IISc pip Merchants CC, reach super-league

The worms (red: Merchants CC, green: IISc) show that IISc had the luxury 

to pace their chase knowing that the target wasn't stiff.

16 October 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: For the second consecutive season, the IISc cricket team has made it to the super-league stage of the highly competitive KSCA Metro Shield tournament winning four of their five league stage matches. The latest victims at their hands were Merchants CC who were defeated by three wickets in an evenly contested affair that showed how a low scoring match could still dish out edge-of-the-seat cricket.

Merchants started out confidently with some authoritative boundaries. But the hosts fought back through some disciplined bowling and agile fielding reducing the visitors from 33/0 to 75/4. Aneesh (41) and Ikram (35) arrested the collapse and ensured that the visitors had a decent total to defend with their famed bowling line-up. In a collective effort, Debajit (2/42), Teja (3/33) and Vikram (2/23) plotted the downfall of the opposition restricting them under 200. 

Knowing that the target wasn't stiff helped IISc pace their chase perfectly in the face of some stifling spin bowling from Merchants. Salil (22) and Kiran (19) ensured a steady start but in a dramatic turn of events the home team found themselves at 76/5 largely through a string of soft dismissals. The stage was set for Ashith (45) to play a captain's knock under pain and pressure, stitching crucial partnerships with Teja (37*) and Debajit (26) both of whom are fast developing into seasoned finishers. IISc romped home with three wickets and close to five overs to spare.

After all the grueling cricket in the past couple of months, team IISc now gets some well-deserved rest before their face-off with tougher oppositions in the super-league. While things seem to be clicking very nicely in the batting and bowling departments, they will be most pleased with their marked improvement in fielding and catching over the previous matches, touch wood.

Brief Scores:

Merchant's CC - 199 all out in 45.2 overs
(Saroj 22, Aneesh 41, Ikram 35, Debajit 2/42, Teja 3/33, Vikram 2/23)
IISc - 201/7 in 45.3 overs

(Salil 22, Teja 37*, Ashith 45, Debajit 26, Aneesh 3/25)

Result: IISc won by 3 wickets

Man-of-the-match: Ravi Teja

Full Scorecard

Newspaper Reports: 
"Deccan Herald" 

IISc clinch thriller

9 October 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: After the agonizing loss to Vikram CC in the last game, team IISc was under pressure to win this match. And so they did via a commendable team effort beating Vivekanada Union CC by three wickets with just two overs to spare. 

Vivekananda Union came into the match with some reputation for hard hitting and Ajay (70) and Anil (60) justified that with some lusty stroke-play. Ajay in particular was on nitro-boost mode biffing eight fours and three sixes. Debajit (4/49) came out of his consistent three-for mode claiming four wickets for IISc. Vikram (2/57) and Ashith (3/33) shared the rest of the spoils.

In a conscious effort to always stay ahead of the required rate, Salil (38) and Kiran (45) got the hosts off to a blistering start scoring at around nine runs an over. When Kiran was dismissed at a team score of 80 in the tenth over, IISc had a firm foundation to build their chase on. But they squandered the initiative with a dramatic middle-order collapse that took them to a precarious 145/6. 

Reminiscent of the epic chase against Rajajinagar Colts almost exactly an year ago, it was Varun (43) and Teja (55*) who played the rescue act to perfection. There weren't too many boundaries - both the batsmen hit only one six each - but the running was especially impressive as they repeatedly put pressure on the fielders stealing plenty of doubles. When Varun got out, IISc was still 33 runs behind the target, but some composed and sensible batting from Teja and Debajit saw IISc through with a couple of overs to spare.

While the result might not reflect it, the home team has some serious problems to sort in the fielding and catching department. The next match versus Merchants CC will not be an easy proposition to handle with butter-fingered fieldsmen. 

Brief Scores:

Vivekananda Union CC - 245 all out in 45.1 overs
(Ajay 70, Anil 60, Debajit 4/49, Vikram 2/57, Ashith 3/33)
IISc - 247/7 in 48 overs

(Salil 38, Kiran 45, Varun 43, Teja 55*, Soail 5/44)

Result: IISc won by 3 wickets

Man-of-the-match: Ravi Teja

Newspaper Reports:
"Deccan Herald"
"The Hindu"

Vikram CC, rain prevail over IISc

 The worms (red: Vikram CC, green: IISc) show that IISc's chase was cut short at a crucial juncture.

2 October 2011, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: When IISc restricted Vikram CC to 228/8 in 50 overs, they might have felt reasonably confident of registering their third straight win in the KSCA Metro Shield 2011. But during the chase, a combination of nagging bowling and some circumspect batting ensured that the hosts was slightly behind the required run-rate when it poured down cruelly for them.

Vikram CC's innings was steered by a gem of a knock from Sanjeeth (60). For IISc, Debajit  (3/51) picked up three wickets while Ashith (2/38) and Arjun (2/42) claimed two wickets apiece. The home team's fielding was rather profligate which proved quite decisive in the final equation.

In the 22.1 overs that IISc got to bat, Salil (45*) was in the middle of a polished innings. The chase was nipped in the bud at that inopportune juncture  by a spell of heavy downpour leaving the hosts wondering how they managed to lose a match that seemed to be well in their pockets. The umpires did have an inspection about an hour after rain stopped, but the ground conditions were too soggy for any play to be possible.

Brief Scores:

Vikram CC - 228/8 in 50 overs
(Sanjeeth 60, Deepak Reddy 30, Debajit 3/51, Ashith 2/38, Arjun 2/42 )
IISc - 84/2 in 22.1 overs

(Salil 45*)

Result: Vikram CC won by better run rate

Man-of-the-match: Sanjeeth

Newspaper reports:

"Deccan Herald"