Engineers claim Friendship Cup

YC&AC skipper's century goes in vain

By Anurag Singh

The Engineers continued their winning streak with their fifth consecutive win this season. With this, the Engineers have wrested the Friendship Cup, a friendly series that  was started in 2008 between the two teams, and extended their domination overt YC&AC to four.

The game was played at the YC&AC ground. With both teams looking to beat the heat and trying to avoid fielding first, Prashant, YC&AC’s stand-in captain, called it right and decided to bat first. With temperatures soaring well above 30 degrees, the Engineers started their attack with the experienced duo of Biju and Ashok. It only took an over for Biju to send back the opening batsman Kumara, who trying to up the ante, ended up giving a lolly to Masood at mid-on, who never drops any. A couple of overs later, new Engineer Mohibul was asked to replace Biju, who started generating pretty serious pace from the beginning. Mohibul took out the other opener with a good yorker, which brought YC&AC’s best batsman and captain, Prashant, in. After that, Dinesh and Anurag started attack from the respective ends. Anurag took out the aggressive Chandana with a bouncer, Ashok taking the catch at fine-leg. In the same over, another slower one took out the leg stump of the new batsman, Richard, who was trying to duck thinking it was a beamer. The scoreboard read 69/3 after 13 overs.

After the fall of these few quick wickets, YC&AC’s new recruit, Amila(ex-SL Lion), joined Prashant in the middle. Both batsman started building partnership, playing sensibly, mixing aggression with caution without taking unnecessary risks. Both batsmen, after seeing off the main bowlers and getting their eye in, started taking their chances. Prashant hit a couple of consecutive sixes off Kamal. After a big partnership of 131 runs, Amila fell to Naveen trying to accelerate after his half-century, caught at long-on by Naveen. The scoreboard read 200/4 after 30 overs. After that, Engineers were able to restrict YC&AC to 267, with the help of some useful death bowling especially by Mohibul. Prashant, their star batsman stayed unbeaten at 112*. The conditions were not favorable but the Engineers should have restricted YC&AC to a much lower score looking at their bowling strength. Overall fielding was pretty good which is a big positive. There were a couple of dropped chances but those were really difficult catches. New keeper Silvester was a sight of improvement behind the wicket. He’s a complete natural, he just hadn’t realised his hidden talent earlier.

The Engineers started their chase with Masood and Ashok. Masood fell early to a quicker one by Brent, with the score reading only 3. The newbie Naveen came in and was looking in good touch, before he lofted one straight to Prashant at mid-on off Amila. The scoreboard read 7 for 2 after 4 overs. Dinesh walked in to join Ashok, who was steady at the other end. Both of them started building the crucial partnership. Ashok played a couple of beautiful and powerful cuts to YC&AC’s best bowler, Amila. Dinesh survived a couple of chances, thanks to YC&AC’s poor fielding, and started playing cautiously thereafter. Ashok played an absolute cameo, dealing mostly in boundaries. He looked and played solid throughout. Both the batsmen completed their half centuries and took the total past hundred. After drinks, Ashok fell to Sanjay, trying to up the run rate. This was the biggest partnership of the game, at 133 runs. Dinesh fell soon after, mishitting a long hawk by Tim. The score at that point was 162 for 4.

With another 100+ runs to go, the run rate was touching 8. After this, Engineers captain Sanjeeb steadied the ship with Vezly with a 25 run partnership. After Vezly fell down trying to accelerate, Anurag joined Sanjeeb for another useful 30 run partnership. Anurag fell the same way as Vezly with the score reading 217 with 7 overs to go. Sanjeeb on the other hand was hitting the ball well. He hit a couple of big sixes before getting caught at long-off after a well paced 31, with Chandana taking a superb catch. At this point the Engineers needed another 39 runs with 5 overs to go. Silvester and Mohibul contributed with another meaningful partnership. After Silvester fell, Engineers needed another 29 with only two wickets in hand and less than 4 overs to go.

Kamal who was playing with the season ball after ages, joined Mohibul in the middle. The next over by Brent was the turning point of the game, both Mohibul and Kamal took a six each, both straight bat proper cricket shots right over the bowler’s head. The run rate eased down a bit but Mohibul fell soon after that, which brought Biju to the crease. Run rate wasn’t a big problem anymore but all of Engineers hopes lied with Biju. Biju rotated the strike right away. In the next over Biju flicked one to the boundary to level the scores and the winning run was scored by way of a wide.

It was an impressive batting performance by the Engineers to chase down 260+. The best part was that it wasn’t a one man show and everyone contributed. Special thanks to Mohan for being such a good sport. He fielded as a sub in the scorching heat and later umpired the whole innings.

