Mount Joy trump IISc again

24 June 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Team IISc put up a spirited fight against guests Mount Joy CC in a friendly match, after a dismal display on the previous occasion. This match was notable for the disciplined bowling display on IISc's part as well as the batting exhibition of the swashbuckling Raviteja in the middle-order. However the combined factors of bleak fielding, a lifeless pitch and the lack of experienced players conspired against IISc and allowed Mount Joy to trump the match.

The match started an hour late because of the blatant indiscipline showcased by the senior players of Mount Joy CC. After winning the toss, Mount Joy chose to bat first. Varun ripped off the opener Eshwar with an excellent bouncy delivery. However, Mount Joy quickly recovered with Shekar top scoring (76), followed by Sharath (52) and Abhilash (26). At the end of 40 overs, they were asked to relinquish their session (owing to the late start), having scored 223/6. Notable among the bowlers was the left-arm spinner, Alok (10 overs, 41/3) who troubled even the set batsmen. Syam, Arindam and Varun maintained good economy rates of under 5.0 per over. Fielding and catching in the deep are perennial issues that have to be worked on, especially with the inclusion of the new troops in the team

Team IISc had a tough task ahead since the relatively modest total of 223 ballooned into a mammoth ask of 280 in 50 overs (run rate extrapolation). The pressure told as opener Pranesh got out early. However, Lalit (43 off 62 balls) and Varun (30 off 49 balls) built up a sensible 80-run partnership to lend a semblance of stability to the batting display. However, they got out in quick succession to leave IISc tottering at 86/3 in 20.4 overs. The highlight of the batting was Raviteja who made a fluent 63 runs off 76 balls. However, even he was helpless as the other end lacked an anchoring innings. Team IISc crawled to a meagre 215 off 49.1 overs having lost all their wickets.

Brief scores: (50 overs match)

Mount Joy – 223/6 in 40 overs
(Shekar 76, Abhilash 26, Sharath 52;
Varun 6-0-25-1, Syam 7-0-37-0, Alok 10-0-41-3)
IISc – 215 all out in 49.1 overs
(Lalit 43, Varun 30, Raviteja 63;
Mohan 10-0-27-4, Abhilash 10-0-44-3)

Result: Mount Joy won by 64 runs

Man of the match: Shekar

Mount Joy CC beat IISc

3 June 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Mount Joy Cricket Club comprising a mixture of players from 1st division to 4th division proved too much of an ask for team IISc as they posted a mammoth 310/7 in 50 overs and then dismissed IISc for 243 in 45.1 overs.

Meaty contributions from several batsmen, notably Shekhar (61) and Abhilash (65), helped Mount Joy reach a 300-plus total. Left-arm seamer Manish Mandloi, playing only his third match for IISc, bowled a stirring spell of 9-0-28-2.

As many as six IISc batsmen got into the twenties only to throw it away - a perfect lesson on how not to build a chase. Tail-ender Manish (26) ended up being the highest scorer in IISc's innings that folded up 67 runs short of the target. Mohan picked up a four-wicket haul for the visitors.

Brief scores: (50-overs match)
Mount Joy CC - 310/7 in 50 overs
(Praveen 27, Shekhar 61, Abhilash 65, Sharath 40, Suchin 39, Manish 2/28, Naga Raju 2/61)
IISc - 243 all out in 45.1 overs
(Lalit 24, Kiran 22, Mayank 23, Ashith 24, Rajat 20, Manish 26, Magnet 2/29, Suchin 3/43, Mohan 4/44, Madhu 2/19)

Result: Mount Joy CC won by 67 runs
Man of the Match: Abhilash