incredible backhand service return. Deuce once again, but Nadal moved to his fourth match point with a big serve and, with the crowd going wild, Federer finally cracked, dumping a forehand in the net.
It was late, very late, but not too late for the coronation of a new king to begin.
Instead, with Federer leading 5-4, the expected downpour set in and play was held up for one hour 20 minutes. On the resumption it was Federer who dominated when a tie-break was needed to resolve the set, hammering four aces to take it by seven points to five.
The fourth set did not contain a single break point for either man and when the second tie-break of the match arrived it was a sensation, with Nadal first leading by five points to two and then reaching, and missing, two Championship points before Federer levelled at two sets all when a Nadal backhand error left him the winner by 10 points to eight.
Another downpour drove the players off court for half an hour with the score at 2-2 in the final set and when they returned the light was fading. But the spirit of both finalists burned bright as they hammered the ball at each other just as eagerly as they had done when this marathon first began.
At 3-4 Nadal saved a break point which would have left Federer serving for the title. At 6-6 Federer saved a couple of break points. Finally, in the gloom, the Spaniard broke to lead 8-7 when Federer struck a forehand too long.
So Nadal served for the match again, getting to his third Championship point only for Federer to hit an incredible backhand service return. Deuce once again, but Nadal moved to his fourth match point with a big serve and, with the crowd going wild, Federer finally cracked, dumping a forehand in the net.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Scariest Night of My Life........!
21.06.08
The day i faced my worst fears. A friend of mine asked me to play for his team in a Flood light tournament in royapuram.Never been to north madras before this day, found out the location of the ground courtesy Yahoo maps. I reached this ground at arnd 6 in the evening,my match was supposed to start at 7.But my fate it got postponed a number of times and finally was scheduled to start at 11 30.Just about 11 20,it started raining.The shower was heavy and it continued for more than an hour , during which we were standing under a small sun shade.The rain never was gonna stop so finally i decided to start home along with mani and ashok anna.There was no power supply in tat area so there were no street lights and it was pitch black. Adding to this we could not remember our route back .Just think,in a pitch black road under heavy showers and no clue abt the route, we were doomed.Adding to this, there was heavy thunder and lightning.Every lighting brightened up the entire place and sent a chill down my spine.Then a new problem, heavy water logging on the north madras roads had started affecting my bike, it started choking and stopped.
I just couldnt have had a more terrible night, somehow i managed to start my bike and ride back home in the scariest of nights.But still we had a problem, we had no clue where we were and there was noone to ask at 1 am.I just couldn't stop praying to god , i so badly wanted to be home.
Finally we saw Nehru stadium, atlast we knew we could reach home. But still the fear of lightning kept on frightening me and water logging on almost every road. I reached home at around 2 am , where mom was waiting to give me a bashing.The relief of reaching home safely was too much that i didn't even listen to what she was talkin......!
A Night i wud never forget in my life.........!
The day i faced my worst fears. A friend of mine asked me to play for his team in a Flood light tournament in royapuram.Never been to north madras before this day, found out the location of the ground courtesy Yahoo maps. I reached this ground at arnd 6 in the evening,my match was supposed to start at 7.But my fate it got postponed a number of times and finally was scheduled to start at 11 30.Just about 11 20,it started raining.The shower was heavy and it continued for more than an hour , during which we were standing under a small sun shade.The rain never was gonna stop so finally i decided to start home along with mani and ashok anna.There was no power supply in tat area so there were no street lights and it was pitch black. Adding to this we could not remember our route back .Just think,in a pitch black road under heavy showers and no clue abt the route, we were doomed.Adding to this, there was heavy thunder and lightning.Every lighting brightened up the entire place and sent a chill down my spine.Then a new problem, heavy water logging on the north madras roads had started affecting my bike, it started choking and stopped.
I just couldnt have had a more terrible night, somehow i managed to start my bike and ride back home in the scariest of nights.But still we had a problem, we had no clue where we were and there was noone to ask at 1 am.I just couldn't stop praying to god , i so badly wanted to be home.
Finally we saw Nehru stadium, atlast we knew we could reach home. But still the fear of lightning kept on frightening me and water logging on almost every road. I reached home at around 2 am , where mom was waiting to give me a bashing.The relief of reaching home safely was too much that i didn't even listen to what she was talkin......!
A Night i wud never forget in my life.........!
Friday, June 20, 2008
My Birthday........!
Today was among the best of my best birthday celebrations....! Yesterday, 19.06.08 was my 21st birthday, stepping into a new life away from education....! So many called up, msged,scrapped to wish me a very happy birthday........Every wish brought a smile in me , happiness in heart....! Never before i had so many people wishing me on my birthday.....But i sorely missed the wishes of few people whom i thought were really close to me.......! But i got wishes from people whom i never thought would wish me , that felt even better....! Overall a brilliant day capped of by a great treat from dad with my cousins.....! & today(20.06.08) i had the surprise of the year, we guys went to a movie and thn went to the beach for the evening breeze , where these fellows had got me a cake(Black forest) so that we cud celebrate my birthday........! I was lost for words , never expected tat...... Finally we cut the cake, got a cute super looking doll from shwetha and cool T-Shirt from the other guys as my birthday gift......! It was jus a great evening for me because of these guys.........! I miss them a lot aftr college.My birthday brought us together for a great evening , I'm blessed to have these cool fellas arnd me......! Thank u so much Shwetha,yogi,rakshit,mukaseen,subash,venky for making this an unforgettable day....! And finally i haven't given them their treat yet.........!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Gatorade Pacers 2k8........!