Brief scores:
YC&AC 267/5. Prashant Kale 112*, Amila 51, Anurag 2/37
IECC 268/9 38.4 ov). Dinesh 64, Ashok 54, Sanjeeb 31

Engineers thump Predators

Understregth Predators no match against the confident Engineers

By Silvester Pereira

The day had begun as usual at this time of the year - bright, clear and sunny weather - but probably no one would have thought it would end the way it did. Although a win was expected of the Engineers against their KCL opponents, Tokyo Predators, the manner in which the Engineers went about their task was very pleasing (Predators excluded). The game began around 11:30 am with the Engineers stand-in captain Anurag Singh, winning the toss and electing to bat. Masood and Ritesh opened the batting for the Engineers to face Saijash and Robin of the Predators. The Predators had only 10.5 players (0.5 being a 11 year young and enthusiastic Liam Hunt). It was rumored that the key player for Predators didn’t make it for the game which added to their misery. The openers gave a good start to the Engineers scoring 33 runs before Masood was out caught for 12 runs. Ritesh didn’t last long before being out lbw for 10 runs (score being 42). Harsha, our newcomer, joined Yogesh on the other end before he too, was bowled around his legs of the bowling of Saijash, their only and good bowler of the day. Raju joined Yogesh with score reading 49/3 (in 10 overs) and the mayhem started. The two carried along making merry, enjoying their luck (dropped catches) and scoring from a weak bowling attack for a long and well deserved partnership. Raju was first dropped in his 30s and then once more before he reached his century and a further three more times. There were plenty of fireworks, mainly from Raju, who was well supported by Yogesh on the other end. The pair batted together for almost 25 overs setting up a new 4^th wicket KCL record partnership of 251 runs, eclipsing the unfinished 177 between Mayank Dabral and Ken Wadano of Tokyo Bay against Chiba Sharks in 2003. This has also became the highest partnership for any wicket. The previous one was 240 runs for the 6th wicket between Aamir Ali and Shakir Khan of Friends XI against Myoden in 2006.

While the fireworks were going on, there was agony off the field too. Anurag, the stand-in captain, was padded and kept waiting for almost 25 overs. His chance came only in the 37^th over when Yogesh was bowled by Greame Gardiner after a respectful personal best score of 65 runs with the team score at 300. The Predators, at this stage, having almost given up the game started experimented by bringing in the young Liam, who gave 25 runs in his 2 overs.  Raju remained not out for 169 at the end of 40 overs with 46 extras in the Engineersscore of 310/4. Saijash was the only bowler who looked like doing anything for the Predators. He bowled a continuous 8 over spell starting from the first over, gave just 16 runs and took 2 wickets.

The Engineers, after having a good score behind them, started to take charge of the bowling with Biju opening the attack and Rajeesh at  the other end. Gardiner and Chanukha opening the batting for the Predators before Chanukha was beautifully caught at point by Ganesh of the bowling of Biju with the score reading just 8 runs. Saijash joined Gardiner and the two gradually built a good partnership hitting some great shots before Gardiner, the danger man, missing the line, was bowled of the bowling of Anurag for 13 runs. Saijash, trying for a pull shot, went immediately  caught by Raj at mid-on again of the bowling of Anurag for well made 25 runs (highest for the Predators). The rest of the batsman didn’t last long, falling at short intervals of some really good bowling from Ganesh, Rajeesh and Shailaj, most of them being “clean bowled”. Due to absence of our regular wicketkeepers, yours truly was asked to do the honors of keeping wickets, something not done for 16 years since the club was formed! With fading light, the Engineers wrapped up the Predators innings for 110 runs (33 of which came from extras!) with a victory margin of 200 runs paving the way for an excellent start to the KCL tournament.

Overall it was a good team work from the Engineers in all departments of the game with good batting, luck, bowling and being able to take over 95% of the catches whereas the opponents surprisingly appeared weak in all departments! Hopefully we can maintain such a momentum for the upcoming games.

Brief scores:
IECC 310/4. Yogesh 65, Raju 169*, Saijash 2/16
Predators 110(26.4 ov). Anurag 3/24.

Click here for the full score card.

Engineers roar against Tigers

Tigers almost mauled Engineers

By Rahul Tiwari

The game was a last minute arrangement and Tigers had a very good chance to avenge their defeat they suffered the repvious week in a D/N match. But their batting done them in but the Engineers did provide a glimmer of hope, but just.

The game got off to a delayed start under gloomy skies. The Engineers started on the back-foot as they were 1 player short, were wihtout some key players and then went on to lose the toss as well. Tigers had no hesitation in batting first. Despite taking the field with just 10 players the Engineers opening bowlers, Rajeesh and new comer Shailaj, put up a fine show. They bowled an immaculate line and length and did not allow the Tigers opening pair of Anil and Rajeev to get away. Even singles were restricted as the Tigers scored just 18 runs in the first 7 overs. With no option left but to take risks, Rajeev and Anil started taking risky singles. Rajeev beat a direct throw from Ganesh, but was not that lucky the second time as another accurate throw from Ganesh found him short. Mithun survived a very close run-out shout before even having faced a ball, but did not last long as he holed out to long off, of his first delivery. Rajesh held on to a well judged catch off Shailaj. Every batsman found the going tough as Raju and Saijesh continued their tight line. Anil tried to up the ante and hit a couple of balls to the boundary but was did not last long and fell with the score on 45. Saijesh and Ganesh scalped 3 wickets each as the Tigers were bowled out for 89 of which 23 were wides which could have proved crucial in this low scoring affair.

