Upcoming Match: 20-21 October 2012

Semifinals - KSCA Group-I, IV-Division
IISc Gymkhana vs Rajajinagar Cricketers
Saturday-Sunday, 20-21 September 2012 (two-day match)
Venue: IAF Ground

IISc clinch high-scorer, go to semis

Ashith produced yet another classic (93* off 66 balls) taking his 

tournament aggregate to 389 at an astronomical average of 129.67

30th September, 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: There was a lot at stake in the super league match of the KSCA Metro Shield 2012 played between IISc Gymkhana and Spartans Sports Club as it was to decide the fate of three teams in the tournament. And the match truly lived up to the billing producing a high intensity clash that had all the ingredients of a dramatic classic. 

Two superlative knocks from either side - Vinith Yadav's 120 off 98 balls and Ashith Shyam's 93* off 66 balls - set the stage on fire. The other batsmen from both sides played ideal foils to the protagonist at the other end. Bowlers from both sides were shred to pieces. Hardly anything separated the two sides barring the 'little things' that IISc did right, taking them to the semifinals of the tournament after a wait of sixteen years.

It was a wet morning with dark clouds all around threatening a washout. But once the rain stopped, the famed IISc ground soaked up all the puddles thus allowing a  three-and-half hours late start with the overs curtailed to 30. Expecting a slow and damp wicket, Ashith put the visitors in to bat. Vinith and Vishal (51 of 59 balls) started steadily reaching 73 in fifteen overs. But from then on, they upped the tempo several notches before Roy bowled the latter with the score at 140 in the 23rd over. 

Lakshman (40 off 24 balls) joined Vinith and both launched a brutal attack on the home bowlers plundering boundaries and scampering runs in all parts of the ground. Vinith hit as many as twelve boundaries and three sixes. Yet, all through the assault, the IISc fielders kept saving crucial runs here and there - something that proved decisive in the end. Kiran came up with gravity-defying attempts on some half-chances, Varun charged and swooped at the ball cutting down doubles. Nonetheless, Spartans SC slammed 145 runs in the last 15 overs and ended with a gargantuan 218/1 in 30 overs.

If any batting line-up in KSCA IV Division had the fire-power to scale such a herculean target, it had to be IISc's. The law of averages caught up with Kiran as he was dismissed for 13. But Salil was solid as ever pacing the chase expertly with a 44-ball 45. Arindam (15 off 8 balls) perished after a brief flicker bringing Ashith to the crease. And the captain produced the kind of innings under pressure that is the stuff of legends. 

His unbeaten knock - studded with eleven boundaries and a gorgeous six over extra cover - might have been seven runs short of a ton, but every single run was worth its weight in gold. This one should rate even above his 149 not out earlier in the tournament. He shared an 83-run partnership with Salil followed by a 58-run partnership with Vikram (28 off 20 balls) and finally, with eight balls to spare, knocked off the winning runs as Teja (8* off 7 balls) gave him company.

This victory sets up a semifinal clash between IISc Gymkhana and Rajajinagar Cricketers at the revered Chinnaswamy Stadium. It's a two-day match scheduled on 6-7 October. The winners will obviously make it to the final of the KSCA Metro Shield but will also get promoted to KSCA III Division next season.

[Update: Due to Karnataka bandh on 6th October, the semifinal match between IISc and Rajajinagar Cricketers has been rescheduled to 20-21 October at IAF Ground]

Brief scores: (30 overs match)
Spartans SC - 218/1 in 30 overs
(Vinith Yadav 120, Vishal Balal 51, Lakshman 40;
Roy 2-0-20-1)
IISc - 219/5 in 28.4 overs
(Salil 45, Ashith 93*, Vikram 28;
Suresh 6-0-35-2)

Result: IISc won by 5 wickets
Man of the match: Ashith Shyam

Upcoming Match: Sunday, 30 September 2012

IISc Gymkhana vs Spartans Sports Club
50-overs KSCA Group-I, IV-Division Super League Match
9:30AM, Sunday, 30 September 2012
Venue: IISc Gymkhana Ground

IISc rout Vikram CC

Varun struck telling blows in his spell of 8-2-26-3

23rd September, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Team IISc moved one step closer to securing a semifinal berth by winning their second super league match on the trot in KSCA Metro Shield 2012. Vikram CC was shot out for a meagre 158 that was ruthlessly chased down with six wickets and close to eighteen overs still to go.

