Today was the first ever Lions U19 match, and as with many of the U19 games 2 matches were played back to back. Luckily it was cloudy so the temperature was `only` 33 degrees.
Match 1 - MIB v LIONS
Taiga and Nihar got us off to a great start. Taiga hit the first 4 for the under 19s but then departed with the score at 62. Nitin soon departed and Timmy strode to the wicket and the pair really took to the MIB bowling with Timmy hitting the first under 19s 6! Both were agonisingly close to getting their 50. After 20 overs, we had a very solid 151.
MIB had a very solid opening partnership and with the ground drying out their openers hit 58 and 76 a piece. After a spirited Lions performance, we went down in Game 1.
Stats: Highest scoring batsman : Nihar (47), best batting strike rate : Vijay (220), most wickets : Kirren (1-19) and Kaede (1-37) best bowling economy : Timmy (4.5).
Player of the Match: N/A (Anish Shekhar of MIB took the MoM)
Team: Josh Berry, Kaede Sommer, Kirren Hollow, Nihar Parmar, Nitin Chathrapathi Saravanakumar, Nived Nambiar, Stefan Keet, Taiga Hague (Vice-Captain, Wicket Keeper), Timothy Moore (Captain), Vijay An.
Player of the Match: N/A (Anish Shekhar of MIB took the MoM)
Team: Josh Berry, Kaede Sommer, Kirren Hollow, Nihar Parmar, Nitin Chathrapathi Saravanakumar, Nived Nambiar, Stefan Keet, Taiga Hague (Vice-Captain, Wicket Keeper), Timothy Moore (Captain), Vijay An.
Match 2 - LIONS v MIB
Our new Captain Timmy won the toss for the second match and elected to bat first.
Nihar and Taiga went into bat and once again got us off to a solid start but with the score at 34 in the 6th over, Taiga was caught off a cracking drive, Timmy was caught behind on 1, Nihar chopped onto the stumps, Kaede was out LBW and Nitin was run out. We were in trouble at 5-59 off 10 overs. All eyes turned to Kirren and Vijay who righted the Lions ship with Kirren hitting 19 and Vijay 8. Stefan made his debut with a quick fire 4. After 20 over we had 98 on the board.
With the Men in Blue openers coming in the bowlers quickly found their line and length. Nihar was bowling some mighty in swingers and Kaede’s spin bowling was so well flighted the batsmen didn’t know whether to play back or forward. Nihar finished with 4-10 and Kaede with 3-12. Kirren, Timmy and Nitin all took a wicket each, Taiga with a stumping and Kaede took an amazing catch at slips! The catch of the match. Lions had MIB all out for 56!
Stats: Highest scoring batsman : Nihar (26), best batting strike rate : Nihar (118), most wickets : Nihar (4-9) best bowling economy : Nihar (2.3).
Player of the Match: Nihar
Team: Josh Berry, Kaede Sommer, Kirren Hollow, Nihar Parmar, Nitin Chathrapathi Saravanakumar, Nived Nambiar, Stefan Keet, Taiga Hague (Vice-Captain, Wicket Keeper), Timothy Moore (Captain), Vijay An.
Player of the Match: Nihar
Team: Josh Berry, Kaede Sommer, Kirren Hollow, Nihar Parmar, Nitin Chathrapathi Saravanakumar, Nived Nambiar, Stefan Keet, Taiga Hague (Vice-Captain, Wicket Keeper), Timothy Moore (Captain), Vijay An.
