TrendSetters marvellous team effort.

Kuljit-Singh - 12 Aug 2001 (Scorecard)

In a match of surprises at the Frankford Fields Ground, TrendSetters has conjured a stunning 18 runs victory. Achieved by virtue of a convincing team performance, it was a triumph, which underlined the team's capacity to utilise conditions to great effect. Earlier in the day, NewWaves had won the toss and elected to field. The NewWaves were never able today to recapture the form, which had seen them win their previous game.

In yet another tribute to their current dominance in this form of the game, TrendSetter's cricketers have scored another decisive triumph in this match, defeating an again disappointing NewWaves by the margin of 18 runs at the Frankford fields Ground. While this was a triumph which again reflected their all-round strength as a team. It was not a flamboyant victory, but a nervy, self-conscious one.

The first wicket to fall was Praveen Singhvi's, with the score at 1. There was a hesitation in taking a run when there seemed to be a single, he could not beat Madhu's throw to wicketkeeper Uday.

Mahmood livened up the proceedings with a six, but even he didn't last very long. He mis-hit a drive and lobbed a catch to Uday off the bowling of Sumeet. Mahmood had made 14.

Raguram didn't last very long and tickled a Jagdishs delivery to wicketkeeper Uday. The new TrendSetters batting hero Vinod Bajjuri did not last long, beaten and bowled by Jagdish’s flight, when he had scored just one.

The NewWaves opening bowlers kept Captain Kuljit-Singh quiet for a long time. In the 14th over Kuljit Singh (15) belied his inexperience as he picked out the only fielder (Anil Yerram) on the leg-side boundary. He tried to go after Jagdish and hit the ball straight up in the air, but could not clear Anil Yerram In the last second Anil Yerram took the catch conformably at deep mid-wicket area. Captain had batted in exemplary fashion, for his 15 and hitting only one boundary (J).

Krishna Prasad and Upendra then steadied the TrendSetters innings a bit, pushing the score on to 92, when Krishna Prasad was runout by a sharp throw from Sumeet.Upendra was out later on playing a very bad shot resulting a simple catch to Kishore at Gully. TrendSetters set an achievable target of 101 in 30 overs.

“The main thing is to bowl a good line and length. If you do that, anyone can get out" was the motto set by the Captain Kuljit-Singh. The TrendSetters accordingly maintained the upper hand for the vast majority of the match.

NewWaves were off to a disastrous start losing opener Sai Amuluru (0) and Kishore (2) - both falling in Ragus initial overs with just 4 runs on the board. Sai Amuluru(5) was bizarrely run out after straying from the crease unaware that Kuljit had the ball in his grasp,

TrendSetters had looked in control of the match after a disciplined fast bowling performance, NewWaves’s chances looked slim. The fielding became electric and bowling tight. Praveen Singh, a man with huge pressure on his shoulders, looked confident and shuffled alarmingly across the field.

Sanjays's dismal run continued, as he spooned a harmless short ball straight down Praveen's throat. This time again Sanjay tried his best and was successful in scoring a DUCK. He himself admits that it was a bit tough to keep my (DUCK) batting performance, but remained confident. The 26-year-old stylish batsman Sanjay Singhvi claims limited responsibility. "It's with the grace of God that I achieved that feat. I am a firm believer in God and hopefully with the help of God there'll be more DUCKs to come."

The ever-eager Harish Vajja couldn’t wait to hit the ball and got a thick edge of the bat that brought the ball in and took his middle stumps off.

Sumeet playing down the wrong line was undone by an incoming delivery from Upendra. The ball beat the star batsman for pace and he was clean bowled through the gate.

Mansoor the next batsman played confident and stayed at the crease for a while. Upendra redeemed the reputation of that much maligned delivery by knocking Mansoor's middle stump out of the ground. A good lined delivery from Upendra sent Mansoor back after scoring eight.

NewWaves were suddenly under pressure on 43 for 6, in just 12 overs. Kuldeep Singh (0) came in at the fall of G. Krishna's wicket. Instead of looking to rotate the strike to Anil Yerram, He attempted some adventurous strokes and departed without adding anything significant to the NewWaves total.

Anil Yerram departed soon after, playing a ball off Chetan straight to KP at short mid-wicket. Anil's wicket was a big one for TrendSetters. Anil had made 11 runs including one four.

Vice Captain Uday had a very shaky start today. He had two lives in his short innings. Uday had a life early when he was put down by Raguram at point. In the very next over Uday got another life, Wicketkeeper praveen dropped another catch. Uday did not last long; his luck finally ran out, a thick edge from a frustrated Uday (3), popped a simple catch. He was well caught by Satish at slip.

Upendra gained some extraordinarily capricious bounce from a delivery in his last over and forced a surprised S. Prasad to spoon a simple catch to Raguram at slip. Krishna Prasad seized the moment with a brilliant run out from third man and the TrendSetters bowlers then applied the brakes. The batsmen were never able to get on top of the bowlers. NewWaves could only muster 82.

Upendra took four wickets to rip apart the NewWaves middle order and turn the tide in favour of TrenSetters. Upendra finished with a career best 4 for 25 from his 5 overs. Both he and Raguram bowled aggressively, perhaps fuelled by the inspirational batting of their captain. (J). With Upendra’s nipping out the late middle order with a brace of yorkers,

The only batsman to reach double figures was Anil Yerram (11) and NewWaves were bowled out for just 82 runs. This was the lowest total ever in the history of NewWaves cricket. New Waves batting was piteous, of that there can be no doubt.

When interviewed afterwards, Captain Kuljit was in his normal modest self, albeit with a brighter twinkle in the eye: “We have played as a team throughout and that is why we have won all the games. It has been fantastic and I would like to thank all the players for being so supportive.”

The key to this TrendSetters team has been the togetherness. The team play together, live together and enjoy each other’s company. They consider themselves, not individuals, but part of a whole. Every player in this team tries to contribute for the game.

All the while, this victory hands TrendSetters team's confidence and all-round brilliance at present that it is extremely hard to determine just how and when the run might be halted.

TrendSetters will take much pleasure from their performance, but know that there are issues to be addressed like the inconsistency of the middle order