Batting first, Vikram CC started in extremely circumspect fashion. Varun had Satish caught behind in the fifth over. The very next over, Debajit trapped Benedict plumb in front for a duck. The IISc bowlers largely hunted in a pack as they kept chipping away on the wickets reducing Vikram CC to 31/5 in the thirteenth over. 

Manoj Thapa (31 off 64 balls) and Nikhil (33 off 42 balls) stabilized the innings with a 58 run sixth wicket partnership before Alok got the latter stumped. Towards the later stage of the innings Rohit contributed 39 runs off 37 balls while the rest of the batsmen perished. Varun ended with impressive figures of 8-2-26-3.

Chasing 159, IISc lost both openers cheaply and had to go through a tricky phase of nine overs before the lunch break. Skipper Ashith (57* off 70 balls) and debutant Satya Rungta (29 off 59 balls) shared a crucial 60-run third wicket partnership that put IISc back on track. Vikram (25 off 27 balls) played a typical cameo before holing out in the deep. Ashith finished off the chase with Varun (14* off 11 balls) at the other end. With this undefeated innings, Ashith has already slammed 296 runs in the tournament at a Bradmanesque average of 98.67.

Having already bettered their performances in the past sixteen years, team IISc is just one step away from the semifinals as they face Spartans Sports Club in their last super league match coming Sunday. 

Brief scores: (50 overs match)
Vikram CC - 158 all out in 41.1 overs
(Manoj Thapa 31, Nikhil 33, Rohith 39;
Varun 8-2-26-3, Alok 9-0-35-2)
IISc - 159/4 in 32.1 overs
(Ashith 57*, Satya 29, Vikram 25)

Result: IISc won by 6 wickets
Man of the match: Varun Raturi

In the newspapers:
"Deccan Herald"

BEL RC beaten

Kiran scored a run-a-ball 56, his fourth fifty

in this edition of the KSCA Metro Shield. 

16th September, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Continuing the pattern of the past two seasons, team IISc won their first match in the Super League stage of the KSCA Metro Shield this year as well. After Sirur Park Sports Club in 2010 and Young Challenging Cricketers in 2011, this time the victims were arch rivals BEL Colony Recreation Club.

After a lot of diligent practice in the nets, skipper Ashith finally managed to win a toss and put the visitors in to bat. Suresh Babu and captain Harsha started cautiously for BEL putting on 38 runs in eight overs before Vikram drew first blood sneaking through the latter's defence and rearranging his furniture. Vikram then had Beerappa caught by Kiran thus reducing BEL to 58/2 in the seventeenth over. Rajeeva (20 off 40 balls) came to the wicket with agressive intent and built a 52-run third wicket partnership with Suresh Babu (82 off 109 balls) who was batting solidly at the other end. 

Arindam broke the alliance castling Rajeeva as he attempeted a wild shot across the line. The BEL middle-order then collapsed spectacularly. In a matter of eleven overs - from the 31st to the 42nd over - they went from 110/2 to 152/8. Guru (31* off 31 balls) and Nagasimha (18 off 23 balls) played sensibly, albeit with some calculated risks, taking BEL beyond the 200-mark. Vikram's 7-0-14-2 and Arindam's 10-1-27-3 were the standout figures for IISc. The final total of 203 happens to be the highest any team has managed to score against IISc, until now, in the KSCA Metro Shield 2012.

Salil (17 off 21 balls) inaugurated the chase with a couple of boundaries in the very first over but perished in the sixth over with the score at 24. Kiran (56 off 56 balls) and Ashith (31 off 48 balls) played with minimum fuss while being easy on the eye as they put on 78 for the second wicket. Both were dismissed to bizarre runouts - the former was 'Mankaded' by Kishan while the later fell to a horrendous mix-up. Varun (21 off 61 balls) and Teja (36 off 46 balls) took over the unfinished job with aplomb and looked every bit like taking IISc home. But some late drama and hara-kiri ensured that the home team lost four more wickets with the finish-line a stone's throw away. Nonetheless, the target was duly achieved in the 47th over with three wickets to spare.

