Vidarbha players need to be mentally strong: Karim

(pics courtesy Sakaal)

The Hitavada, Jan 21

Excited at his new job as a visiting batting and wicket-keeping coach at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s upcoming residential academy former Indian ’keeper Syed Saba Karim said that cricketers in Vidarbha need to be mentally strong.
"Cricketers here need to be mentally strong. They need to understand that they are no different from cricketers from Mumbai or Delhi," said Karim, while interacting with the media during his brief visit to the SJAN’s Inter-Press Cricket Tournament at Dr Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi.
"I have always loved this city because I have scored runs here most of the times. I am excited about my new job," he said.
Karim said there was lot of talent in the district but the facilities were not good.
"There are very few people like Prashant (Vaidya) who made it big from this part of the country. But that does not mean that there is no talent here. It’s just that the facilities are not up to the mark and there are no competitive matches played. I am confident we will be able to generate some world-class players. But it will take some time," Karim stated.
Talking about is role in the academy Karim said he would try to attach prime importance to mental conditioning of the players.
"Though it’s easier said than done this will be one of the things that will be thought in the academy," he said.
"Apart from physical and mental fitness, proper match stimulation like a match-like situation in practice session will be given importance" Karim said.
Prashant Vaidya, Director of the academy, endorsed that Karim’s job will be of mental conditioning of budding cricketers. "He’s quite good at it (mental conditioning). So, I am sure he will do well."
Others present on the occasion were head coach of the academy Neil D’Costa, former Indian pacer Subroto Banerjee and executive member Rajan Nair.

Loksatta, Navbharat in semis

Loksatta and Navbharat defeated Tarun Bharat and Sakaal in their respective matches to move into the semi-final of the 11th Orange City Hospital Cup inter-press cricket tournament. The tournament is being organsied by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur.
While Loksatta defeated Tarun Bharat by six wickets, Navbharat ousted Sakaal by seven wickets to move into last four.
In the match played at Central Railway ground, Ajni Tarun Bharat, batting first scored 82 runs in 20 overs. Veteran Uday Rangnath and Ravi Daff bowled a tight line to take two and three wickets respectively. But the best bowling performance was from medium pacer Devendra Sadavarti, who did not give Tarun Bharat to score freely. His bowling figures read 4-1-9-1. Amol Sultane took one wicket.
For Tarun Bharat, Arvind Kawale was the top scorer with 38 runs which were laced with five balls to the fence. Pankaj Ganorkar scored 12.
Loksatta achieved the target easily in 13.1 overs losing four wickets.
Man of the match Sadavarti was the top scorer with an unbeaten 26 runs. Uday Rangnath (10) and Daff (11) took their team to victory target. For Tarun Bharat Salotkar took three wickets while Prashant Indurkar took one.
In another match played at Dr Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi, Navbharat stunned Sakaal to enter last four.
Sakaal, batting first managed to score only 100 for 8 in 20 overs. Opener Kishor Jamkar was the only impressive batsman who amassed 38 runs. Satish Ingole scored 30 while Om Dhakulkar contributed 16.
For Navbharat, Shrikant Tikle took three wickets while, Manish Shriwas, Ronelle Michael and Mahesh Sarangi took one each.
Navbharat raced to the target in 15 overs losing three wickets. Ajay Kangali was the top scorer with 44 runs while Arun Narsapurkar scored 16. Captain Sarangi remained unbeaten on 16. For Sakaal, Shrikant Bante, Nikhil Gotmare and Rajesh Vyahare took one wicket each. Kangali was named man of the match.
Tuesday is the rest day. The first semi-final will be played between Lokmat and Loksatta on January 21 at Dr Ambedkar College ground at 9 am.

