Kings drub Royals in intra-IISc match

27 May 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: With a growing pool of players, the IISc cricket club, after a really long time, had the luxury to have two teams playing leather-ball cricket. And so we had an intra-IISc match played between the IISc Kings XI led by Teja and the IISc Royals XI led by Lalit. Kiran Gangadharan scored a typically breezy half-century (53 off 34 balls) and then claimed a five-wicket haul (5/28) to single-handedly win the match for the Kings XI.

The Kings batted first and posted a par score of 198 as they were bundled out in 37.3 overs. Barring Kiran's innings and Pranesh's 29 there were hardly any meaningful contributions. Alok Pandey, coming back after an ACL surgery, bowled a mesmerizing spell of left-arm spin claiming four top-order wickets. His figures say it all - 8 overs, 2 maidens, 16 runs, 4 wickets.

The Royals messed up the chase completely and at one stage found themselves at 18/5. Varun (61 off 65 balls) and Arindam (22 off 19 balls) brought some respectability to the innings but in a losing cause. Teja's three-for and Kiran's five-for ultimately clinched the deal in favour of the Kings. Among the rookies, Vikas's spell of 5-0-14-1 was impressive.

Brief scores: (40-overs match)
IISc Kings XI - 198 all out in 37.3 overs
(Pranesh 29, Kiran 53, Mayank 2/34, Alok 4/16)
IISc Royals XI - 182 all out in 31.2 overs
(Varun 61, Teja 3/18, Kiran 5/28, Santhosh 2/41)

Result: IISc Kings XI won by 16 runs
Man of the Match: Kiran Gangadharan

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

Presidency emerge champions

The victorious Presidency College team poses with the

IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2012.

11 March 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Presidency College turned in a polished performance to beat Surana College by a comprehensive six-wicket margin to be crowned the champions in the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2012.

Nirmal (50) and Mohit (44*) helped Surana post a competitive 167/9 in 25 overs. Presidency went about the chase in the most efficient manner possible always staying far ahead of the required rate. Brisk forties from Rajkumar (48), Pruthvi (41) and Nischith (41) did the trick for Presidency. Nischith in particular seemed to be in utter hurry as he clobbered three sixes in an over. Presidency cantered home with 3.2 overs and six wickets remaining.

Former India wicket-keeper Sadanand Viswanath graced the final as the chief guest and spoke eloquently in the presentation ceremony where he handed over the trophies. He emphasized on the importance of perseverance not just in cricket but also in life. He urged on all the budding cricketers to always be on guard in the fast-paced lives of today. 

Chief guest Sadanand Viswanath, former India wicket-keeper,

addresses the gathering.

Sadanand Viswanath hands over the runners-up trophy to the 

captain and coach of Surana College.

Sadanand Viswanath hands over the winners trophy to the 

captain and coach of Presidency College.

Brief scores: (25-overs match)
Surana College - 167/9 in 25 overs
(Arjun Hoysala 28, Nirmal 50, Mohit 44*, Girish 2/41, Mahendra 1/21, Saikumar 2/20, Rajkumar 2/29, Suhel 2/12)
Presidency College - 171/4 in 21.4 overs
(Rajkumar 48, Pruthvi 41, Nischith 41, Latif 1/11, Sachin 2/53, Viswanath 2/15)


Result: Presidency College won by 6 wickets
Man of the Match: Rajkumar
Player of the Tournament: Arjun Hoysala (Surana College)

Hoysala ton takes Surana to final

10 March 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: A regal century by Arjun Hoysala (111) ensured a one-sided second semifinal as Surana College thrashed Vijaya College by 52 runs setting up a mouth-watering face-off with arch-rivals Presidency College in the finals of the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2012.

Arjun Hoysala show-cased some blistering stroke-play en route to a remarkable century that helped Surana College post a gargantuan 228/4 in 25 overs literally sealing the encounter in the first innings itself. Quickfire cameos from Deeraj (32), Nirmal (25) and Viswanath (37) added to Vijaya's woes.

Vijaya College salvaged some pride via spirited fifties from Dayanand (61) and Prasanna (64) but in the end fell well short of the himalayan target. For Surana, Yatish (3/24) picked up a three-for.

Brief scores: (25-overs match)
Surana College - 228/4 in 25 overs
(Arjun Hoysala 111, Deeraj 32, Nirmal 25, LK Viswanath 37, Praveen 1/45, Prasanna 1/23, Krishna 1/43)
Vijaya College - 176/8 in 25 overs
(Dayanand 61, Prasanna 64,  Yatish 3/24, Mohit 1/21, Manjunath 1/35, Lenin 1/40)


Result: Surana College won by 52 runs
Man of the Match: Arjun Hoysala

Presidency edge past IISc

10 March 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: The first semifinal of the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2012 produced as see-saw battle between the hosts IISc Gymkhana and Presidency College which the latter finally won on sheer batting might.

IISc skipper Ashith won the toss and promptly elected to bat. Vikram got IISc off to a brisk start but soon perished. But Ashith (75) played a captain's knock expertly building the innings with help from Raviteja (30) and Rauf (23) towards the end. The IISc innings closed at a healthy 182/7 in 25 overs.

Presidency also started aggressively before some spirited bowling and good catching pegged them back to 73/4. At the 15 overs stage, with ten overs to go, the visitors were placed at a dicey 91/4. From then on, Aman Raj (72*) and Vijay Kumar (30) orchestrated a stinging counter-attack that was laced as much with boundaries as with athletic running between the wickets cashing in on some lack-luster fielding from the home team.

Presidency scaled the target with five balls and six wickets to spare, thus sending the defending champions out of the tournament.

Brief scores: (25-overs match)
IISc Gymkhana - 182/7 in 25 overs
(Vikram 22, Ashith 75, Raviteja 30, Rauf 23, Anand 2/44, Girish 1/40, Mahendra 2/30, Rajkumar 1/21)
Presidency College - 184/4 in 24.1 overs
(Rajkumar 27, Nischith 25, Aman Raj 72*, Vijay Kumar 30*, Raviteja 2/25, Ashith 1/26)


Result: Presidency College won by 6 wickets
Man of the Match: Aman Raj

ICCC 2012: Climax this weekend!

After fierce competition over three weekends, the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2012 has reached its climax. This weekend will reveal who will lift the coveted trophy. Will it be the hosts and defending champions, IISc Gymkhana, or will we see the crowning of a new champion team?

Former Indian cricketer, Sadanand Viswanath, will grace the presentation ceremony of ICCC-2012 as the chief guest.


Don't miss the action!

Venue: IISc Gymkhana Cricket Ground

1st SEMI-FINAL

8:30AM, 10 March (Saturday)
Presidency College vs IISc Gymkhana

2nd SEMI-FINAL

1:00PM, 10 March (Saturday)
Vijaya College vs Surana College

FINAL

9:00AM, 11 March (Sunday)

Presentation Ceremony

1:15PM, 11 March (Sunday)
To be graced by former India stumper, Sadanand Viswanath