Brief scores: (50 overs match)

BEL RC - 203/9 in 50 overs

(Suresh Babu 82, Rajeeva 20, Guru 31*;

Debajit 10-0-48-1, Vikram 7-0-14-2, Arindam 10-1-27-3, Roy 7-0-35-1)

IISc - 207/7 in 46.3 overs

(Kiran 56, Ashith 31, Varun 21, Raviteja 36;

Ajay 5-1-26-1, Kishan 10-2-31-1, Nagasimha 6.3-1-21-2)

Result: IISc won by 3 wickets

Man of the match: Kiran Gangadharan

In the newspapers:

"Deccan Herald"

Upcoming Match: Sunday, 16 September 2012

IISc Gymkhana vs BEL Colony Recreation Club
50-overs KSCA Group-I, IV-Division Super League Match
9:30AM, Sunday, 16 September 2012
Venue: IISc Gymkhana Ground

Both the teams know each other very well because of the umpteen practice matches played between them. But to face up in a high pressure KSCA Super League match is a totally different ball game. Team IISc gets back to business after a hard fought league stage - where they mustered four wins in five matches - followed by an exhilarating team trek to Kudremukh peak.

IISc Cricket Team conquers Kudremukh peak (1892 m above MSL)

Rajajinagar crush IISc, top pool

25th August, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: With both teams coming into the match having pocketed four straight wins each, this match was supposed to be the clash of the titans in the pool-C of the KSCA IV Division league 2012. But Rajajinagar Cricketers simply outplayed IISc Gymkhana in all three departments to win the match by a resounding six wicket margin thus topping the pool. However, both teams make it to the Super League stage which starts tentatively in mid-September.

Rajajinagar won the toss and again resorted to their familiar strategy of putting the opposition in. The initial overs produced some absorbing cricket that included some hits and misses interspersed with some classic strokes from Kiran (59 off 66 balls) and Ashith (14 off 21 balls). But Ashith fell in the eighth over to a freak dismissal when a Kiran straight drive flicked the bowlers fingers before hitting the stumps on the non-strikers end. That opened the proverbial flood gates as wickets fell in a pile including a couple of close calls that went against the home side. In all the previous matches, IISc's top four batsmen had been doing the job, with the lower-middle order batsmen hardly getting a hit in the middle. And when they did finally get the chance, they were found woefully short of the mark, barring the glistening exception of Raviteja, who was stranded on an unbeaten 47 coming off 59 deliveries.

The visitors were rocked early in their chase when Varun castled Bharath in the very first over with one that swung in. But Fahad (23 off 19 balls) and Mudassir (71 off 65 balls) kept attacking the IISc bowlers thus scoring at a fast clip. Fahad edged one to second slip in the tenth over to revive IISc's hope of a fight back. The third wicket alliance of Mudassir and Sagar (42 off 60 balls) however batted solidly almost taking Rajajinagar home but for a couple of late dismissals at the fag end of the innings. The only bright spot in IISc's bowling was Arindam's luckless spell of 10-0-39-0 where he beat the bat and induced edges on umpteen occasions yet went wicketless.

Brief scores: (50 overs match)

IISc - 157 all out in 35.5 overs

(Kiran 59, Raviteja 47*;

Sagar 7.5-0-27-3, Shree Kumar 7-0-20-2, Balaji 6-0-32-2)

Rajajinagar Cricketers - 158/4 in 29 overs

(Fahad 23, Mudassir 71, Sagar 42*)

Result: Rajajinagar Cricketers won by 6 wickets

Man of the match: Sagar

In the newspapers:
"Deccan Herald"

Upcoming Match: Saturday, 25 August 2012

IISc Gymkhana vs Rajajinagar Cricketers
50-overs KSCA Group-I, IV-Division League Match
9:30AM, Saturday, 25 August 2012
Venue: IISc Gymkhana Ground

Both the teams have already made it to the Super League stage of the ongoing KSCA Metro Shield 2012. They come into this match with identical records - played four, won four. A mouth-watering contest is on the cards. 

