Off To Bali

Hey guys,
Yes I am in Bali and am sorry that I will not be able to post anything till this Sunday. After coming back I will write about the Shakira concert during the F1 and also about my trip to Bali.
I also have a new category called "My Life". I thought that my cricket posts were getting a bit boring and so I will shorten my future cricket posts and will post pictures and other more interesting posts in the "My Life" section.
Signing Off,
Aalap Asurlekar

First Win As Captain

Hey guys,

Sorry I didn't post anything last week cause I have been busy with exams, cricket and thinking of what to post. I chose to post today cause I thought it would be good practice for my writing cause I have English exam tomorrow and also my exams are starting again and won't be able to post over the next week.

Ya so anyways a cricket tournament started last week. It's called Howzat and the games are played every Sunday. I was chosen to be the captain of the team Singapore Cricket  Club. Pretty cool rite!!

We had our first game on 11th September, Sunday. I was captaining after a pretty long time, almost 5 years, and was pretty nervous. We played against Australian International School (they called themselves AISS Roos). I won't be writing about the match in much detail like my first post cause it might get boring so I will sum up the match. I won the toss and choose to bat cause it was a wet pitch. Our opener got out pretty fast and so did our number 3 and 4. I went in at 5 and got out on 2 :( Our situation was looking bleak  as we were 80 something for 5 off 18 overs. We were also playing with only 10 guys. But our tailenders did a fantastic job of batting all 30 overs and we put on a respectable total of 116 runs.

It was a defendable total and our bowlers did well. I opened the bowling and my other partner ended up with figures of 5 overs, 4 runs and 1 wicket!!! I ended up with 5 overs, 15 runs and 2 wickets. I even got a run-out. We won the match, but just. The match boiled down to the last over and they needed 10 runs off 6 balls. They only got 5 and my first match as captain ended well with a victory. 

It felt nice to be the captain of a winning side ;) I hoped to continue my streak but it ended in the second match itself. More of that in the next post.

Signing Off,

Aalap Asurlekar

Meeting With Hayden and Kasprowiscz

Hey guys,
So on 6th of September, I had the opportunity to meet two great Australian cricket players - Matthew Hayden and Michael Kasprowiscz. It was an "Coaching Clinic" organised by the Singapore Cricket Club in the evening and I was in the batch of 15 to 18 yrs old.
 Most of you may know Hayden cause he plays or used to play rather for the IPL cricket team Chennai SuperKings, but Kasprowiscz retired earlier and is not part of the IPL. Hayden is a batsmen while Kasprowiscz is a bowler, so I spent the "Coaching Clinic" with him.
When I entered the club, I first saw two very tall guys, obviously 6 foot something. I realised that it was Hayden and Kasprowiscz and thought to my self - How will I take my picture with them??? I thought that even if I tip-toe, I barely reach their ears!!!
So I changed from my school uniform into my cricket dress. I went to the field and we were gonna start in 10 minutes. The cricket field was pretty crowded and I was overjoyed when I realised that we were going to get a free bottleand a cap as well. The first thing the two (Hayden and Kasprowiscz) did was to split us according to our strenghts - batting and bowling. I went into the bowling part with Kasprowiscz.(Have I mentioned that??) He gave us  a few tips and told us about a few of the interesting matches he had played. It was then time to hit the nets and we were given brand new balls to bowl with. But it lasted for about only 15 minutes and then it was autoograph time. Everyone was crowded around both of the international stars and I had to push my way in. I felt like I was in the MRT during rush hour!! I finally managed to get an autograph and a picture with both of them. In the end we even got to keep the new balls we had used. Looks like the meeting was very fruitful indeed.

 Me with Michael Kasprowiscz

Me with Matthew Hayden

Signing Off,

Aalap Asurlekar

The Best Partnership Of My Life.......So Far

Hey guys,
I am going to tell you about my cricket match which was on Saturday, 3 September 2011. It was against KPGM in the Corporate League Division 1 at our home ground, GIIS Queenstown.
I arrived late for the match by 10 minutes and by the time I arrived we had already begun fielding. After reaching the ground I quickly changed into my cricket shoes, was wearing slippers, and went on to field. I got to bowl the sixth over but didn't bowl so well giving 2 wides. In my next over, I got 2 wickets but bowled 3 more wides. I finished my bowling with figures of 21 runs for 2 wickets.
We had got them all out on a low total of 128. So we needed only 129 off 30 overs, the lowest we needed so far in the league.
Our openning batsmen looked good but when they got out the wickets started falling and only Manbir-one of my coach- had reached double figuers. I went in to bat at number 5 and at a bad situation. We were 44 for 5 of just 6 overs. I started quite nervous but became more comfortable later on. I scored a boundary off my second ball and it helped build my confidence. My other partner got out and so did the next batsmen who came in. My friend V.S Tanmay then came in at 7. It was a bleak situation with a few wickets but a the positive side was that we had around 20 overs left. So we batted well and put on a partnership of 40 runs in 7 overs. Ya I now it may not sound much but we were playing against 20 to 40 yr olds and were under pressure.
We were playing well and having fun, with Tanmay sledging the other team(Hard to believe I know), but I played a stupid shot and was caught at slip. I got out at 94 for 8. Tanmay soon followed and the last pair was now batting. I still had hope as we needed only 20 runs off 66 balls! But unluckly the last batsmen got out. Sad, I know. Our partnership of 40 was futile but still, we had fun.
Now I had to go home and prepare for my exam on Monday!! :(


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Signing Off,
Aalap Asurlekar :)