The Hitavada, Lokmat enter semi-finals

Kamlesh Waghire of The Hitavada bats during their match
against Tarun Bharat. (The Hitavada pic)

On abright Sunday morning, Dr Ambedkar College ground, Deekshabhoomi, witnessed a perfect demolition job executed by ‘The Hitavada’ not only to complete a nine-wicket victory over Tarun Bharat but also ensure their place in the semi-finals of the 11th Orange City Hospital Cup Inter-Press Cricket Tournament organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN).
Determined to continue their winning streak, The Hitavada meant business right from the word go. Speedster Vijay Chaure struck in the very first over trapping the batsmen in front. The predicament for Tarun Bharat was worsen in the third over when Chaure (2-12) managed to get a thickish outside edge and wicket-keeper Paritosh Pramanik completed the formalities.
The dismal-looking scorecard was ruining all the hopes of a competitive game. But Prashant Indurkar and Arvind Kawle made sure their team reach a respectable total. Both put on a well compiled 57-run stand for the third wicket. Kawle, the predominant partner, scored 40 (43b; 4x3; 6x1) while Indurkar remained not out on 23 (56b; 4x2). Kawle continued taking his chances against left-armer Rammurti Nerle (1-15) and ended up holding out at long-on, bringing an end to the third-wicket partnership.
Tarun Bharat managed 90 runs losing six wickets in their 20 overs. Man of the match Pravin Lokhande (2-10) and Rahul Dixit (1-10) were the other wicket takers for The Hitavada.
The Hitavada, in reply were on to a sounding start, thanks to openers Kamlesh Waghire and captain Susheem Kolay. With the score on 21, Tarun Bharat tasted first blood when Indurkar sent Waghire (16; 12b; 4x3) back. But, Lokhande and Kolay allowed no bowler to make further inroads. From the beginning of his innings, Lokhande showed glimpses of an inform batsmen who has a century and a half-century to his credit.
Kolay, playing his first match of the tournament after recovering from a finger injury, was making up for his lost chances. He continuously nudged the ball for ones and twos proving to be a perfect partner for Lokhande. A partnership of an unbeaten 71 runs between Lokhande (42*; 27b; 4x4; 6x1) and Kolay (29*; 31b; 4x3) got The Hitavada home with more than eight overs to spare.
Earlier, noted surgeon of the city and the chief guest for the match, Dr Sanjeev Chaudhari wished the team good luck.
In another match, Lokmat beat Navbharat by 26 runs to book a place in the semi-finals.
Deciding to bat, Lokmat scored 154 runs in their 20 overs. Man of the match Pawan Dhande—after scoring an unbeaten 61 in the last match—continued his good run by scoring a thundering 50-ball 74 runs with the help of five boundaries and four huge sixes. For Navbharat, Ronelle Michael (3-25) and Manish Sarangi (3-29) restricted Lokmat’s flow of runs.
In reply, Navbharat kept losing wickets at regular intervals and managed 129 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs. M Satyam (31; 28b; 5x4) and M Pujara (29; 25b; 6x2) batted well. For the winners, Sharad Mishra and V Vywahare took a couple of wickets each.
Monday’s fixture: Sakkal vs Navbharat at Dr Ambedkar College ground, Deekshabhoomi (9 am); Loksatta vs Tarun Bharat at Central Railway ground, Ajni (9 am).

Day in pictures -- Lokmat vs Sakaal

Day in pictures -- The Hitavada vs Loksatta

(Pics by The Hitavada and S Sudarshan)

