IISc jumps up 15 spots in ranking

 The KSCA Logo [Courtesy: www.sportskeeda.com]

Consistent performances in the KSCA Metro Shield 2010-11 enabled the IISc cricket team to jump a whopping 15 spots within a season. They are now ranked 9th out of 48 teams in the latest KSCA IV Division Rankings.
 

A cherished victory

Right after winning the match, rookie Kiran opined "We should go for a victory lap around the ground". Skipper Ashith's matter-of-fact reply was, "In this hot sun?? who is there to watch us??". "No body but still..." retorted Kiran.

The euphoria of India winning the Cricket World Cup was still lingering when the IISc cricket team won the intercollegiate 'IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2011'. Agreed that the two victories - one enjoyed vicariously and the other directly - are at completely different levels to be of any comparison at all. Yet little separates the kind of joy experienced in each case. At this moment of success, team IISc wishes to express its special thanks to all those who made it possible.

Skipper Ashith Shyam describes it as "A victory to cherish my whole life, in fact the most satisfying one I have ever had". And gives credit where it's due, "Thanks to one and all especially to our coach Sreedhara sir and sports officer Poonacha sir for their whole-hearted support".

The expert services of Saurav Bhattacharya in capturing key moments on camera is greatly appreciated. All the tournament photography credits go to him. Generally, nobody from IISc - apart from the players themselves - turn up in matches. This tournament saw a welcome change in that respect and the team expresses special thanks to those handful  who took time out to support us. 

Here are a few moments frozen in time courtesy Saurav.

Ashith on song during his match-winning 76 in the semifinal versus DSCE.

Prof. Chanakya greets the players before the final.

The silverware waits for its holders.

Team huddle before the all important final.

Arindam flicks one during his swash-buckling 71 in the final versus RNSIT.

The winning moment - IISc players celebrate the narrow victory over RNSIT.

Ashith Shyam receives the Man-of-the-Series trophy for his 101 runs, 9 wickets and excellent captaincy in the tournament.

Arindam Ghosh receives Man-of-the-Final trophy for his sparkling 71 and a crucial spell.

Team RNSIT receives the  runners-up trophy.

Team IISc receives the winners' trophy.

We are the Champions!

Captain Courageous.

The ageless Arindam and the man behind the scenes coach Sreedhar.

The winners pose in the greens in front of the Faculty Hall.

IISc lift Centenary Cup

The victorious team IISc poses with the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2011 [Photo credit: Saurav Bhattacharya]

8 May 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: The final of the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2011 produced a cracker of a contest. As the drama unfolded, the audience was kept on tenterhooks right till the very last ball was bowled.  It was a fairytale finish for the home team as they pipped RNSIT by a slender three-run margin to lift the intercollegiate trophy.

Opting to bat, IISc rode on an explosive half-century from Arindam Ghosh (71 off 42 balls) to post a healthy 168/8. Arindam’s blazing knock was laced with twelve boundaries. For the visitors, Vinay (2/18) and Jayanth (3/25) bowled nagging spells.

Though RNSIT lost Vinay early, Maharshi (81 off 66 balls) was on full-throttle right from the word go and kept them abreast with the required rate. IISc kept chipping away with crucial wickets at regular intervals to keep RNSIT in check. Ashith’s direct hit from covers to run out Lohith was a body blow to the visitors’ chase. 

Maharshi aka 'mango' seemed to be the man to do the job till he blasted one straight into the waiting hands of Vikram at covers. Abhishek hit a few meaty strokes to take RNSIT within ten runs of the target with an over to spare. Varun came on to bowl the last over - his first over of the tournament - and held his nerve conceding only six. The hosts emerge champions to lift the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2011.

Brief Scores: (Final, IISc Centenary Cup 2011)

IISc - 168/8 in 25 overs
(Arindam 71, Ashith 24, Vinay 2/18, Jayanth 3/25)
RNSIT - 165/7 in 25 overs
(Maharshi 81, Abhishek 27*, Ashith 2/38)
 

Result: IISc won by 3 runs
Man-of-the-match: Arindam Ghosh

Player-of-the-tournament: Ashith Shyam

IISc, RNSIT enter final

7 May 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: In a cliff-hanger of a semifinal, IISc beat DSCE by two runs to reach the final of the IISc Centenary Cup 2011. It was the home skipper's show all the way as Ashith scored 76 off 60 balls and then claimed 4/17.

IISc's innings revolved around Ashith's fifty with hardly any substantial contributions from the rest of the batting order apart from a couple of cameos. In pursuit of 171, DSCE were off to a flying start with Dyuthidhar and Maan putting on 63 in eight overs. But IISc fought back with some excellent catching and fielding. Arjun's stupendous running catch at long-off to dismiss a rampaging Dyuthidhar was one of the turning points of the match. DSCE needed eight runs of the final over when Ashith brought himself on and conceded just five runs to script a nail-biting victory.

Brief Scores: (Semifinal-1 IISc Centenary Cup 2011)

IISc - 170/9 in 25 overs
(Ashith 76, Vikram 23, Nosthush 2/9, Sarfaraj 3/35)
DSCE - 168/9 in 25 overs
(Dyuthidhar 64, Maan 20, Kiran 32, Ashith 4/17)
 

Result: IISc won by 2 runs
Man-of-the-match: Ashith Shyam

7 May 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: RNSIT shocked MSRIT registering a facile five-wicket victory that booked them a berth in the final of the IISc Centenary Cup 2011. 

The toss happened to be the only thing that went MSRIT's way on the day. Dabeet (47) stood tall amongst the ruins as he saw his team-mates come and go in a procession. MSRIT's batsmen simply did not have answers for RNSIT's bowlers led by Vinay (3/21) and were dismissed for 128. RNSIT chased down the target with verve riding on Vinay's 47.

Brief Scores: (Semifinal-2 IISc Centenary Cup 2011)

MSRIT- 128 allout in 24.4 overs
(Dabeet 47, Vinay 3/21, Abhishek 2/12, Naveen 2/19)
RNSIT - 132/5 in 20.3 overs
(Maharshi 25, Vinay 47, Lohith 30, Nishant 3/22)
 

Result: RNSIT won by 5 wickets
Man-of-the-match: Vinay R.

RNSIT, DSCE enter semis

22 April 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: RNSIT bulldozed past RBANMS with an emphatic ten wicket victory thus reaching the semifinals of the IISc Centenary Cup 2011. Vinay R did the star turn for RNSIT claiming a four-for and then scoring 27 unbeaten runs in pursuit of the meager target.

Brief Scores: 

RBANMS- 60 allout in 18.4 overs
(Syed Razzaq 22, Vinay 4/7, Naveen 3/8)
RNSIT - 61/0 in 18 overs
(Vinay 27*, Aditya 30*)
 

Result: RNSIT won by 10 wickets
Man-of-the-match: Vinay R.

24 April 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: DSCE annihilated SJBIT by a handsome 80 run margin to make it to the semifinals of the IISc Centenary Cup 2011. Defending a healthy total of 163 - made possible by  contributions right through the batting order - the DSCE bowlers demolished SJBIT, bowling them out for a mere 83.

Brief Scores: 

DSCE- 163/9 in 25 overs
(Dyuthidhar 23, Maan Ahmed 28, Ali 33, Dheeraj 26, Mohit 3/20)
SJBIT - 83 allout in 17.3 overs
(Sarfaraj 2/23, Nosthush 4/13)
 

Result: DSCE won by 80 runs
Man-of-the-match: Nosthush