By Sudharsan Ramarao
Timid Batting Cost Highlanders As JETS Win
Highlanders won the toss and put the JETS in to bat under over cast conditions. Overnight rains had left the outfield damp and the pitch moist and so the decision to bowl first was a natural choice.
Opening bowlers Ashok Adikoppula and Shoaib Hassan struck to tight lines and allowed the pitch to do the rest. JETS started slowly and accelerated steadily though out the innings.
Anand made 23 that included 2 attractive sixers. Chakri Reddy and Pardha Mantana took control of the innings in the middle overs and took the JETS over the 100-run mark. Both were extremely quick between the wickets and kept the scoreboard ticking. Chakri made 31 off just 22 balls while Pardha made 34. Chinmay Ghag produced a remarkable running catch in midwicket to dismiss Chakri. JETS made 132 in 20 overs. For Highlanders, Hiren picked up 3 wickets for 21 runs.
Chasing 133 to win, the Highlanders started the worst way possible, losing Sudharsan Ramarao off the very first ball of the innings. But that was not it. The worst was yet to follow as none of the top order batsman settled in to build an innings. Shoaib Hassan got caught at gully while harmlessly poking at a delivery outside off stump. Chinmay Ghag lofted a full-length delivery straight to long on. Saurabh Verma mistimed a drive to covers while Mike Persaud lost his stumps while going for a hoick.
In no time Highlanders lost the cream of their batting. The lower order rallied to take the innings to 95 at the end of 20 overs. Claudy top scored with 20. For the JETS, Chakri and Rahul picked up 2 wickets while Pardha, Vishva and Mrinal picked 1 wicket a piece. For his splendid batting effort and tight bowling, Pardha was adjudged the Man of the match.
Saravanan Manickvasagam
Knights Lose To Falcons On DLS
Knights won the toss and put the Falcons in to bat. Varun Penmatsa, the opener, from Falcons started off very well, using the pace of the bowlers and hitting them over the top while the other opener Vikram Jegannathan got out cheaply. Saravanan Manickvasagam, who has been splendid form throughout the season, then joined Varun. Saravanan, standing at 5 feet 5 inches, timed the ball well from the start. He was content on using the pace of the bowlers and maneuvered them in to vacant gaps. He and Varun rotated the strike and took easy runs. Saravanan also showed that he had the power by lofting 3 sixes, 2 over mid wicket and 1 over long off region.
In all he made 61 runs off 53 balls stroking 4 boundaries and 3 sixes. This was his 4th half century of the season. Varun made 24 while Hariprasad gave the finishing touches to the innings with a scratchy 25. Falcons made 125.
Chasing 126 to win, Knights started off slowly. Falcons used the conditions well and offered no pace on the ball testing the patience of Knights batsman. Knights lost their opener Jayaram Manukonda for 6 while Vamshi ended his innings at 3. Raj Ardham anchored the innings at the other end making 23 off 27 balls. He got out of the bowling off Vishal Sridhar. Ruthvik Vemareddy and Ranadheer Sammetta then came in to middle and gave the much-needed momentum to the Knights innings. Both rotated the strike beautifully and ran hard between the wickets. Knights needed 58 runs off 6 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Knights were backing themselves to chase it and that’s when the Rain Gods intervened and never relented. DLS came in to play and Knights were found short off 7 runs. Falcons won the game.
Saurabh Verma
Highlanders Brush Aside Panthers
Panthers won the toss and put the Highlanders in to bat. Highlanders started slow and steady with the aim of keeping wickets in hand. The damp outfield made the made condition even more difficult, as the ball stuck in to the field and never travelled. Saurabh Verma, coming in at 4, played though the innings and remained not out for 54. Saurabh was the only player in both sides to score a boundary. He hit 3 of them and a huge six. He ran hard between the wickets, running multiple 3s owing to the slow outfield. Highlanders made 113 at the end of 20 overs.