With the asking rate at exactly 3 runs per over IECC opened with Santosh and Rahul. Rajeev operating from round the stumps, scalped Santosh caught at slip with the one that went across in the second over of the innings. Atul came out and hit a few lusty blows to keep the score ticking. Rajeev once again cut short his innings with a caught and bowled. Javed joined Rahul in the middle and kept scoring aggressively. He was trapped in front trying to play across the line to a straight one. Rahul fell trying to hoick one over long on. Raju and Sanjeeb were cleaned up by balls that kept low and suddenly a game which should have been an easy chase for the batting side was on the line. 26 runs were needed with 4 wickets in hand. Saijesh batted beautifully under pressure and hit a couple of boundaries to take the Engineers close. With just 4 needed he was trapped infront. To their credit, Tigers kept up the pressure right through the innings and there were some close shouts against Saijesh and Shailaj. Shailaj sealed the game in the 24th over to take the Engineers home.

It was a game which should have been won comfortably by the Engineers but were made to sweat by the Tigers. With the KCL starting next week, Engineers have a lot of improvement to do if they are to advance in that tournament.

Brief scores:
ITCC 89/10 in 26 overs Anil (38), Ganesh (3/10),Saijesh (3/13)
IECC 93/8 in 24 overs Saijesh(18), Atul(15), Rajeev(2/35)

Engineers start new season taming the Tigers

Day/Night match at Koga, Ibaraki Pref.

By Sidde Raju

As this is the first match happening under lights, Engineers reached the new Koga ground at 3:00PM with strong winds still blowing from the previous night. The stadium ground looked excellent, full of grass except for the corner for the baseball pitching, had a gallery that can accommodate around 100 spectators, a dressing room each for both teams, flood lights available for nominal fees, which the Engineers made use of, having the match played from 3pm to 9pm.

The Tigers arrived after prowling the city at 4:00PM, and quickly found the incompatibility between the mat and the ground soil. After some brainstorming sessions, our curator Dinesh took the lead in installing the pitch on new ground. Coin has been tossed after a delay of an hour, the Tiger's leader called the wrong side of the coin, which leads to engineer’s openers to walk towards the pitch with bat. Cool headed Masood opened the innings with veteran opener Santosh. Things went good until Masood got out. Dinesh walked in as a replacement, and the Engineer’s camp looked comfortable as the last years leading run scorer took the charge of rolling the score card. But soon he returned after an LBW decision. On the other side, Santosh keep ticking the score. The new man Kushal looked pretty comfortable, but soon got run out. Raju walked in as a replacement to him. By this time the score looked 56/5, a situation the Engineers are quite familiar with. The young blood and the new vice captain, Anurag Singh, walked in style, as the back ground voices echoed as "GUYS DON'T LET THE LAST YEAR'S KCL STITATION REPAT AGAIN". They kept up their word, after a partnership of 30 runs Raju fell to an unintended yorker. By this time Anurag gave full thrust to the score card. The captain Sanjeeb joined him and made some valuable runs before returning back after a caught and bowled chance. Bikash replaced him in order to give some strong support to Anurag, as he is one of the stake holder in high score partnerships. This time the partnership didn't go good. After few runs contribution, Anurag fell in the process of accelerating the score as the innings reaching the final phase. Engineers scored 133 runs in 24 overs in very unplayable conditions.

Knowing very well that any score above 120 will be difficult for the Tigers to chase Engineers took to field after a few minutes break in order to hunt down the 134 in 27 overs. Though the figures looks achievable, the path towards that looks not that easy at the end. The valuable weapon in our arsenal, with a perfect text book bowling action (Rajeesh) started the bowling attack, the very first one went like a rocket juts like on Koiwa pitch, which we haven't seen in our day's play until then. According to strategy, along with our veteran seam bowler Biju the pair has to put the Tigers on back foot. Biju got the break through when he had Tigers opener Anil caught in front of the wicket in the 2nd over. A lots of convincing shouts turned out against Rajeesh though. After encouraging new talented players with the bowl, the captain thought its time to bring in Anurag. The real down fall started when the ball came in to the hands of Dinesh. He cleaned up the Tiger’s middle order taking 4 wickets in 4 overs, one in each over. After Dinesh and Raju restricted the Tigers from scoring in a long stretch of 12 overs, the asking rate was too much for the Tigers and they folded up soon with Rajeesh, Anurag and Kushal cleaning up the rest of the list and recorded the first win of this season just before the lights gone off at 21:00hrs.

Key Points:

1. Ground is great. Playing cricket under lights is amazing, thanks to all stake holders in this initiation. A flicx pitch may make it more interesting.  Return driving to Tokyo took just one hour.

2. Though the playing conditions in the first half are unplayable, the batsmen managed to score 133. Anurag and Santhosh contributions were impressive.

3. Bowling department: bowlers did good job in restricting the tigers.

4. Ground fielding is good, but we managed to miss few catches which my go costly in other situations. [As we all know this is a well known and well repeated statement :)]

Brief scores:
IECC 133 (24 overs). S Ghadge 19
I Tigers:  104 (27 overs). D Singh 4/18