University of Leicester Staff Cricket Club

Well done to the Second XI for their runners-up position this season and their promotion to Div 6 for 2023. Well done everyone!

ULSCC Another won🥰😍

One of my theories is to be captain on the field and off the field, you need to totally enjoy each other’s company.
Hari Prasad Mallipudi
(Captain 2nd)

University of Leicester Staff 2nd

UoLSCC 2nd XI vs Kibworth CC 4th XI match report from 18.9.21 written by Harsimrat Singh

Last game of the season vs Kibworth 4s, keenly contested between 4th and 5th placed teams in the division. The game was a dead rubber such that outcome won't affect the table rankings. However, it was always going to be keenly contested, given the camaraderie between the teams.

Dons were excited to play away at Kibworth, a beautiful wicket with a palatial club house in the background. Alas, we were on the 2nd pitch with an obscured view. Nonetheless, well kept outfield and hard pitch with little grass was more than welcoming. Early 12pm start, with perfect cricket weather made the day even better. We were put in the field by the opposition and tall lean Mcgrath like Parthil had a lean spell from the far end, ably complemented by first Hari and then Jean from the Pavilion club house end. Having said that, the opposition opener (Ben - scored 80 odd against us earlier in the season) is in the top bracket of run getters in the league. He found the boundary regularly before the other opener (62) chanced his arm, in particular, took a liking to Hari’s medium pace. Parthil was replaced by Haider, who bowled good balls but couldn’t contain the run flow. By drinks the score read 120-odd for none. In came the Singh duo, elder replacing Haider from far end and mid-on, mid-off were both in business. AB (Azaz Baidya) at mid-off let one go through his legs but held on spectacularly to a biffed one at chest height, standing inside the circle. Younger Singh kept things in check from the other end and slow bowling with some intentful fielding brought the run rate down. Ben trying to up the run rate tried hitting but there was spin and grip, eventually fell to a nonchalant sweep against Harry, who knocked out his leg stump with an accurate off break. Parthil was brought back to dislodge number batswoman with a clean catch behind the wicket by Hassan in his newly acquired keeper’s role. At 173 for 3, it still was a good batting wicket but 2 quick strikes from Harry made sure that score didn’t go much beyond 200.

Chasing 204, Dons made a solid start with opening partnership of 64 between AB and Gursimrat, perfect foil for hard hitting opener. AB was in the mood with his Sehwag style, perfectly timed aerial drives! Hitting back to back sixes over long on and some sweetly times one bounce 4’s. before we knew, he had a strike rate of 140 for his 47, unlucky to be dismissed with a top edge. Talking about being unlucky Gursimrat played some beautiful cover drives and flicks and was looking settled, before he played a left-armer’s straight bowl right underneath his nose on the back foot. The ball had other ideas and bounced off his bat onto the wicket, achieved inertia through some back-spin, hit his pad to roll onto the stumps and dislodged the off stump bail. Nasir and Hari got together at 72-2. Nasir looked in ominous form and hit a classic six out of nowhere and then followed it up with an extra cover drive for 4 to keep the batting momentum. He was batting beautifully with 7 fours and a six to get his 50 but fell right after his fifty. Haider (3) and Hari (9) also fell in quick succession with lower middle order of Milan (7) and Hassan (11) taking to 191-7. Eventually it required 14 off 18 balls with 3 wickets in hand, one of them being Imran, who was limping to even walk after having snapped his hamstring earlier while fielding. Harry Singh found his mojo with the bat to relive pressure with 2 imperious pull shots for 4’s in the midwicket region in the 37th over.

By this time, some of Kibworth 1st teamers, who had just won the premier division by dismantling the opposition (300 vs 100), walked down with their premier division trophy to cheer for their counterparts.

Parthill fell for 21 on the 2nd ball of the 38th over bowled, meant old horses JDB and HS had to take us home. Still needing 4 to win JDB blocked 2 balls before getting a beautiful in cutter from a left arm angle to clatter his off stump. Boundary spectators cheered in unison!

Imran was brave to come out and the opposition skipper was kind to allow a runner. Everyone just wanted him to block that 1 ball, which he did with a huge sigh of relief. A timely no-ball meant we needed 3 to win with Harry on strike, no pressure hey! First ball a swoosh on the offside and a miss, 2nd ball a nice connection towards cow corner and JDB ( in his role as a runner for Imran) was always running two 😊. 3rd ball a wide on the off-side, and a thrilling win! What an end to a brilliant season of cricket with 14 wins and 400 points. We have been very lucky to enjoy the game we love, during pandemic times, build friendships, enjoy each other’s success and celebrate life!! Definitely the photographs after the game reflect these emotions. Well done to all involved, stay safe and healthy till we meet again on the cricket field in 2022!!

Link to scorecard:

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