Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
October 16th, 2010 - Match Report - History Made
15-over match NUCC vs. UChicago CC at Northwestern University Hockey Turf
NUCC def. UChicago CC by 5 wickets with 32 balls left. (Shoaib 16, Sankar 21 - 3, Naz 19, Sankar 19, Raghav, 14-1)
The official NUCC season has started with quite the bang! Our first match was against a new foe...a very new foe: The University of Chicago. As their captain, Shoaib and NUCC stand-in captain, Greg, shook hands it could already be sensed that the match was going to be an interesting one. Greg won the toss and decided to bowl first on the home grounds.
UChicago made a decent start with their openers standing up to the pace of Bilal and Karthik, only barely. The opening stand was broken with a runout from Sankar and NUCC keeper, Naz. The first two overs of pace were followed by a period of spin. With Greg knowing the turn and bounce of the pitch, he decided to use his seamers in three intervals in the match while spinners would make up the rest. Greg brought himself on to bowl finding the right movement on the ball, but taking no wicket and conceding the first boundary of the match. Sankar followed with a spell resulting in a brilliant stumping.
The UChicago boys dug themselves in again, only to be rattled once again by debutant, Anagh, who bowled batsman, Ahsan with his last ball. In attempts to ignore the regular wickets falling, Club leader Raghav, and Captain Shoaib stayed in for a quick partnership. After two more tight overs from Bilal and Karthik, Greg made the breakthrough in his final over. After one ball was put away for 4, he replied with two wickets, his third time being on hattrick on this pitch. Sankar came in for his last over, cleaning up the rest of the tail with two wickets in the over, including his second stumping of the innings.
Karthik was the most economical of the bowlers, but his exact econ rate is unknown because of poor scoring by UChicago. We can estimate it was somewhere around 2.50 or 3.00 off his two overs. Sankar took 3 wickets, Greg 2, and Anagh 1. UChicago's Captain, Shoaib top scored for his side with 16.
Batting Scorecard:
Ashesh - runout (Sankar/Naz) - 10
Hassh - stumped (Naz) b. Sankar - 5
Raghav - c. Karthik b. Greg - 12
Ahsan - b. Anagh - 13
Shoaib* - c. Bala b. Greg - 16
Syed - not out - 1*
Feroze - stumped (Naz) b. Sankar - 2
Vikram - c. Bilal b. Sankar - 0
extras: 6
Total: 65 all out after 12.5 overs.
If NUCC's bowling did not assert their control over the match, their batting certainly did. Openers Paul and Naz made their way out only to face Syed, a deadly seamer who only conceded 2 runs in his 2 overs. While Naz was reading the opening bowlers, Paul struggled against the pace and was out for 1, bowled by Raghav. Naz and Sankar then stabilized the innings, each making 19 runs. Both batsmen were out in spectacular fashion, with Naz being run out by the best throw the NUCC ground has ever seen and then an amazing boundary catch dismissing Sankar. The culprit, of course, was captain Shoaib.
Karthik came in with Sankar and finished with Bilal who made a 4-ball 6. Karthik played the most entertaining innings, hitting two sixes in his 10-ball 16. His second six finished the match with 32 balls to spare.
Batting Scorecard:
Naz - runout (Shoaib) - 19 (22)
Paul - bowled - Raghav - 1 (4)
Sankar - c. Shoaib b. Feroz - 19 (16)
Karthik - not out - 16 (10)
Bilal - nout out - 6 (4)
Anagh - DNB
Bala - DNB
Greg* - DNB
Total: 67/3 off 9.4 overs.
Photos are on the way!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Match Reports June 4th, 2010
The NUCC shows off the new kit.
June 4th proved to be a good day of cricket, and not just because of the first ever NUCC kit giveaway. The sun shone above the pitch after we finally made it back onto the Hockey field and the two teams for the day were ready to be competitive.
In the first match Naz's team batted first, posting a grand total of 99 runs. Major contributors were Naz (20 off 19), Sagar (32 off 24), and Karthik (19 off 9). However Ram's team got straight to the chase. Despite the early loss of Sankar, caught trying to pull off of Greg, Varun (31) and Ram (?) settled in to steady the chase. Regular wickets fell, but too many extras left Ram's last man Manan requiring 11 off 6, which he blasted away with three fours off Naz.