Nikhil Dixit the saviour for Hitavada

Talk about ‘crisis men’ and The Hitavada’s Nikhil Dixit fits the bill to the hilt. The portly all-rounder came up with another superb rescue act as The Hitavada prevailed over Loksatta by four wickets in a heart-stopping run chase at Central Railways ground, Ajni. The Super Six round of the 11th Orange City Hospital Cup Inter-Press Cricket Tournament organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) saw The Hitavada and defending champions Lokmat taking a step towards the semi-final spots. Lokmat thrashed Sakaal by 77 runs.
The Hitavada bowlers again came up with a fine performance to restrict Loksatta to 128. Opener Ravi Daff made a fighting 52 in 46 balls (7x4, 1x6) while Devendra Sadawarti hung on for his unbeaten 49 (46b, 5x4).
Medium-pacers Vijay Choure (2-16) and Vivek Wate (1-17) bowled fine spells. Nikhil Dixit (1-13) and left-arm spinner Ramamurti Nerle (1-16) kept things tight for Loksatta.
The Hitavada’s chase took a disastrous turn when they lost three wickets in four balls. By the fifth over it seemed a lost cause with just 23 on board. Nikhil Dixit was not done though. He found a supporter in Sanjay Chinchole (20; 33b, 2x4) and the duo slowly started the repairing job.
Runs were coming at premium against Loksatta’s confident bowling. As the asking rate started reaching the double figures Dixit launched a counter-attack. Picking up Uday Rangnath’s off-spin over the fence twice in one over Man of the Match Dixit collected 17 off it.
After Chinchole, Choure (14) helped Dixit keep up the momentum with some quick running. By the time the exhausted Dixit returned back after making a superb 53 (36b, 2x4, 3x6) the target had come down to 12 from 10 balls.
Hitesh Limbachia (10*) and Paritosh Pramanik sealed the game as The Hitavada made 132 for six in 19.2 overs.
In another match Lokmat piled up 193 for four in 20 overs. Man of the Match Sharad Mishra (68*; 7x4) and Pawan Dhande (61*; 3x4, 2x6) were the run getters.
Sakaal managed only 116 for nine in 20 overs. Kishor Jamkar made 34.

Nagpur Riders get the better of Daredevils

Women journalists’ day out on cricket field

Thirteen players entered the field but nobody complained. Cricket’s rules were given a go-bye but nobody bothered. After all it was women journalists’ day out on the cricket field! The fairer sex ‘braved’ the sun(tan) and shone brightly in their coloured clothing as their enthusiasm towered over everything else.
For the record Nagpur Riders, captained by Tanveer Shaikh, defeated Megha Shahu-led Daredevils by 16 runs.
Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) had organised the exhibition match at Dr Ambedkar College ground, Deekshabhoomi.
The result did not hold much significance given the competitive spirit shown by women scribes. The bowlers’ efforts behind ‘throwing’ the ball to the batswoman evoked laughter as well as appreciation.
The match had all the thrills of a limited over game. Some cracking boundaries by Woman of the Match Suchismita Behera took the audience by surprise, Megha’s counter-attack set up a good contest, the run chase was hot as the women scrambled to field the ball even showing their ‘football skills’. The icing on the cake was provided by Ajay Naidu’s peppy live commentary. It was a morning of fun and delight, taunts and repartees, sporting spirit and spirited cricket. The women brigade of journalists did leave their mark and even formed a Women Journalists Sports Club (WJSC).
The match was inaugurated by Koshish Social Welfare Foundation’s Salil and Riddhi Deshmukh and Mundle Public School’s Nikhil and Meenal Mundle. NUWJ President Shirish Borkar was the special guest.
The prizes were distributed by Principal of Dr Ambedkar College Dr Malati Reddy and President of Nagpur District Chess Association Manoj Itkelwar.
Naresh Shelke and Kishor Bagde conducted the proceedings. Dr Ram Thakur and Sarita Kaushik made introductory remarks on behalf of SJAN and WJSC, respectively. Anupam Soni proposed a vote of thanks.
Brief scores: Nagpur Riders 59 for 4 in 10 overs (Suchismita Behera 38* {33b, 4x4}, Anu Kuruvilla 10 {1x4}, Monica Chaturvedi 3-9, Megha Shahu 1-16) beat Daredevils 43 for 4 in 10 overs (Megha Shahu 19 {24b, 3x4}, Jyoti Tirpude 11 {1x4}, Suchismita Behera 2-16, Anu Kuruvilla 1-8, Aditi Badge 1-2) by 16 runs.

(pictures and report courtesy The Hitavada)

Exhibition match...but they were serious

Pic courtesy S Sudarshan

Day in pictures nets and exhibition match

All pics courtesy Monica Chaturvedi