Thats a good score!!

This weekend, I was looking forward to the cricket games on saturday and sunday. Saturday - well there was some really poor captaincy and I didnt get a good chance to bat. I was sent in very very late in the order - and I managed to score 10 runs.

We ended up losing the match hands down - thanks to our hopeless captain.

Sunday on the other hand was a different day altogether. We lost the toss - nothing new in our club - and were asked to bowl.

We did put in some good bowling and restricted the opposition to 159 in 40 overs. It wasnt pretty hot today - unlike saturday or other weekends in the recent past. It was very pleasant when I went in to bat at number 3. The score was around 32/1. Myself and Brian kept our cool till 10 overs as we had late tea. Then we steadily began our onslaught. 4 runs per over was the required run rate. But it was initially a bit challenging to play the bowlers - some of whom were really doing well.

Patience is what was needed and I had lots of it in me. I scored boundaries very fluently and at the end of it made 41 odd when drinks were called. I was told that I was in my 40s. That gave me some glaring memories of last weekend when I was out at 48. I wanted to somehow keep it going and cross the mystic mark of 50.

The over after drinks - I hit a single and two balls later - got strike again and scored 2 consecutive boundaries. The cheer came up from my team mates. I had made it!

I lifted my bat with joy. There was a suttle applause from the fielders as well. The mystic mark was conquered. It was a great feeling of achievement and relief.

My first 50 in England. Thats something special I would say!

I went on to make the top score on either teams - 73 not out. It included around 14 boundaries, most of which were very good cricketing shots. My partner made 61. Our partnership was around 139.

We won the match in the 27th over by 9 wickets. A thumping win for the team. A landmark achieved for the batsman in me.

Satish Viswanathan.

Photos from last Saturday match.

During the knock of 48.



In between overs - discussing abt strategy.

Whats Happening on my End.

I think it has been quite some time since I decided to spend some time on my blog. The reason being simply - no time. Nothing new with the reason yeah!

Long hours in the workplace and extended hours playing cricket and squash literally left me physically and mentally drained. Its not a story of one week its literally almost 2 months now. Now thats a long period.

The last time I spent some time for myself was way way before. Cant even remember when it was.

But a lot of the efforts I had put in was also giving me best results. My work is going ok. My squash games - I have been beating my opponent quite comfortably these days. I would have easily won 75% in the last 8 occasions we played. That doesnt take anything away from John. But then I am getting my game back - the way I used to play in college. Good serve and optimal speed.

The best part of my efforts are in the cricket arena. First - sometime back - I got my first Man of the Match recognition for taking 5 wickets.

This is what was posted about me in the match report.

"a change of bowling brought jim and satish on, with a fantastic showing from satish taking 5 wkts for 10 runs in
a paltry 5 over spell. graham & tony got an over in before satish finished off the oppo with a run out. hawley with only 10 men all out for 58."

and then the summary of the match:

"m.o.m 5 wkt star + 1 catch + run out satish vishwanathan"

my 5 wicket record is still the best for this season in my club.

last weekend was really a special moment for me. I opened the batting after a real long time. it was a good game. i scored 48 which included 10 fours. I was very much in my elements. i also opened the bowling - 7-3-18-2 was my figures. I think it was pretty good.

The match report said as follows:

"Satish opened up from the other end (in the absence of the metronomic David Lumby) and was quickly into his groove, dismissing both openers cheaply."

"In response Morden started brightly, in the face of some very good bowling. Girish and Satish put on 80 for the first wicket. Satish in particular looked in excellent nick, cutting and driving beautifully.

But all good things must come to an end and Satish fell on 48, agonisingly short of a well deserved fifty."

"Man of the match - Satish. 2-18 and 48 runs just pips Girish."

On sunday also we played a game - it was good. I scored 28 and took 2 wickets. That was also satisfying from my perspective.

So nearly 3 MOMs later - the way I look at the game is slightly different. I look at it with a lot more focus and concentration. This weekend has two matches. Lets see how it all goes this time.

I did another spectacular feat today. I cleaned my house like never before. I usually do it on the weekends but as you probably are aware, I was busy with cricket for nearly most of the last few weekends so the house was getting messier by the day.

Luckily I got a call from my house agent that someone was planning to buy this house and wanted to have a quick visit tomorrow. So I atleast had a deadline to work towards. I washed all the utensils and cleaned the fridge and the hall.. the bedroom is quite nice too. It looks as new as it was when I got in.

I need to finish my early morning dinner and then go to bed. Tomorrow is just another interesting day coming my way.

Satish Viswanathan.

A New Lease of Life.

Yesterday evening around 10 ish - I got a call - I was cherishing to get for sometime now. It was Rithu on the line. He called to inform me of the birth of his son. My Nephew has arrived!

Srilu gave birth to a baby boy. Both mother and son are doing fine.

Its a very memorable moment in a person's life. Its really spectacular and beyond any expression of words. Such moments remind us that there is a bigger HIM in this fabric called life.

Satish Viswanathan.