Ram's team 100/7 (Varun - 31, Bilal - 14/2) defeated Naz's team 99/5 (Sagar - 32, Murali - 17/2) by 2 wickets with 2 balls to spare.
Match 2 was well...a slaughter. By the time Ram hit his half century, Naz's team had lost its thunder despite Sankar falling early once again. The pick of the bowlers was Krishna who let up only 18 off his four overs. Bilal sadly giving up 47 off of his 4, though he took 2 wickets. Interestingly enough, it was only Ram's score that was substantial, the only other batsman to reach double figures being Varun (18 off 18). In the end, Ram's team posed a total of 124 for 5.
Naz's team was doomed from the start. Wickets fell quickly and only two players reached double figures. Krishna's defiant 26 off 19 dignified the innings slightly, but in the end Ram's team wrapped up their victory by 69 runs.
Ram's Team 124/5 (Ram 62, Krishna - 18/0) defeated Naz's Team 55 all out (Krishna 26, DP 17/3, Manan 13/2) by 69 runs.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Major Delay - Match Report: May 23rd, 2010
What started as a simple cricket clinic at the Om Festival's Mela on Sunday May 23rd, 2010 became an amazing day of intense cricket. Starting on the soccer pitch, the astroturf really gave the bowlers the edge. One newcomer in particular impressed with the ball. The undergrad known only as Zaheer finished with figures of 10 runs for 2 wickets after 4 overs. Newcomer Karan also impressed as did Krishna who has recently been finding good form with bat and ball.
Upon moving to the grass pitch, the pitch became a lot slower and the bounce changed dramatically. Nonetheless a good first
game ensued with Varun's team taking the victory.
The second match started with much enthusiasm, but as the heat began getting to the players, the effort level began to go down. Varun's team lost to DP this time, though returnee Sagar showed great skill and patience with the bat.
I apologize for not posting the scorecard. The paperwork is already in storage, but note that I still have it all on record.
Monday, April 19, 2010
April 18, 2010
April 18th was truly a day of good cricket. Firstly, after the occupance at Long Field forced us to relocate, the club found a new emergency ground - the Lakside Grounds. It was a challenging, uneasy pitch, but besides it's literal lake boundary, it served as a fabulously fun pitch. The weather was sunny, but chilly sadly. Luckily, we had a new face, Paul the West Indian, who showed his abilities brilliantly despite not having played for seven years.
As I did not take down scores, here are highlights of the day's play.
The First match was a fun introduction to the ground. Ram's Team set a total of 64 after 8 overs - a fairly intimidating score. However, Naz's boys chased it down fairly smoothly. The pick of the bowlers was Krishna, whose form seems to be returning after a winter hiatus.
The second match was the true highlight of the day. Once again Ram's team set an impressive total, this time in the 70's after 10 overs. With Naz sending in his freshman openers, he took a chance, but it proved to be a fantastic decision. Particularly with the sometimes-awkward blasting power of Paul, he and Krishna stood tall for a partnership of 50 to set up a victory.
However a collapse ensued right after. Both openers fell in one over thanks to tricky bowling from Manan. Then, though the run rate brought them closer to victory, Naz's team was left with last man Greg on strike to make 2 for victory off the last 4 balls due to a stunning catch from Bilal and Sunil's late exit in the last over. Manan was called back for this over and he contained Greg's poor form until 2 was needed off the last ball. In true ex-patriot South African style (read Kevin Pietersen), Greg used the switch hit to bring the team to victory. Naz's Team won by 1 wicket with no balls remaining.
Man of the Match: Paul Jackson/Manan
The third match was a dud, with terrible and tired bowling...we wont talk about it anymore...
More great matches to come!
April 10, 2010
After having to migrate to a sub-par ground, the NUCC still managed to have three decent games. Here is the scorecard for the second game:
Subbu's Team vs Karthik's Team 10 over math
Subbu's Team won by 14 runs
Subbu's Team's Innings
Ram.....b. Manan....15
Subbu.....b. Sudharshen...0
Sunil....not out.....22*
Mahinder...retired...6
Greg...retired...2
Roopam...not out...1
DP...c. Sanchit b.Karthik...3
score with extras: 68
Karthik's team's Innings:
Naz...c. Mahinder b. DP...2
Sanchit...c. Sunil b. DP...11
Karthik...runout...11
Aniket.....c.? b.?...6
Manan.....c. DP (keeper) b. Greg....3
Sudharshen...st. DP (Keeper) b. Ram...9
Krishna...c. ? b. DP...7
Score with extras: 54
Monday, April 5, 2010
NUCC 2010 Season Begins!