Ace Cricketers aced

Match Report in Hindi:

कर्णाटक स्टेट क्रिकेट संघ के अंतर्गत चल रहे मेट्रो शील्ड मुकाबले मे 19 अगस्त 2012 को खेले गए मैच मे भारतीय विज्ञान संस्थान (आइ आइ एस सी) जिमखाना ने एस क्रिकेटर्स के खिलाफ आठ विकेट से जीत हासिल कर लीग में दूसरे चरण के लिए अपनी जगह पक्की कर ली।इसी के साथ आइ आइ एस सी ने लीग मे अपना जीत का कारवां जारी रखा और लगातार चौथी जीत हासिल की।

आइ आइ एस सी जिमखाना क्रिकेट मैदान पर बादलो की लुक्का चुप्पी के बीच खेले गए इस मैच मे एस क्रिकेटर्स ने टॉस जीत कर पहले बल्लेबाज़ी करने का फैसला किया। एस क्रिकेटर्स के सलामी बल्लेबाज़ विपिन एवं नन्दीश के सामने आइ आइ एस सी के वरुण व देबजीत की गेंदबाजी कुछ ख़ास कमाल नहीं दिखा पाई और पहले 6 ओवर मे एस ने 39 रनो की अच्छी नीव तैयार कर ली। लेकिन सातवे ओवर से गेंदबाज़ी की कमान कप्तान आशित व मध्यम गति फिरकी गेंदबाज़ अरिंदम ने संभालने का निर्णय लिया। इस बदलाव से आइ आइ एस सी एस क्रिकेटर्स के तेज़ी से बढ़ते स्कोर को रोकने मे कामयाब रहा। एस क्रिकेटर्स ने 15.4 ओवर मे 67 रन के स्कोर पर अपना पहला विकेट कप्तान आशित की झोली मे डाल दिया। और यहीं से विकेट गिरने का कार्यक्रम चलता रहा जिस मे फिरकी गेंदबाज़ अनिरुद्ध ने 10 ओवर में केवल 30 रन दे कर 3 महत्वपूर्ण विकेट चटके और देबजीत ने शानदार वापसी कर 10 ओवर में 2 मैडेन ओवर के साथ 38 रन देकर 3 विकेट लिए। कप्तान आशित ने भी शानदार गेंदबाज़ी का प्रदर्शन कर 2 विकेट लिए। उनचासवे ओवर मे 190 रन के स्कोर पर एस क्रिकेटर्स ने आइ आइ एस सी की कठोर गेंदबाज़ी के सामने घुटने टेक दिए।

आइ आइ एस सी ने 191 रन के स्कोर का पीछा करते हुए 29.2 ओवर मे जीत हासिल की जिसमे सलिल ने धुँआदार बल्लेबाज़ी करते हुए 90 रन की नाबाद पारी खेली। दूसरे छोर पर किरण आक्रामक बल्लेबाज़ी करते हुए मात्र 41 गेंदो में 50 रन बनाकर आउट हो गए। अरिंदम बल्लेबाज़ी मे कुछ ख़ास करिश्मा नहीं दिखा पाए और 27 गेंदो मे 12 रन बनाकर अपना विकेट हवा मे उछाल कर पेविलियन  लौट गए। विक्रम ने 21 गेंदो मे 22 रन की नाबाद पारी खेली।

Salil's unbeaten run-a-ball 90 

was the cornerstone of IISc's chase

Match report in English:

19th August, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: In keeping with their red hot form this season, IISc defeated Ace Cricketers by eight wickets in a league match and made it into the Super League stage of the KSCA Metro Shield for the third successive season. IISc thus extended their unbeaten streak to four in the KSCA IV division league.

In a match played amid the hide-and-seek of clouds at IISc Gymkhana ground, Ace Cricketers won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Vipin and Nandeesh looked at ease against the bowling of Varun and Debajit and set up a decent foundation with 39 runs in the first six overs. But the seventh over onward, skipper Ashith and medium fast spinner Arindam came into the attack and put the brakes on the scoring. The pressure tactics paid off in the sixteenth over when Ace lost their first wicket at 67. From there on, the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals, with Roy returning with impressive figures of 10-0-30-3. Debajit made a forceful came back for his second spell ending with figures of 10-2-38-3 while Ashith claimed two for 34. In the face of disciplined and incisive bowling from the hosts, the Ace innings folded in the 49th over for 190 runs.

IISc romped home within 30 overs courtesy Salil's unbeaten run-a-ball 90 and Kiran's quickfire 50 off 41 balls. Arindam wasn't as comfortable with the bat as he was with the ball scoring 12 off 27 balls before he was out to a miscued shot. Vikram scored 21 off 22 balls as he finished off the chase with Salil.

