UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CLEARLAKE vs  TEXAS A & M AGGIES

 

Texas A & M,the hosts were playing against new team University of Houston Clearlake, which had not yet played a game together. A reasonable opening partnership by Hamza (9) and Anurag of 23 runs was followed by 55 between Anurag 54 in 24 balls (9 fours 2 sixes) and Venkatesh 39 in 24 balls (3 fours 1 six) .

 

Another good partnership of 38 between Venkatesh and all rounder Ochert Greyvenstein (14), plus Siddarth’s 12 took the Aggies to 156 all out.

 

Spinner SrIkant wrecked the lower middle order taking 4 wickets for 11 runs, whilst the Clearlake guys showed flashes of brilliant fielding despite their cold fingers.

 

SrIkant then opened the batting with VKC, and had the Tamu Aggies worried at 88 without loss,albeit a slow start.Then Venkatesh struck getting Sreekant caught by Ankush for 48 (2 fours,2 sixes) in 45 balls. Then followed a collapse mainly due to 2 run outs. VKC scored 47 in 28 balls (4 fours, 1 six).

 

Clearlake made 129 for 9 in their 20 oversthe Aggies getting the win by 27 runs.

 

TEXAS TECH RAIDERS vs WEST TEXAS A & M BUFFS

 

J Sandhu cracked the 2nd 50 of the day when he made 59 in 42 balls (4 fours 2 sixes) for the Radiers. He put on 47 with Reddy 26 (2 fours 2 sixes) then 70 with Raiders club President Nihal Shah, who made 30 in 18 balls (2 fours 2 sixes). When Sandhu was bowled by Manoj the Raiders were well set at 146 for 4 in the 15th over. They got to 185 for 9 in 20 with Prabeen getting 2 wickets for 39 runs.

 

The Buffs had driven 10 hours to get to College Station to play in their first competition, and made 77 in response.Saizad got 18 (2 fours), and Shravan 15 (3 fours). J Sandhu wrapped up the tail getting 3 wickets for 17 runs.Mishra took 2 for 4, Gana 2 for 15.

 

Texas Tech Raiders won. 

 

 UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COUGARS vs  UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CLEARLAKE

 

The Houston Cougars had looked very strong at the 2011 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship so with the addition of USA player and 2010 Under 19 World Cup star Ryan Corns they were a severe challenge for the team newly put together by Vivek Kotadia at Houston Clearlake.

 

Nevertheless the Clearlake guys led by Hamza took it to the Cougars and only 2 batsmen got to double figues for the Cougars. Coming at #3 Ankit Mehta,one of the top batsmen,in the Houston area pulled every errant delivery by the Clearlake bowlers, and even good ones for 4s and 6s, smashing 89* in 39 balls 6 fours 8 sixes).

 

Opening, Ryan Corns made 37 in 17 balls (5 fours 2 sixes) and played his stylish leaning hook a number of times. Cougars made 154 in 15 overs (the game was reduced) . Shastri bowled his 2 victims and ended with 2 for 16. VKC too 2 for 43.

 

Clearlake was determinded to give the tough total a go, but the Cougars spin attack was mystifying, Ryan Corns getting 2 wickets for 11, Abbasi 2 wickets for 8. Pacer Haris took 2 for 10.

 

Clearlake pacer Srikant used his feet well to the spinners, played some delightful shots and made 17, whilst Sachin (not THE Sachin) made 12.

 

Clearlake finished with 78, losing but very happy with their road trip to particpate in their first tournament, and their first American College Cricket Championship !

 

The University of Houston Clearlake Cricket Club had now joined the American College Cricket family, so on this weekend they had acomplished a lot. They were already speaking of the potential of getting their own cricket fields at school, and looking forward to the 2012 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship in March.

 

Sunday Texas Tech vs Texas A & M then University of Houston Cougars vs West Texas A & M to determine the finalists !

 

by Lloyd Jodah