CCC Beats 15 man CSU

Mike Taylor

Despite gale force winds and an outfield that was swamp like in parts, we
took the field in a friendly encounter against CSU. Batting first we suffered the early loss of Sudeep, but Nikhil and Ani
established a foundation against an attack although capable, seemed to waste the advantageous conditions on over reliance on short pitched bowling. Nikhil was dismissed going for his favourite pull shot, whilst Sundeep and Shiva fell victim to the accurate bowling of Manish. Michael then joined Ani at the crease and the score started to tick over then rose dramatically as Ani cut loose. Taking on an attack that was losing its way, Ani punished nearly everything in sight. A century seemed inevitable until he was dismissed for a well made 80, which included five sixes. Michael soon followed for 34 but the score continued to move along briskly, a good effort
considering that none of the remaining batsmen were deprived of any time to play themselves in. At the close of the innings we had compiled 10/228 off our allotted 35 overs (we batted 12).It was then CSU's turn to face the music. Gautam and Sundeep bowled two tight overs before Sunny took a scintillating catch at first slip that will be talked about by many, especially Sunny, for a long time. The runs were restricted by our bowlers the rash shots began to emerge and as a result the wickets began to tumble. The only problem was that we had to take FIFTEEN of them. Sunny took another blinder in the slips, Nikhil took five catches for himself, the one at deep midwicket of Shiva's bowling was a tactical highlight, as the bowlers shared the wickets around. By the time Gautam,
Sundeep and Prasad came back to bowl at the end of the innings the game was effectively over. Sudeep came on to bowl the second last over and emphatically concluded the match by dismissing the final batsman by knocking over his middle stump, breaking it half way down. The final score saw CSU (FINALLY) dismissed for 15/168, fifty runs short of the Cleveland total.All in all it was a solid performance by those who took the field in what were very trying conditions for cricket. In fact the difference between the two teams on the day was greater than the fifty run winning margin may suggest. It was pleasing to see the good spirit between the two eams and we wish the fledgling CSU cricket club luck for the upcoming season.