SPCC vs CICC, League Game #1, Reedy Creek Park
Mani’s pyrotechnics propel SPCC to victory in season opener.
Deepak Bhat

April 17, 2009

CICC 148 for 10 in 24.4 overs (Warren 73, Praveen 3 wkts) lost to SPCC 153 for 2 in 16.3 overs (Mani 75*,Anish 38*) by 8 wkts

Player of the match: Mani Ranganathan

Welcome all to the 2009 season. April 18, 2009 was a beautiful sunny day to play the game of cricket…SPCC was hosting CICC in the season opener. Subashis lost the toss and CICC opted to bat.

Deepak and Miten started the proceedings for SPCC. Both of them bowled a tight line and kept CICC scoring to minimum. Miten struck in his second over when he had the batsman LBW. Deepak kept on bowling very tight from the other end. Mani was introduced as the first change. Mani was playing his last game for SPCC as he is returning back to India and was hoping that it would be a special day. Indeed it turns out to be special for him and team. He bowled a tight line and was soon awarded with a wicket when Amit held a brilliant one handed catch to get the batsman out. Mani took one more wicket by getting dangerous Manfred out.

Enter Warren for CICC team…and man he was in some aggressive mood. He took the SPCC bowlers to task and hit some beautiful shots. SPCC team forced to try all it’s plans against him. Subashis came in and struck is his very first over by inducing an edge from Geoff’s bat that was nicely collected by Anish behind the wickets. Baseer bowled very well and collected his wicket when Cassidy decided to leave the ball and getting clean bowled. Warren found an ideal partner in Ziskal and continues to score well for CICC. Finally for SPCC’s relief, Praveen had him clean bowled beautiful ball. Praveen continue to bowl well and went on to take two more wickets. Deepak collected the well-deserved wicket for his efforts when he got the last batsman out, caught by Amit. CICC finished their innings at 148 in 24.4 overs.

Sumit and Swapan went in as openers for SPCC. Both of them played positive cricket right from the beginning. Swapan hit some beautiful boundaries. Swapan lost his wicket when he misjudged an in swinging ball from Manfred. Well-bowled Manfred! After the fall of Swapan’s wicket Anish was sent in. Anish played some beautiful shots especially the pull shots on the leg side were a treat to watch. Anish and Sumit kept on rotating strike and the scoreboard moving. But Manfred strike again having Sumit mistiming a shot and got out offering an easy catch in the covers that was gleefully accepted by Kappauf. Mani was in next and SPCC was expecting a special innings from Mani. Man! Did he deliver! He went after the CICC bowlers like a man with a mission. Eight sixes and four fours rained from his blade including four continuous sixes in an over. He made an explosive 75 runs in a partnership with Anish, who supported him with a well made 38 runs. SPCC reached their target in 16.3 overs with a sixer from Mani and won their game by 8 wickets.

SPCC would like to thank Mani for all of his valuable contributions to the our team, both on and off the field. We wish him all the best for his future endeavors and hoping to have him back with us soon.

Congratulations to team SPCC for winning their first game for the 2009 season.

Quote of the week

"Losers live in the past. Winners learn from the past and enjoy working in the present toward the future."

GO SPCC……