So Gents,
The season has begun! And with such a bang - literally!
Though our second game between Naz's Pakistan Team (78 all out) and Ram's India Team (58/8) ended in a rained out no result, the day was very fun and action packed.
The first match was a fantastic show of effort with our first Twenty20. Ram's team posted an impressive total, but Naz's team chased it down with 5 balls to spare.
We had lots of new faces and signs of growing undergrad interest which is great for the future of our beloved club. Here are the Day's stats that I could recall, more season details to come!
Match 1: First Twenty20 of 2010 Naz's Pakistan vs Ram's India
Naz's Team won by 5 Wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
Ram's India: 124/8 after 20.0 overs
Naz's Pakistan 125/5 after 19.1 overs
Match 2: 15-over match
No Result
After 13.4 overs:
Naz's Pakistan: 78 all out
Ram's India: 58/8
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Why I Have Hope for American Cricket
A new age is upon us, fellow American cricketers! The Under 19 World Cup is about to begin in New Zealand, and I plan to follow it zealously. Mostly because I want South Africa to win after being robbed in the last WC, but also because the USA is competing and they are truly representative of the American cricketing future. Our players come from California to New York, from birthplaces ranging from the Bronx, to Punjab, to Johannesburg, to Anaheim. We have a South African, an American Englishman, West Indian Americans, Indian AMericans, Pakistani Americans, an Afghani American - we are truly diverse! It makes me so proud to see a milieu of a team competing with the Red, White, and Blue and I hope everyone else at the NUCC is too!
Check out the squad: http://www.cricinfo.com/u19wc2010/content/squad/440924.html
Sunday, January 3, 2010
My 2009 XI's Part II
ODI'S!
So I know it's delayed, but I have for you now my 2009 One Day XI, enjoy.
1. TM Dilshan (SL) - He has proven himself one of the most versatile batsman in Cricket today. He shows his ferocity in ODi's most of all and 2009 was an especially ferocious year for him with the bat.
2. Virender Sehwag (Ind.) - Just like his fellow opener, Viru was explosive in 2009 and the series against Sri Lanka in December proved such.
3. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind.) - Once again, do I need a reason?
4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) - People would expect me to include Chris Gayle, but my hatred of his attitude towards Tes cricket and his inconsistency led me to choose another West Indian - Shiv. He is the type of batsman who can brace an innings when in trouble. His displays against NZ and England were more than brilliant in 2009.
5. M.S. Dhoni (Ind) - Capt./Wk - He has proved his abilities as not just a keeper and batsman, but as a leader. 2009 was Dhoni's year, seen particularly in their series against Sri Lanka.
6. Paul Collingwood (Eng.) - Easily one of the best fielders in cricket today he contributes to any ODI squad with bat and ball. His century against South Africa this past year showed his strengths.
7. Andrew Flintoff (Eng.) - He had a limited, but exciting 2009, with a hat trick against a full strength Windies side. Fredie will be sadly missed.
8. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangl.) - An outstanding bowler and dangerous batsman. Tough he would only make no. 8 in my line-up (making room for other class players), his contributions at the tail would be more than respectable. His Series' against Zimbabwe and West Indies in 2009 may prove to be the highlights of his career.
9. Roelof van de Merwe (SA) - The first player on my roster who made his first appearance in 2009, van de Merwe showed true class with his bowling against Australia. When he doesn't take wickets, he's economical - the perfect spinner. Though placing him at n. 9 would not give him enough time to settle to his true potential, he can be deadly with the bat.
10. Umar Gul (Pak.) - Long time paceman for Pakistan, never seizes to amaze me with his bowling. 2009 was a good year for him.
11. Mohammad Aamer (Pak.) - Call me crazy for adding this youngster on, but his stats for his first year of cricketing are amazing. Not only has he taken 19 wickets in 11 matches, but he has shown his ability to bat - 73 not out against NZ in one of my favorite matches of 2009.
12th Man: Ajantha Mendis, Albie Morkel, Nuwan Kulasekara, James Anderson
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