Brief scores: (50 overs match)
Ace Cricketers - 190/10 in 48.4 overs
(Vipin 29, Nandeesh 38, Mukund 29, Ajay 36;

Debajit 10-2-38-3, Ashith 9.4-1-34-2, Roy 10-0-30-3)
IISc - 191/2 in 29.2 overs
(Salil 90*, Kiran 50, Vikram 22*)

Result: IISc won by 8 wickets
Man of the match: Salil Kashyap

Upcoming Match: Sunday, 19 August 2012

IISc Gymkhana vs Ace Cricketers
50-overs KSCA Group-I, IV-Division League Match
9:30AM, Sunday, 19 August 2012
Venue: IISc Gymkhana Ground

With three wins in as many matches, team IISc has already made it to the Super League stage of the KSCA Metro Shield 2012. But to keep the winning habit going will definitely serve them well as they proceed deeper into the tournament.

IISc pip BMSCE, enter final

18th August, IIMB Ground, Bangalore: Playing their second match of the IIMB Invitational Tournament 2012, IISc pipped BMS College of Engineering by 28 runs to reach the final with a clean slate. 

A murderous 28-ball 62 by Kiran and late order charge by Syam (47 off 28 balls) propelled IISc to 180 in 20 overs. Kiran's early onslaught comprised five fours and six sixes. But IISc collapsed from 84/1 to 120/7 before Syam's counter-attack saved the day for IISc.

BMSCE were always behind the required rate in pursuit of the stiff target and never quite managed to give a scare to IISc. Srinath (35) and Pankaj (34) were the top-scorers for BMS.

Brief scores: (20 overs match)
IISc - 180 allout in 20 overs
(Kiran 62, Syam 47, Teja 2/26, Akshay 2/35, Pranav 3/30)
BMSCE - 152/7 in 20 overs
(Varun 4-0-14-2, Debajit 4-1-22-1, Vikram 4-0-44-2)

Result: IISc won by 28 runs
Man of the match: Kiran Gangadharan

Upcoming Match: Saturday, 18 August 2012

IISc Gymkhana vs BMS College of Engineering
20-overs Match
IIMB Invitational Tournament 2012
10:00AM, Saturday, 18 August 2012
Venue: IIM-Bangalore Ground

IISc get the better of IIMB

15th August, IIMB Ground, Bangalore: Kiran's quickfire fifty (63 of 38 balls) and contributions from Ashith (23 off 14), Raviteja (24 off 16) and Varun (30* off 14) helped IISc chase down a par target of 157 set by the home team in the first match of the IIMB Invitational Tournament 2012.

IIMB won the toss and elected to bat. Mihir (28) and Nikhil (60*) gave IIMB a steady start while the latter carried his bat through the innings to help the home team post a fighting total. But IISc scaled the target with ease.

Though the match was won, IISc's intensity on the field was not very good - something they'll will look to correct when they face BMSCE in their next match. To their credit,  IIMB fielded appreciably well in the lush outfield barring a couple of dropped catches that cost them dear.

Brief scores: (20 overs match)
IIMB - 156/4 in 20 overs
(Mihir 28, Nikhil 60*, Chandan 31)
IISc - 160/4 in 17.1 overs
(Kiran 63, Ashith 23, Raviteja 24, Varun 30*)

Result: IISc won by 6 wickets
Man of the match: Kiran Gangadharan

Indiranagar Terminated

Ashith accepts the applause from his team-mates after 

reaching his first century in KSCA league.

 Varun raises his bat as he walks back after scoring his maiden ton.

12th August, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Playing their third match of the KSCA Metro Shield 2012, team IISc ousted Indiranagar Cricketers to record yet another monstrous win. An unprecedented pair of tons in one innings - Ashith's marathon unbeaten 149 and Varun's blistering 125 - helped IISc post a staggering total of 386/3 in 50 overs. It's the highest ever in IISc cricket history. Tight bowling, some safe catching and couple of direct-hits served to collapse the hapless guests for a paltry total of 201 in 42.4 overs.

Indiranagar won the toss and put IISc to bat anticipating rain at noon. Salil as usual provided a rock solid start as he played his way on to an unflustered 52 off 54 balls. However, the flashy Kiran was bowled out early for 13 off 16 balls by an unplayable out-swinger from Nihal. Ashith (149 off 141 balls) came in at one down and had a busy 76-run partnership with Salil until the latter was trapped in front by the left-arm spinner, Vikram. This wicket ushered the brilliant Varun (125 off 89 balls) onto the crease. Soon, Ashith's superlative drives and Varun's unrelenting running between the wickets brought the bowling to the knees and took the fight out of the opposition. The duo put on a resplendent 222-run partnership that has set the bench mark in the annals of IISc cricket.

