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Saturday 9th April vs. UBS @ VCP

In stark contrast to seasons past, our opening match of 2005 saw the sun shining brightly down upon us, with pleasant 60 degree weather. Unfortunately, the scheduling was not as fortunate, as our scheduled opposition cancelled, but hats off to Suraj for quickly arranging a substitute in UBS.

All things considered, we didn't do too badly to start about 45 minutes late. Winning the toss, Asad decided we'd have a bat. Gokul and Hassan opened and almost immediately we could see that we would be in for a long session, as UBS' bowlers were hurling down plenty of extras, and were taking ample time between overs. Gokul and Hassan shared a solid opening stand before Hassan's long layoff caught up with him. Nabil followed and never quite looked as comfortable as he usually does. He mistimed a flick, Ashok got a Yorker first up, and we had lost three wickets in fairly rapid succession. With the middle order coming up with decent partnerships from Kamran and Ajay, Gokul was the mainstay, notching up the club's first 50 of the season, taking his time to play himself in but finishing at just under a run a ball.

While our run rate was always high, at that point, we looked in danger of not closing out our 35 overs and murmuring of a score of 150 being ample was heard. At this point, Asad and Dileep found themselves in the middle with many overs to spare and set about taking on UBS' attack. While both were scratchy at times, they ran aggressively and found the occasional boundary. With an ample helping of extras, they managed to put on about 70-80 runs, taking the team to 232 in 35 overs.

Madhura started with Dileep against what looked to be a hard-hitting, though technically unsound batting lineup. Madhura was bang on target, as expected, but it was Dileep's left arm angle that posed problems for the line of the batsmen. A pointless runout followed by a head in the air stump rattling from Madhura and then a miscue off of Dileep saw UBS lose their first three wickets in the first 4-5 overs. From that point on, they never seemed in the game. Excellent chance for Columbia's bowling to sort itself out early in the season. Sunil turned his arm over for a few, while Asad had success from the other end, being on a hat trick chance. Ajay maintained his cool while UBS' captain danced around in his crease and in spite of a painfully dragged out last couple of wickets, the rest was pretty clinical.

Good showing early in the season. Madhura's got the book so he'll send out the detailed scorecard.

Scorecard

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Although Saturday morning in New York was cloudy and dreary it was  a picture perfect day for cricket in Philly. The trip was about two hours  and change either way, but the promise of a spectacular ground awaited.  Kamran was MIA Saturday morning so we were forced to induct Madhura who  went from his pajamas to his whites in record time.

As a pleasant surprise all of our team was relatively on time and  at the ground by 12:30. Germantown seemed a little taken aback since they  had only nine players. Mike, the Germantown captain, suggested we let them bat since they were 'a little short'. We respectfully declined, won the toss, decided to bat and graciously gave them a couple of fielders. There was  plenty of new talent in the Sat side with everyone wanting to bat and make use of the carpet smooth outfield. Sriram and Shamik eventually opened for CUCC. Although Sriram performed well as an opener in the prior game he was unable to last long this time and was gone in the first over- lbw playing across the line. Arvind went in at no.3. It was obvious that batting was not going to be all that easy on the 'plastic pitch' that Germantown uses, with much variation in bounce and skiddy carry. Shamik was bowled a little later after, in his words, 'having seen the shine off the ball'. Nabil came in next hoping to stabilize the batting. Wickets continued to tumble- Arvind and Jay both gone for single digits. By this time CUCC were 4 down for 42 in 10 overs. Madhura joined Nabil in the middle and rode his luck but stuck it out. Together the two set about  restoring some respectability to the score. Germantown had a twelve year old female baseball palyer named Abby fielding for them at point. Of course Madhura departed by cutting straight into her hands and looking at first dumbfounded and then thoroughly disgusted as she latched on to the catch. He trudged off maintaning that 'it was a great catch'- which did nothing to change the amount of ribbing he received. He played well for his 23 though and was replaced by Ajay. Nabil reached his 50 and according to Germantown rules had to retire. Ajay sheparded the rest of the tail and hit the only six from our side while doing it. He made a valuable 35 runs and carried the score to 178/7 in our alloted 44 overs.  A good score on this pitch in the end. The Germantown bowling was a mixed bag-  a couple of good bowlers, couple OK ones and a couple of 'loop and pray' bowlers. Nabil, Madhura and Ajay ensured that there was a good target for them to chase.

