INDIANAPOLIS, OCT 7 :
Columbus Indiana Cricket Club-2 snatched an exciting two-wicket triumph in the last ball against Columbus Indiana Cricket Club-1, in final of the 2014 Midwest Cricket Tournament here. CICC-2 emerged Division 1 winners after overtaking CICC-1 total of 223 by scoring 224 for 8 in allotted 35 overs.
A sixth-wicket match-winning 55-run partnership between Monil Goklani and captain Varun Sood (20) helped Columbus Indiana Cricket Club – 2 to adorn their showcase with the MCT Division 1 Trophy. Monil Goklani remained not out on 54 which came off 40 deliveries and contained two well-executed boundaries and four towering sixes.
Earlier, Ameya Oke (60, 2x4s, 4x6s) and Saurabh Suresh gave their team a sound start as they stitched a 53-run opening wicket stand before Suresh was stumped by Ram Velamakanni of the bowling of Karthik Thinnanur. He made 15 from 20 deliveries. Ameya Oke was associated in another useful 45-run second wicket partnership with Aalok Trivedi (45, 2x4s, 1×6). Rahul Bhardwaj captured two wickets for 30 runs.
Batting first after put in to bat by CICC-2 skipper Varun Sood, CICC-1, captained by Abhinav Pande, mustered 223 for 7 in allotted 35 overs. They lost opener Ram Velamakanni (6), adjudged leg before wicket to Chirag Ambaliya, with scorecard reading just 12.
Abhijeet Nande joined opener Bhavin Parikh (28) (50, 3x6s, 1×4) and they consolidated their innings with a 95 runs partnership for the second wicket. Abhijeet was caught by Chirag Ambaliya of the bowling of Rushil Basavaraj at 107. CICC-I could add only one run to their total before Abhinav Pande returned to the pavilion without opening his account.
Later in the innings, Abhishek Muralidharan (48, 5x4s, 2x6s) and Rahul Bhardwaj (26) made valuable contribution before Columbus Indiana Cricket Club – 1 innings came to close at 223 for 7 in 35 overs. Mr Extras contributed 40, including 34 wides.
Chiraj Ambaliya (3 for 49) and Rushil Basavaraj (3 for 44) were the most successful bowlers for CICC-2.
Monil Goklani of CICC-2 was declared Man of the Match.
Meanwhile, so far seven teams from Indiana have competed in the Midwest Cricket Tournament in the last 16 years. With exception of IU Blooming Cricket Club all other six teams have reached at least semifinal. Five teams reached finals (except Cricket Club of Indianapolis reached semi final once in 2013) and four teams won the finals (Fort Wayne was finalist in 2001)
Indiana teams have won MCT championships. 2002 Indianapolis based Bouncer XI (2002-2003) – Captain, Jatin Patel 2007 Purdue University CC (2001 – 2010) – Captain, Vijay Parmeshwaran 2012 Columbus Indiana Cricket Club (since 2001) – Captain, Abishek Muralidharan), Also 2011 & 2014 finalist.
2013 Columbus Indiana Cricket Club (2011-2014) – Captain, Varun Sood
Other Indiana Team to reach semi-final in 2013 Cricket Club of Indianapolis CCI (since 2010).
Brief scores: Columbus Indiana Cricket Club-1: 223 for 7 in 35 overs (Bhavin Parikh 50, 3x4s, 1×6, Abhijeet Nande 28, Abhishek Muralidharan 48, 5x4s, 2x6s,Joydeep Chakrabarti 10, Rahul Bhardwaj not out 26, 3x4s, 1×6, Karthik Thinnaur 16. Extras 40, Chirag Ambaliya 3 for 49, Rushil Basavaraj 3 for 44, Monil Goklani 1 for27).
CICC2: 224 for 8 in 35 overs (Saurabh Suresh 15, Ameya Oke 60, 2x4s, 4x6s, Aalok Trivedi 45, Guha Raman 9, Monil Goklani not out 54 2x4s, 4x6s, Varun Sood 20, Rahul Bhardwaj 2 for 30, Avinaschander Manivannan 1 for 36, Abhinav Pande 1 for 9, Joydeep Chakrabarti 1 for 47, Karthik Thinnanur 1 for 28, Ashutosh Singh 1 for 52).