The butter-fingered Indiranagar fielders managed to drop as many as six catches before Bhagwan came to their rescue by taking Varun's catch at long-on. The cherry on the cake was provided by Vikram Chaturvedi, who blasted an unbeaten 23 off 8 balls to give IISc a strong finish. Indiranagar set off chasing the mammoth total in the only way possible, by going hard at each and every ball. However, Arindam drew first blood, when he made the opener Ramkrishna play in the air and Roy took a well judged catch at mid on. The loss of three quick wickets within a space of 35 runs left the guests reeling at 70/4 in the eleventh over. Opener Prabhu's 56 off 64 balls and Sudarshan's 61 off 80 balls were the only signs of resistance as Indiranagar put up a semblance of a fight. However, a combination of inspired bowling from the experienced Arindam and Debajit and a couple of run outs wiped out the guests for 201.

The gorgeous display of cricket in all three departments of the game in the previous three matches makes IISc Gymkhana the team to beat this season, barring complacency.

Brief scores: (50 overs match)
IISc - 386/3 in 50 overs
(Ashith Shyam 149*, Varun Raturi 125, Salil 52, Vikram Chaturvedi 23*; Nihal 8-0-66-2)
Indiranagar Cricketers - 201 allout in 42.4 overs
(Sudarshan 61, Prabhu Karthik 56, Amreesh Singh 28;
Debajit 6.4-0-26-2, Arindam 10-1-43-3, Kiran 7-1-31-2)

Result: IISc won by 185 runs
Man of the match: Ashith Shyam

In the newspapers:

"Deccan Herald" - URL, jpg

"The Hindu" - URL, jpg
"Times of India" - jpg

Roy poaches four as IISc hunt down Friends CC

Off-spinner Roy spun a web around the Friends CC 
batting returning with impressive figures of 10-1-42-4.

4th August, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: IISc registered their second win in as many matches in the KSCA Metroshield 2012 IV Division league beating Friends Cricket Club (FCC) by five wickets. Put into bat under overcast conditions, the FCC openers found it hard to contend with the extra swing on offer as Debajit (6-1-24-1) and Varun (7-0-22-1) picked up from where they left off in the previous game. Ashok Kumar tried to cut loose by launching Debajit over square leg for a six but was soon snapped up at second slip by Ashith off the bowling of Varun. Debajit then had Pradeep caught driving to mid-off where Ashith took a fantastic diving catch launching himself forward taking it inches off the ground. Teja (5-0-15-0) and Vikram (5-0-17-0) produced some tight overs before the drinks break as the opposition crawled to 86 for the loss of two wickets at the halfway stage.

Manjunath tried to break the shackles by smacking a couple of boundaries, but with Srinivas unable to rotate the strike at the other end, FCC were struggling to lift the tempo. The introduction of spin triggered a batting collapse as Manjunath (31 off 56 balls) skied one to cover off Roy. Kiran (4-0-27-1) soon put Srinivas (28 off 86) out of his misery by gladly accepting a return catch (in the process picking up his maiden wicket in the league). Syed Ali (30 off 31 balls) briefly resisted picking up the odd boundary but soon perished as Roy spun a web around the FCC batting and brought it to its knees returning with impressive figures of 10-1-42-4. Jagadeesh (26 off 17 balls) smacked some lusty blows at the end trying to lend some respectability to the total but the damage was already done. Ashith (5.5-1-25-2) ensured there would be no rearguard action from the FCC batting as he cleaned up the lower order setting IISc a chase of 180.

Kiran (33 off 41 balls) and Salil (27 off 26 balls) went about the chase with minimum fuss stitching together yet another steady half-century partnership (57 off 57 balls). FCC hit back with two quick wickets sending both openers back to the hut with IISc still needing another 123 runs. Ashith (44 off 56 balls) and Varun (30 off 50 balls) eased the nerves in the IISc dressing room with a crucial third wicket partnership of 79 runs off 111 balls which brought IISc within touching distance. However, some reckless shot selection by IISc’s batsmen delayed the inevitable victory for them as they eclipsed the target in the 39^th over losing five wickets in the process. It was a big win nonetheless but IISc would agree that they lost a couple of wickets too many. IISc now face Indiranagar Cricketers on Sunday, a crucial game for both sides.

