IISc beat BEL in high-scorer

20 May 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: IISc's new crop of players put in a match-winning performance to pull-off a win in a high-scoring friendly match versus BEL Colony Recreation Club. Mayank Amble shone with bat (48 off 44) as well as ball (3/23) playing only his second match for IISc.

IISc lost an early wicket to find themselves at 10/1 in the third over. But the second wicket alliance of Pranesh (34 off 42) and Lalit (51 off 44) put on 91 runs in 12 overs to lay the foundation for a big total. Mayank and Varun (39 off 26) continued the good work thus ensuring a healthy total of 238/6 in the stipulated 35 overs.

Harsha's valiant innings of 93 off 86 balls was the highlight of the innings as BEL tried to make a fight out of the stiff chase. But little support from the other end, apart from Sharath (35), meant that the visitors finally fell eleven runs short of the target. 

Though there was marked improvement in batting and fielding over last match, the bowling is still a matter of concern for IISc. There were as many as 34 wides bowled by the IISc bowlers - that's an average of one wide every over! Definitely something to work on.

Brief scores: (35-overs match)

IISc - 238/6 in 35 overs

(Pranesh 34, Lalit 51, Mayank 48, Varun 39*, Vikram 3/34)

BEL Colony RC - 227/9 in 35 overs

(Sharath 35, Harsha 93, Rajiv 20, Mayank 3/23)

Result: IISc won by 11 runs

Man of the Match: Mayank Amble

New players get a feel of cricket

13 May 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: After the long off-season owing to the tennis-ball fever on campus, the IISc cricket team got back to business with the red cherry. Many of the experienced players were missing but the enthusiasm of the clutch of new-comers in the side is a good sign. Many of them had performed well in the inter-department tennis-ball cricket tournament thus earning a call-up to the institute team.

Team IISc fielded as many as seven debutants in the practice match versus RT Nagar Cricket Club which comprised a combination of KSCA IV Division and V Division players. Skipper Ashith won the toss and elected to bat. But lack of substantial partnerships hurt IISc as they were bowled out for 162 well under the stipulated 35 overs. If the top scores in an innings are in the twenties - Lalit (26) and Syam (20) - you certainly can't expect a big total.

RT Nagar CC easily chased down the target with more than five overs to spare. Saif (40) and Debjith (35*) top-scored for the visitors. The IISc fielders dropped four catches and were not too clinical with the ground fielding as well. They've got a lot to work on in the coming weeks. Going by the increasing numbers in the morning nets sessions and imminent arrival of coach Sreedhar from next week, team IISc is at least on the right track, though still far away from the goal of matching up to the consistent performances of last two seasons (60-70% win record in 2010 and 2011).

Brief scores: (35-overs match)
IISc - 162 all-out in 33.4 overs
(Lalit 26, Syam 20)
RT Nagar CC - 163/3 in 29.4 overs
(Mayur 26, Saif 40, Debjith 35*, Suhas 25)


Result: RT Nagar CC won by 7 wickets
Man of the Match: Saif