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Follow UsJames Neesham wanted to choose bakery over cricket and die a fat and happy man rather than have his heart shattered into gazillion shards by cricket. Probably he should have listened to his own advice after the 2019 ODI World Cup Final.
Because, you see, chaos doesn’t seem to leave him.
At 126/6, Janakpur Bolts were still far from the 181 they needed to win the game. However, just five overs before this, Neesham began a storm at the Tribhuvan University (TU) Ground in Kirtipur by mushing Basil Hameed’s off-spin like basil in a blender for pesto. He smashed him for two sixes in the 11th over and then for four 4s and a six in the 13th over. He completed the fastest fifty in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) in the 14th over.
It felt like the Kathmandu Valley was being infringed by a storm. But then the experience of Sohail Tanvir arrived with an action that felt like a tribute to the ball and socket joints present in Homo sapien shoulders and insinuated such chaos that it swallowed Neesham like a whole almond.
Tanvir’s first ball of the 15th over was smashed for a boundary towards midwicket. Tanvir knew Neesham was there to just hit everything into the Himalayas. He bowled the next delivery fuller, but slower, and Neesham skied the ball almost as high as the peaks in background of the ground. The fielder at long on took the catch and TU ground erupted like a volcanic gushing out magma.
But wait. Was it a no ball? Oh my god, IT WAS a no ball!!!
Neesham was back. The carnage hadn't reached its conclusion. Destruction awaited. And destruction came, as the free hit was smashed for a six over long on.
The crowd was in it again. It didn’t matter to them who won. Neesham brought the fireworks. Tanvir brought the dousing gush of water. Every single soul was enjoying the light and sound show. It was the festival of the Himalayas.
Tanvir has been involved in this format since its catalogue was prepared for the 2007 T20 World Cup. He was quicker and leaner, but he still had the smarts and the same anatomically titillating bowling action.
He displayed it all in the next ball as he bowled on a length that was a bit close to cut, and Neesham slashed it hard but hit it straight to the fielder at point. Tanvir first created the chaos, let Neesham enjoy it, and then showed who was still the boss.
The Janakpur Bolts were dusted soon later. Tanvir finished with 2/23 in his four.
Chitwan Rhinos were in the playoffs. All because a 39-year-old from Pakistan bowled a chaotic but immensely entertaining over that sent Nepal and especially Chitwan into a euphoric frenzy.
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