Midwest Cricket Tournament
By Balbir Singh
Last year’s semi-finalists Columbus Indiana Cricket Club-2 stormed into final of the Midwest Cricket Tournament after posting a thrilling one-wicket verdict against Hilliard Cricket Club (HCC) Stars with seven balls to spare against at the Hilliard Cricket Ground.
Columbus Indiana Cricket Club – 2 won the toss and decided to chase. Their move got immediate result as HCC Stars opener Dasaradha Ram Gadde was caught by Varun Sood of the bowling of Monil Goklani. Gadde made just two runs from four deliveries. His wicket fell at 2 in 1.4 overs.
With the addition of just three more runs new comer Chaitany Malineni (1) departed soon after facing three balls and made one run. With scoreboard reading 13 in 6.2 overs opener Balasubramanya Manjunatha (1) returned to the pavilion.
Ajay Rana (11, 2x4s) and top scorer Sri Harsha Nutukurthi (34, 2x4s) took the total to 25 before Rushil Basavaraj broke this partnership when he had Ajay caught by Rushi Rasavaraj. A 43-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Sri Harsha Nutukurthi and Chandru M (23, 1×4, 2x6s) helped HCC Stars to reach 77 in 13 overs. Later Nitin Ragila and Venu Chava contributed 20 and 22 runs, respectively, before HCC Stars’ innings terminated at 137 in 35 overs.
Monil Goklani was the most successful bowler for CICC-2 as he took four wickets for 31 runs. Harish Bonam and Prashant Ramachandran got two wickets each 21 and 26 runs, respectively.
Chasing their victory target of 138 runs for victory, CICC-2 were given a good start as their openers Ameya Oke (24, 3x4s, 1×6) and Saurabh Suresh (3) put on 26 runs before Suresh was dismissed adjudged leg before wicket to Venu Chava.
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At 60, CICC-2 lost wickets of Aalok Trivedi (13) and Guha Raman (0). Coming at number Man of the Match Chirag Ambaliya played a match-winning 36-ball 37 which contained two fours and two sixes. Harish Bonam and Rushil Basavaraj contributed unbeaten 15 and 11 runs, respectively. CICC-2 surpassed the HCC Stars’ total by scoring 138 for 9 in 33.5 overs.
Nitin Ragila got three wickets for 34 runs. Balasubramanya Manjunatha and Chaitany Malineni captured two wickets each for 20 and 15 runs, respectively.
Brief scores:
HCC STARS: 137 all out (Ajay Raja 11, Sri Harsha Nutukurthi 34, Chandru M 23, Nitin Ragila 20, Venu Chava 22, Monilo Goklani 4 for 31, Harish Bonam 2 for 21, Prashant Ramachandra 2 for 26, Rushil Basavaraj 1 for 26).
COLUMBUS INDIANA CRICKET CLUB: 138 for 9 in 33.5 overs (Ameya Oke 24, Aalok Trivedi 13, Chirag Ambaliya 37, Monil Goklai 8, Varun Sood 12, Harish Bonam not out 15, Rushil Basavaraj 11, Nitin Ragila 3 for 34, Balasubramanya Manjunatha 2 for 20, Chaitany Malineni 2 for 15, Suman Talasila 1 for 22, Venu Chava 1 for 7).
Man of the Match: Chirag Ambaliya.
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