2010-05-22 IECC Vs Predators - an excellent begining to KCL campaign

By Silvester Pereira....

The Engineers (IECC) and Predators KCL match in Shizuoka was welcomed with a bright, clear and sunny weather. The game began around 11:30 am with IECC stand in captain Anurag, winning the toss and electing to bat. Masood and Ritesh opened the batting for IECC while Saijash and Robin opened the bowling for the Predators. The Predators had only 10.5 players (0.5 being a 11 year young and enthusiastic Liam Hunt). It was rumored that the key player for Predators didn’t make it for the game which added to their misery.



The 1st opening pair gave a good start to IECC scoring 33 runs before Masood was out caught for 12 runs. Ritesh didn’t last long before being out lbw for 10 runs (score being 42). Harsha, our newcomer, joined Yogesh on the other end before he too, was bowled of the bowling of Saijash, their only and best bowler of the day. Raju joined Yogesh with score reading 49/3 (in 10 overs) and the two carried along making merry, enjoying their luck (dropped catches) and scoring from a weak bowling attack for a long and well deserved partnership. There were plenty of fireworks, mainly from Raju, who was well supported by Yogesh on the other end. The pair batted together for almost 25 overs setting up a new 4th wicket KCL record partnership of 251 runs. Saijash was the only dangerous bowler for the Predators who bowled a continuous 8 over spell starting from the first over, gave just 16 runs and took 2 wickets.



Anurag, our captain was padded and kept waiting for almost 25 overs before Yogesh got bowled (37th over) by Gardiner after a respectful personal best score of 65 runs with the score at 300. The Predators, at this stage, having almost given up the game experimented by bringing in the young Liam, who gave 25 runs in his 2 overs. Raju remained not out for 169 at the end of 40 overs with 46 extras in IECC score of 310/4.



The Engineers, after having a good score behind them, started to take charge of the bowling with Biju opening the attack and Anurag on the other end. Gardiner and Chanukha opening the batting for the Predators before Chanukha was beautifully caught at gully by Ganesh of the bowling of Biju with the score reading just 8 runs. Saijash joined Gardiner and the two gradually built a good partnership hitting some great shots before Gardiner, the danger man, missing the line was bowled of the bowling of Anurag for 13 runs. Saijash, trying for a pull shot, went immediately caught by Raj at mid-on again of the bowling of Anurag for well made 25 runs (highest for the Predators). The rest of the batsman didn’t last long, falling at short intervals of some really good bowling from Ganesh, Rajeesh and Shailaaj, most of them being “clean bowled”. Due to absence of our regular wicketkeepers, Yours truly was asked to do the honors of keeping wickets, something not done for 16 years since the club was formed! With failing light, the engineers wrapped up the Predators innings for 110 runs (33 of which came from extras!) with a victory margin of 200 runs paving the way for an excellent start to the KCL tournament.



Overall it was a good team work from IECC in all departments of the game with good batting, luck, bowling and being able to take over 95% of the catches whereas the opponents surprisingly appeared weak in all departments! Hopefully we can maintain such a momentum for the upcoming games.


Score Card