A Cricket Match
Cricket is an interesting game. It has become very popular. Thousands of spectators sit for hours together to see a Cricket Test Match.
A few years back I went to see a cricket match at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds. The match was played between India and the West Indies. There were eleven players on either side. Contractor was the captain of the Indian team.
The game lasted for five days. Each day the match was played for 51/2 hours. I purchased a seasonal ticket. There was a big score-board on one side of the ground. On other side there was the commentator’s Box.
At 10-30 both the teams came into the play-ground. The two umpires also came there. The captains of both the teams came forward and shook hands. Then there was a toss. Luckily India won the toss and contractor decided to bat. The team of the West Indies took the field Contractor and Jaisimha of Indian team carne out with their bats. The West Indies opened their attack with the bowling of Hall. His ball went like a bullet. Contractor stopped the ball. He played cautiously. After six balls the bowler was changed.
Now Gilchrist, the great fast bowler, attacked with all his energy. Jaisimha hit the ball powerfully. The ball went flying over the ropes. The crowd cheered and thundered. He had hit a six. The bowler became more careful. Thus the two batsmen continued batting for one hour. They took many runs. When the score was 57, Jaisimha was out. The Indian team had scored 112 runs for the loss of only one wicket before lunch.
Game after lunch started with greater seal. The Indian tried to score fast. But they lost there wickets very quickly. Borde then came in. He batted very carefully. Before tea he had scored 82 runs. By the evening he had scored a century.
The next day the Indian team was out for 389 runs.
Then the West Indies team played the game. Their players piled up 525 runs in the first innings. Two of their players scored centuries. In the same way the game continued for five days. There was a great excitement everywhere. Ultimately the match was drawn. Neither side would force a victory. After five days of a see-saw battle with bat and the ball, the two teams could not decide anything.