Madura and Mark opened the bowling for CUCC. Madhura was spot on from the start but Mark struggled to find the right length in his first outing for CUCC. Madhura removed one of the openers early. Mark was replaced by Ajay who continued his good work with the bat by removing their captain- who had played enough shots to suggest that he was quite the bat maybe 20 years ago. Madhura plugged away at one end and both Mohit as well as Pavan got a bowl. Pavan was looping the ball nicely but was inconsistent in length. Mohit bowled well but without reward. At this point the match was in the balance and could have gone either way. Germantown had a good patnership going between Nair and Gotham. Madhura returned to bowl a nice tight over and Nabil brought himself on from the other end. The two bowled well in tandom and once Gotham was stumped smarlty by Jay off Nabil and Nair bowled by Madhura the game was pretty much over.

CUCC ended up winning by 12 runs. Thanks to Jay for taking up keeping duties and picking up two stumpings. Good bowling by Madhura, Nabil and Ajay. As Shamik pointed out these three did the bulk of the scoring and took the wickets as well.....
 

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Saturday, May 21st vs. Murray Hill CC or UBS

Gents, a rare, treat. A ghost writing spot from Rodney, a former CUCC player and President, who joined the side last saturday, after five years of net practice in the Washington DC area...scorecard to follow........

For better or worse, little seems to have changed with Columbia Saturday cricket over the years. After Hoboken cancelled at the last moment, Suraj was able to arrange a game with Murray Hill CC or UBS--I am still not certain who the opposition was. And of course, we inevitably started late. But patience turned out to be a virtue, especially for Mohit.

Murray Hill won the toss, and elected to bat, building a nice opening partnership despite some very tight bowling from both ends. But just as the more aggressive opener, Avi, began to loosen the shoulders, he was bowled by Ajay, while the other was caught--it was said preying mantis style--by Shamik at midwicket. But Columbia relaxed just a bit with the double breakthrough, dropped a few catches, and succeeded not so much in dismissing the Murray Hill batsmen, but inducing fatigue with the plentiful opportunities for stroke play. As such, Murray Hill frequently rotated their batsmen out, putting on a formidable 266 for 3 in the 35 overs.

Columbia started poorly with last week's centurion and star batsman, Sriram hurried on the pull shot and spooning a catch to midwicket for 0. Rodney an old hand on the Saturday team, and anything but a star batsman, looked solid in his usual opening slot, but was bowled by slider for 9--a full toss begun head high and ended at the base of the stumps. But soon Vinod and Ashok set about rebuilding the innings, and with Vinod gone after a well played 17 at better than a run a ball, Suraj joined Ashok. Playing his trademark silky smooth coverdrives, Suraj looked very much the player he was  five years ago, albeit heavier and presumably wealthier. However, Ashok after pulling one of the medium pacers from middle and off for four, had a rush of blood against the spinner and was bowled for a quick fire 36. Jay came to the wicket and immediately laced the onside field with his mix of big pulls and drives, and slog sweeps. I have seen him save many a match with these shots, but today was not his, and both he and Suraj were soon gone. At this point Columbia was well behind in the run rate--over a 100 runs short--with about 4 wickets in hand. Amid the sound of kit bags being zipped, little Mohit strode to the wicket, and thus began the onslaught. Dispatching anything short through the onside, and driving the fuller stuff through the covers, he and Dileep brought Columbia to within distance--around 50 runs needed from 32 balls. As the chase intensified, the pressure and bad light was too much. Dileep was bowled and both Pavan and Shamik were run out, leaving Mohit not out on 62 (49 balls)and Columbia short just 16 runs with 11 balls to go. An excellent performance from a great bunch of guys.  And never without a post mortem, a great investigation ensued as to why Sriram dropped 2-3 catches in the deep, with some speculating that his use of KY Jelly--with whom? And where?--might have been a casual factor. And Shamik remained puzzled as to why Mohit, who is said to be ill at ease in Ashok's "nets", batted so fluently. Some mysteries may never be solved, but it was heartening to see that the finest traditions of the team has remained, despite the changing personnel.
 