Chasing 114, Panthers lost a heap of wickets at the top and ended their chase even before it began. Mike Persaud bowled Christopher with a full-length ball. Mall Reddy Baddam got run out. Ashok Adikoppula claimed 2 back to back wickets of Kranthi Veeranki, caught behind and Salman Pervez, struck in front. Panthers folded for 68 in 19.5 overs. Hiren Kakadiya picked up 3 wickets with slow left arm. Credit for one of his wickets must go to Javed Safi who took a spectacular one handed over head catch that was otherwise sailing away for a 6. Think of Virender Sehwag’s one handed catch on the boundary line to dismiss Michael Clark. For his brilliant batting effort under tough conditions, Saurabh Verma was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Knights Stroll To A Win Against Good Vibes
Good Vibes won the toss and elected to bat. Mahesh Dassram, as usual, got off to a good start. He anchored the first part of the innings scoring a run a ball 30 that included 3 boundaries and a six. Mathew Persaud coming in at 4, anchored the second half of the innings making a run a ball 31. Steven Mangal and Michael Whitlock made 14 and 21 respectively. Good Vybz made 120 at the end of 20 overs. Arun Ghanta picked up 2 for 13 while Mithesh Jain, Jayaram and Raj Ardham shared a wicket a piece.
Chasing 120 to win, the Knights romped home easily with 4 overs to spare. Their opener Jayaram Manukonda was the star of the chase. He made 45 off 39 balls that included 2 boundaries and 2 huge sixers thru midwicket. Ruthvik made a valuable 26 and remained unbeaten. For his match winning effort with both bat and ball, Jayaram Manukonda was adjudged the Man of the match.
Jayaram Manukonda
Tricity On A Roll, Beats Akhadi
Akhadi won the toss and decided to bat. Losing 6 games on the trot, Akhadi decided to play safe cricket. Their batsman left the balls outside off stump and played straight to not lose wickets in bunches. Their plan worked as they only lost 3 wickets by the end of their innings but they also scored only 108. Viraj Patel made a fighting 38 off 31 balls while Nirav Mistry remained not out on 17.
For Tricity, John Persaud, Derrick Persaud and Alvin Mangra picked up a wicket a piece. Chasing a subpar 109, Tricity batsman went after the Akhadi bowling from ball 1. As a result, they finished the chase in 15 overs but that also meant they lost 7 wickets. Alwin Mangra accelerated the chase with his rollicking innings of 39 runs off just 12 balls which included 4 sixers and 2 boundaries. Richie Persaud made 21 off 15 balls. For Akhadi, Naveen Punyala and Sahil shah picked up 2 wickets. For his match winning effort with both bat and the ball, Alwin Mangra was adjudged the Man of the match.
Gujarat Lions Dismantle The Falcons
Gujarat Lions won the toss and put the Falcons in to bat under overcast conditions. The overnight rains had left the pitch moist and outfield wet. The decision worked wonders as the Lions dismissed the falcons for 66, their lowest score this season. For the Lions Manav Patel, Dhruv Patel and Kalpesh Kathriya picked up 2 wickets a piece. The 17 extras were the highest score of the innings. Defending 66, the Falcons almost made a match off it as they picked up 6 wickets and didn’t give away easy runs. The Lions eventually made their target in the 16th over. Mehul Goswami made 16. For Falcons, Paresh picked up 3 wickets for 14 runs with his slow left armers.
Maurice Persaud Empire Cricket League
JETS pile a record score on RPI, win by a huge margin
RPI won the toss and inserted JETS in to bat in their 40 over show down. The JETS took it with both hands and made a record of 233 runs, the highest in the 40 over league so far. Anand Kalukuluri, coming in at 3, was the star of the show. He made an attractive 80 off 81 balls that included 4 sixes and 5 boundaries. Chakri Reddy finished off the innings with an aggressive 46 off 24 balls that included 5 sixes. Arun Gandhi picked up 3 wickets. Chasing a tall 234 to win, RPI got shot out for 66 in 25 overs. Pardha Mantana picked up a 4-wicket haul while JETS skipper Vishva picked up 3 wickets. For his brilliant batting effort of 80 runs, Anand Kalukuluri was the Man of the Match.