This is my first ever blog....! Hope i'm good at blogging . Anyway i went to this gatorade pacers 2008 contest sometine durin jan 2k8. Firstly , this contest was to select a raw emerging fast bowler to be trained under the legendary dennis lilee .The selection was to take place all over india thru the 4 metros chn , mum ,ban , & delhi. i went for the chennai leg of the selection .
1st day
I went to this place called MRF pace foundation at arnd 8 , & saw a huge crowd lining up for the selection . I registered myself there & was waiting for my turn .And seriously the crowd was huge. Rakshit joined me at 9 , man he was there for me , or else i would have cracked under nervousness . The selection process was slow owing to the huge numbers who had turned up . Atlast i got my turn only at 2 30 , by which time rakshit had left . I was to bowl 3 deliveries in front of the selectors ,which i did under extreme nervousness. But lucky me, i bowled 3 really good deliveries. I was placed in a batch of 30 out of which only 2 would be selected ,but since there was heavy competition in my batch they selected 4 .The moment i knew i got to the next round , i was bound by endless joy.......
i was asked to come back the next day at 2 0 clock for the next round which i duly did....
2nd day
I arrived at the pace foundation at 1 30 for the second round . The number of people who had made it to the second round was arnd 30 .I was really pleased that i had made it into the 30 best in chennai .And again rakshit joined me on d 2nd day too... i wasn't much nervous as i was on the first day.... the selctors then asked us to warm up for the next round.... i got my chance at around 3, this time i had to bowl 5 deliveries in front of the selectors.......first 2 were pretty good , the 3rd one i messed it up ,very wide...... then next 2 i bowled at a very high pace hitting the deck at the right places..... but i had general feelin i bowled a bit short which was echoed by rakshit too.....i lost hopes of making it to the next round..... once i finished , one of the selctors called me up personally and talked to me about how i bowled.... he gave me +ve comments on a high scale....He then asked me of all my personal details and noted it down....i knew something was coming , & voila i was selected for the final 8.....man , i was going crazy , making it to the top 8 in chennai ,i was jus too consumed by the shock .......
Then we warmed up for the last round of selection.....only 1 out of the 8 would make it to the delhi round..... and all my other competitors were already great players representing gr8 teams.... some were even vying for a place in the state side.... The competition was too close.... i was the only player without any big background to back me..... In the final selection too we were asked to bowl 5 deliveries , this time i cut short on pace & concentrated more on hitting line & length......I did bowl well , but i had a gut feeling i didn't bowl quick enough, & that i wasn't exhibiting my full potential... but still i eagerly waited for the final results , & the head coach at MRF pace foundation, Mr. T.A.Sekar announced the results......And i didn't get thru to the delhi leg........Disappointment from head to toe, but i knew i lost to a better person....And voila there ends my story..... Meet u in my next blog
Urs truly
Sharath
1st day
I went to this place called MRF pace foundation at arnd 8 , & saw a huge crowd lining up for the selection . I registered myself there & was waiting for my turn .And seriously the crowd was huge. Rakshit joined me at 9 , man he was there for me , or else i would have cracked under nervousness . The selection process was slow owing to the huge numbers who had turned up . Atlast i got my turn only at 2 30 , by which time rakshit had left . I was to bowl 3 deliveries in front of the selectors ,which i did under extreme nervousness. But lucky me, i bowled 3 really good deliveries. I was placed in a batch of 30 out of which only 2 would be selected ,but since there was heavy competition in my batch they selected 4 .The moment i knew i got to the next round , i was bound by endless joy.......
i was asked to come back the next day at 2 0 clock for the next round which i duly did....
2nd day
I arrived at the pace foundation at 1 30 for the second round . The number of people who had made it to the second round was arnd 30 .I was really pleased that i had made it into the 30 best in chennai .And again rakshit joined me on d 2nd day too... i wasn't much nervous as i was on the first day.... the selctors then asked us to warm up for the next round.... i got my chance at around 3, this time i had to bowl 5 deliveries in front of the selectors.......first 2 were pretty good , the 3rd one i messed it up ,very wide...... then next 2 i bowled at a very high pace hitting the deck at the right places..... but i had general feelin i bowled a bit short which was echoed by rakshit too.....i lost hopes of making it to the next round..... once i finished , one of the selctors called me up personally and talked to me about how i bowled.... he gave me +ve comments on a high scale....He then asked me of all my personal details and noted it down....i knew something was coming , & voila i was selected for the final 8.....man , i was going crazy , making it to the top 8 in chennai ,i was jus too consumed by the shock .......
Then we warmed up for the last round of selection.....only 1 out of the 8 would make it to the delhi round..... and all my other competitors were already great players representing gr8 teams.... some were even vying for a place in the state side.... The competition was too close.... i was the only player without any big background to back me..... In the final selection too we were asked to bowl 5 deliveries , this time i cut short on pace & concentrated more on hitting line & length......I did bowl well , but i had a gut feeling i didn't bowl quick enough, & that i wasn't exhibiting my full potential... but still i eagerly waited for the final results , & the head coach at MRF pace foundation, Mr. T.A.Sekar announced the results......And i didn't get thru to the delhi leg........Disappointment from head to toe, but i knew i lost to a better person....And voila there ends my story..... Meet u in my next blog
Urs truly
Sharath
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