Brief scores: (50 overs match)

Friends CC - 179 allout in 42.5 overs 

(Srinivas 28, Manjunath 31, Syed Ali 30, Jagadeesh 26*;

Roy 10-1-42-4, Ashith 5.5-1-25-2)

IISc - 181/5 in 38.5 overs

(Salil 27, Kiran 33, Ashith 44, Varun 30;

Naveen 4.5-1-15-2)

Result: IISc won by 5 wickets

Man of the match: Aniruddha Datta-Roy

In the newspapers: 

"Deccan Herald" - URL, png

Emphatic start to league

Debajit turned in a sterling exhibition of swing bowling. 
His figures say it all: 10-2-27-3.

29th July, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Team IISc started off their KSCA Metro Shield 2012 campaign with an emphatic victory over Malleswaram United Cricket Club by a resounding eight wicket margin. IISc stamped their dominance in every department of the game hardly letting MUCC a foot in the door taking all of sixty overs to finish off the match.

Varun and Debajit opened the bowling for IISc troubling both the openers. Debajit's first over, in particular, set the tone for the match when he beat Rahul on all six balls moving it both ways. He finally put Rahul out of his misery by inducing a miscue that swirled over Ashith at mid-off before he pouched it running backwards. Soon Debajit also had Bharath caught behind sparking off an uncharacteristically animated celebration from the bowler. Varun (29 off 36 balls) and Suhas (32 off 53 balls) tried to steady the innings with a watchful partnership of 38 runs that was broken by Vikram's golden arm when he had Varun plumb in front. 

Rest of the batting collapsed like a pack of cards though Basavaraj (23) and Prashanth (14) showed brief resistance. IISc fielders were also right on the money saving crucial runs and effecting two runouts although there were also a few missed chances. MUCC - having scored 338/9 in their previous match - were bundled out for a meagre 147 in 40 overs.

Salil (50* off 49 balls) and Kiran (76 off 56 balls) gave IISc a dream start in a 124-run opening stand that completely wiped out any chances of a miracle for the visitors. Both batsmen stamped their class matching each other shot for shot - Salil struck eight boundaries while Kiran spanked fourteen to the fence. In the closing stages of the chase MUCC managed to claim a couple of consolation wickets. IISc cantered home with eight wickets and 30 overs to spare, their biggest win in a league match in recent history.

Brief scores: (50 overs match)
MUCC - 147 allout in 40 overs
(Varun Bharadwaj 29, Suhas 32, Basavaraj 23;
Varun Raturi 10-0-34-2, Debajit 10-2-27-3, Vikram 7-1-30-3)
IISc - 148/2 in 20 overs
(Salil 50, Kiran 76;
Gurudutt 4-0-28-1)

Result: IISc won by 8 wickets
Man of the match: Debajit Sarma

In the newspapers:
"Deccan Herald" - URL, jpg

"The Hindu" - URL, png
"Times of India" - jpg

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

Supreme Surana saunter into semis

4 March 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: Surana College achieved the highest successful chase in the IISc Centenary Cricket Cup 2012 with astounding ease thus booking a semifinal face-off with Vijaya College.

Christ University would have been more than happy after posting a healthy 171/7 in 25 overs thanks largely to a swashbuckling 79 from skipper Ashwin. But the Surana batsmen show cased their class with an effortless chase riding on Hemanth 'He-Man' Kumar's hard hitting knock of 63 and a cool finish by Mohit (26*) and Vinay (29*).

Surana won with as many as six wickets and 3.2 overs to spare in what should normally have been a stiff chase. 

Brief scores: (25-overs match)

Christ University - 171/7 in 25 overs

(Ashwin 79, Raju Kalal 37, Manjunath 1/16, Vinay 3/26, Mohit 2/35)

Surana College - 172/4 in 21.4 overs

(Hemanth 63, Mohit 26*, Vinay 29*, Jasmeet 1/35, Raju Kalal 2/32, Varun 1/44)

Result: Surana College won by 6 wickets

Man of the Match: Hemanth Kumar