The Prem Ranjan Memorial Cricket Tournament is conducted yearly in memory of our late alumnus, Prem Ranjan. He was known to have a deep-rooted passion for cricket, and to honour his memory, we conduct an annual tournament.
The tournament kicked off in style this year and did not disappoint. Six teams were divided into Group A, consisting of HS19, HS22, and HS23, and Group B, comprising PhD, HS20, and HS21. Each team began with an equal chance to win the trophy. Without further ado, let us jump into the critical moments of the group stages on the first day.
Matches for the Day
HS19 vs HS22
Even though it was early in the morning, it did not detract the students of the HS department from creating an electric atmosphere. The first match was between the soon-to-graduate HS19 and the sophomore team HS22. The respective captains shook hands and lined up for the toss. HS19 won the toss and decided to let HS22 bat first. After being put to the task, HS22 got off to a lightning start, scoring 13 in the first over but losing their opener for a paltry score of 0. Their captain, Santhosh, led from the front, scoring a half-century, and was supported by a sizable contribution from middle-order batsman Pranay.
Santhosh had managed to put his team in a dominant position, and they were at 78-1 by the end of the 6th over. However, a middle-order collapse restricted them to 98 in their allotted overs, with only 20 runs coming in the tail end when they could have scored more.
Vignana Kumar was the standout bowler for HS19. He didn’t take any wickets but conceded only 14 runs in his allotted overs. There was a moment of madness at the end where three batsmen were run out quickly in a single ball due to continuous runouts from wide deliveries.
Effective bowling at the death by Ardra, Saketh, Vignana Akhil, and Kishan restricted the run rate, as HS22 was limited to just 98 runs. Much of this credit has to be attributed to Kishan, who managed to dismiss the dangerous Santhosh and send him back to the pavilion. He also removed the imminent danger of Akhil, who was caught at deep midwicket after a perfect catch by Akash. Despite their brilliant start, HS22 were restricted to 98 runs, and HS19 required 99 to win the match.
Neeraj and Vignana Kumar took over the crease to set the foundation for the target, which was challenging considering the state of the pitch. They scored 15 runs in the first over and stitched together a 24-run partnership before Neeraj was dismissed. Then, the in-form Kishan hit two consecutive sixes before his unfortunate dismissal in the third wicket. When he departed, the score was 45. After losing the key batters, HS19’s secret arsenal, Akash anchored the chase with his steady 28 runs, along with the contributions of Mukherjee; HS19 successfully chased down the target with an over to spare. There were 23 extras, which cost the sophomore team, who had hoped to start their tournament with a win. With more discipline, they could have won the game. It was an excellent contest to start the tournament with.
HS21 vs PhD
The tournament favourites, HS21, took on the PhD kings. This fixture was more balanced and was the clash of the day. PhDs took the opportunity to field and set a challenging field which was thoroughly thought of and strategised. HS21’s Diwakar opened the innings with six! But the PhD’s star bowler Akash came back strongly. He sent both Diwakar and HS21’s batting stalwart – Himanshu, in the same over. HS21 looked settled only when Atharv’s 24* and Yashwanth’s 19 provided an excellent partnership, which propelled the team to a score of 90. On the bowling front, Akash got a four-wicket haul and was unplayable. The target looked like it would be more than enough for the team to claim victory.
Boy, were they wrong! Sartak hit the first delivery of the chase for a massive six, and then he capitalised on the start very well. While the game appeared to be anyone’s game, especially after Asha dismissed Rajat, but the PhD’s Captain, Arjun, had other plans as he showed all the packed spectators and HS21, who the real favourites were his unbeaten 38 from 10 balls made PhD punch their victory They ran rampant, and HS21 bowlers had no idea what hit them. Each ball found its way to the fence regardless of length and height. They chased the mammoth target in 5.2 overs, around the halfway stage.
HS23 vs. HS19
HS19’s day was far from over. Even after defeating HS22, they had to win the last match to qualify directly for the knockout stage. This time, they had to face the new MA batch of the department led by their captain, Himanshu. Since it was their first tournament and they had yet to be tested in a competitive environment, they were the tournament’s dark horses, and less was known about their strengths and weaknesses. So, all the groups approached this team with caution. They won the toss and decided to bat, a good decision since there would be less pressure when setting a target to chase.
HS23 started their innings slowly and batted more responsibly. They posted 84 runs, which they might believe is less than what they are capable of. The captain Himanshu was the top scorer with 20, and a whopping 34 runs came from extras. HS23’s star player Vipin showed some glimpse of his power-hitting prowess before getting out after a brilliant catch by Vignana Akhil at long-off. HS19’s bowling attack again showed their class, with Kishan conceding only five runs in his three overs. Vignana Akhil took two wickets, and other small contributions from the team restricted the target, which was comparatively easier to chase given the explosive batting displayed on the day.
The chase started with a banger as captain Vignana Akhil was dismissed right in the first over after HS23’s Manjeet caught a bullet from Vignana’s bat at deep midwicket. Kishan delivered again as the iceman proved why he is one of the best under pressure. The MVP of HS19 showed up and demonstrated his class with the bat. His shots were sublime and timed to perfection. The next highest scorer was Saketh, with 12 runs. A special mention is needed for the fantastic cover drive played by Devika in the sixth over, which stunned the whole ground. HS23 showed a valiant effort to scale down the rampant HS19 team but failed in the last over. Kishan ended the match with a boundary. Though HS23 were discouraged, they took it in their stride. They now wait patiently for their match with HS22. This match will determine who will join HS19 in the semifinals and continue their quest for the cup.
With this, the events of Day 1 came to a halt. The audience was treated to beautiful deliveries, huge sixes, good shots and stunning catches. It had been a day of triumphs and challenges, and the promise of another exciting day of cricket loomed large on the horizon.
Highlight of the Day
Arjun’s innings of 38 from 10 balls needs no exaggerations; it was simply spectacular. The legside shots over fine leg and square reminded us of Glenn Maxwell in his prime, and the moment has a lot of implications not just on the match but also on the course of this year’s tournament as the PhD Kings embedded their names in the playoff list due to their high run-rate. HS21 can only qualify to the knockout stages only if they win their next game against HS20.
Most Valuable Player
Mr. Reliable Kishan!
Kishan just keeps proving why he’s the Mr. Consistent in all our department’s sporting events! In both the matches, HS19 batting had a rocky start after losing Captain Akhil early, but the Iceman stepped up and held things together. In the first game, he unleashed his power-hitting skills by smashing quick boundaries that had the opponents sweating bullets. He’s got the knack for turning the pressure back on the other team. He scored 21 runs off 7 balls. In the second innings, he played it smart, waiting for the right moments to take risks. He finished the close game in style and scored an unbeaten 47 off just 24 balls – that’s Kishan for you!
But it’s not just his batting – his deadly slow ball yorkers make him a captain’s dream. He’s like a run-leakage-proof wall when he bowls. Plus, he’s got a talent for picking off crucial wickets in the opponents’ batting lineup. In the first game, he snagged two vital wickets; in the second game, he was a miser with just 5 runs given away in 3 overs, even as he grabbed another wicket.
Kishan’s a true all-rounder and the secret spice in the HS19 team’s balance. He is, without any doubt, the MVP on the first day.
Report by S Santhosh Mohan
Edited by Joseph Kumar & Garima Sane
Photos by Aravind M
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