Keeping the momentum

After missing out on the whole of last season because of a ban,and then dropping a first innings lead in their first two matches of the 2010 season — against Kerala and Andhra Pradesh — Services are now second in the points table behind Maharashtra — their final opponents,and well on course for a promotion to the coveted Elite group.

“At the start of this season,there was no way I was expecting that we were going to be second in our group with just one match to go,” Yashpal said,trying to find words to explain his team’s shock performances.

Following two ordinary games,Services won both their subsequent matches against J&K and then Vidarbha — with a bonus point each. Against Vidarbha,Yashpal made the bold move of making a sporting declaration,leaving their opponents to chase 353 runs in a little over a day. In a match that went down to the wire,they won by only just by two runs.

Before playing their first match of this season,Yashpal had said that getting Services into the Elite division was one of his ambitions. A win against the group toppers Maharashtra will assure them of a spot in the knock-out of the Plate divison and a step closer to the desired status.

But despite the surety that a win will provide,Yashpal says making a decision similar to the one against Vidarbha at the their home ground will not be on the top of his mind. “The pitch appears to be one that is made for batting. Our objective will be to bat first and get enough runs on the board to secure a first innings lead. The nature of the pitch is such that going for an outright win is not likely,” he said. Maharashtra is currently on top of the group so,according to Yashpal,they are the stronger side. “But they are also quite young,so we are hoping to keep them under pressure,” the skipper is quick to add.

About his own form,Yashpal who has gone on to become his side’s second leading run scorer ,said that although he was rusty at the start of the season,he has slowly improved as the season progressed. “It’s in my best interest for us to keep going further,” he says with a smile.