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Guys,

       An abbreviated match report from memory only since the opposition
took off in a bit of a huff with their scorebook....but more on that later.

      In what started as a hot, humid day Fairfield CC were about an hour
late and it was 1:30 before the festivites began. Nabil continued his streak
of winning tosses and decided to bat. The new pair of Hassan and Sriram
commenced proceedings for CUCC...and almost ran each other out first ball.
After much colorful language they co-ordinated a little better but we still
felt that the first wicket was most likely going to be due to a run out.
Hassan was first to go...holing out to mid on. Nabil came in one down and
with Sriram really got the scoreboard really ticking. We went into the
drinks break at 145 in 16 overs or so. The drinks must have cooled Nabil's
reflexes because he was bowled the first ball after for a rapidfire 66.
Pankaj was in next at 2 down and was bowled shortly after. Sriram completed
his fifty to go with his hundred against the same oppostion earlier in the
season. He was out caught trying to up the scoring rate. One of the new boys
Adnan took up the scoring mantle and cracked 38 off 18 on debut for CUCC.
The rest of the batting order did not contribute significantly and we ended
at 235 off 32 overs or so. A solid start was pretty much frittered away in
the end but we still thought our total was more than enough.

      This was borne out by a devasting opening spell by our new ball
bowlers- before we knew it they were 11 for 5. Saad especially was bowling
accurately, swinging the ball and varying his pace intelligently. He
finished his seven overs with a haul of 4 wickets and would have had a well
deserved 5iver were it not for a dropped catch. He was well supported by
Venu from the other end.
        It turned out to be a bit of a false dawn as the main batsmen for
Farifield were actually coming down the order. They put their heads down and
started playing sensible cricket by blocking out the good balls and putting
away the bad one....of which there were plenty after the opening bowlers had
done their bit. The first change bowlers has some trouble finding the right
length although new  boy Saif bowled with good pace and carry. Vinod came
into the attack with his loopy legbreaks and was joined by Pavan from the
other end with his off-breaks. The Farifield batsmen continued to milk the
spinners without taking unnecessary risks. By the 20th over they were 116
and we had a game on.
        With about 80 runs required from 12 overs Nabil came into the attack
to try and get a wicket. Although he was getting plenty of turn and
generally accurate the breakthrough came off a rank full toss which was
dispached towards square leg by their best batsman only for Pankaj to pluck
it out of the air to his right for a great catch. A lucky break for CUCC.
The next batsman walked in with bulging biceps and sure enough could also
whack the ball around.
        The match continued to be touch and go and Venu came back into the
attack from one end to try to prise a wicket. The next wicket also fell to a
great catch in the deep by Adnan running round the boundary to and holding a
high, swirling catch near the rope to get rid of the other bat. Adnan had
been fielding superbly at point all day as evidenced by his dirty whites and
the abrasions on his knees and elbows.
        This catch was the flashpoint in the match and triggered a run in
between Madhura and the opposition captain Saif. It was triggered by Saif
running into the field (along with his entire team) to dispute the validity
of the catch. He was duly informed by one of our fielders (ironically enough
by our Saif) that he is an 'asshole'- and then all hell broke loose. There
was much chest beating and threats to the effect of 'show me what you got',
'bring it on', etc, etc. Somehow Madhura, who had come by to see the game,
got involved (the details of exactly how are a little hazy but he is never
one to stay away from a good scrap). After much calming down of tempers the
game resumed. By now dark clouds had started to roll in with ominous
lightning. We wanted to wrap things up quickly not only because of the
impending rain but also because we were not sure it was safe to leave
Madhura alone outside the boundary line with their team. Venu did exaclty
that and skittled their tail out in short order. Fairfield ended up with 189
runs and lost by 44 runs. They were helped by generally mysterious
interpretation of wides and no-balls and also by many lbws turned down.
          In the end good catching by Adnan and Pankoj was the icing on the
cake after great bowling from Saad and Venu. Sriram, Nabil and Adnan did
well with the bat to get us to 235. Special thanks to Hassan for taking over
keeping duties for this game. I don't know if we will be able to recover the
scorecard for this match as the chances of us playing Fairfield CC for the
rest of the season are pretty slim.
 
 

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