IISc ascends to 3rd position in KSCA ranking

As per the latest ranking of IV division teams released by KSCA, the IISc cricket team is ranked three out of 48 teams. That is six spots above last year's ranking of nine. It's worth noting that in two seasons, team IISc as jumped a total of 21 spots in the ranking. The challenge now is to continue the good work this season as the KSCA IV division league commences from July 21. IISc is placed in pool-C which has the following teams:

1. Rajajinagar Cricketers (Rank-43)

2. Indiranagar Cricketers (Rank-38)

3. Malleswaram United Cricket Club (Rank-29)

4. Ace Cricketers (Rank-26)

5. Friends Cricket Club (Rank-14)

6. IISc Gymkhana (Rank-3)

Vikram CC thrash IISc

17 June 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore: After a record run chase against Indiranagar Cricketers last week, team IISc suffered the largest margin of defeat ever. Vikram Cricket Club, two-time consecutive semi-finalist (2010 and 2011) in the KSCA IV division league, proved too much for team IISc.

Put into bat, Vikram CC lost their openers in quick succession. An acrobatic catch by Nagaraju and a cracker of a delivery from Teja put team IISc in the driver’s seat. Vikram CC, however, recovered with a sensible half-century partnership between Sanjeeth (90) and Pandey (32). The century-stand that followed between Venkatesh (100) and Sanjeeth led them to post a mammoth target of 334 and took the game away from team IISc.

Team IISc never stood a chance after losing the in-form batsman Kiran early in the innings. Lalit (30) and Pranesh (29) tried to build a partnership but the ever increasing run-rate led to a disastrous run-out of Pranesh. Vikram (17) looked confident with a mighty six over mid-wicket but was soon deceived by the offie Ravi (3/28). Lalit remained a spectator at one end while Pradeep (4/34) and Ravi ran through the middle and lower order. IISc was bundled out for a meager 144.

Brief scores: (50-overs match)

Vikram CC - 333/8 in 50 overs

(Venkatesh 100, Sanjeeth 90, Pandey 32, Teja 2/44, Pranesh 2/47)

IISc - 144 allout in 34 overs

(Lalit 30, Pranesh 29, Vikram 17, Pradeep 4/34, Ravi 3/28)

Result: Vikram CC won by 189 runs

Man of the Match: Sanjeeth (90 runs, 1/11, 2 catches)

Kiran's ton flattens Indiranagar

10 June 2012, IISc Gymkhana Ground, Bangalore:  Team IISc compiled the highest chase in the last five years (could be more!) hunting down 274 in a mere 41.2 overs riding on a turbo-charged innings of 123 of 89 balls from Kiran Gangadharan - his fourth century in just over an year - studded with sixteen fours and two sixes.

Indiranagar Cricketers had every reason to think they had the match in their pocket when they posted a healthy 273/8 in 50 overs and got a wicket of the very first ball of the home team's innings. Pandey (65 of 84 balls) played the sheet anchor's role to perfection while forties from Karthik (42) and Guru (43*) helped Indiranagar reach an imposing total. Varun (2/62) and debutant Doney (2/34) shared the bowling spoils for IISc.

After Pranesh's wicket off the first ball, Kiran and Lalit stitched together a 62-run partnership before it was broken by an acrobatic catch by Rakesh at mid-on. The 167-run third-wicket association between Kiran and Varun (75 of 77) took the match completely away from the visitors in a perfect exhibition on how to chase a big total. The fact that the stiff target was scaled in the 42nd over speaks volumes of the dominance of the partnership. The only regret in the chase would be the fall of a few quick wickets towards the end with hardly a handful to get.

Brief scores: (50-overs match)
Indiranagar Cricketers - 273/8 in 50 overs
(Pandey 65, Karthik 42, Rakesh 24, Guru 43*, Varun 2/62, Doney 2/35)
IISc - 274/6 in 41.2 overs
(Kiran 123, Varun 75, Unni 3/14)

Result: IISc won by 4 wickets
Man of the Match: Kiran Gangadharan

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

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