A night of rains was followed by a harsh cold day, a scene quite reminiscent to a test being played at lords during the monsoon. However that did not stop the cricket lovers from showing up to Chapel Hill for the annual AID (Association for India’s Development) Cricket Cup. The event may be categorized as charity but for the fierce competitors it was another tournament to pillage and win. The annual tournament is not only fun filled with its short five over games but also notoriously competitive. Teams from the MACC have their eyes set on the trophy, while also managing to have some fun along with it. The shortened fields and the five over’s make it a batsmen’s paradise and bowlers are often hammered for numerous boundaries. The tournament took place over a day and just like last year the Cary Warriors sent two teams to the tournament. Cary Warriors 1 played early in the morning although their performances were nothing to boast about. However Warriors 1 did have some great performances in Hardik and Oni, as well as the youngest CWCC player Fenil Patel. The real fun didn’t start till the second warriors team played in the evening.
CWCC 2 had already been guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds, courtesy CVCC who failed to show up, their home is in Virginia. However CWCC was keen on using its three matches as an effective catalyst to prepare for the knockouts. The very first group stage game CWCC batsmen Santosh, Vikul and Sachin smashed a total of 65 runs in five over’s. The batsmen unleashed a blitzkrieg and some of those sixes were massive! Santosh played with a joie de vivre that is often associated with big hitters. Newest CWCC player Vikul added valuable runs. William Black’s (BK) ‘home runs’ were a joy to watch as the CWCC players who had remained for the second team to play cheered from the sidelines. However the exuberant display of the batsmen in the first game came crashing down in the second group game when CWCC faced an AID friendly’s team that took place of the absent CVCC team. The AID friendly’s team featured two CWCC players, Hardik and Devang, who were keen on scoring an upset win. CWCC won the toss and selected to bat first. The friendly’s bowlers did a tremendous job and were backed up by the fielders who only let up one boundary and Devang also managed to stump CWCC star Nikhil Urs. The imposing total that CWCC put up in the first game was followed up with a meager 34 in five over’s. However CWCC knew they had enough runs to put up a defense but that hope came crashing down as Niraj was hit for four sixes by an AID friendly opener. Ironic considering that Niraj would be the savior in the knockout rounds. The friendly’s won in dominating fashion as they chased the total without losing a wicket.
The AID friendly’s upset was the only setback that CWCC faced as they steam rolled their way into the knockout rounds. In the knockout round the Warriors were faced with a tough pre-quarter game and the CWCC batsmen put up a total of 35 for the bowlers to defend. The bowling was up for the challenge as Nikhil, Sachin, Vijay and Niraj bowled a consistent line and length. The bowlers were helped by the fielders and the Warriors won the pre-quarters by 9 runs.
CWCC found themselves in the quarter finals, just like last year. However this year would be different, much different. Last year at Duke CWCC had advanced to the quarter finals with a dramatic two run victory thanks to Niraj’s penultimate over in which he allowed just two runs. Well slightly reminiscent of last year the Warriors would advance to the semis thanks to Niraj’s penultimate over that gave CWCC a three run victory. The CWCC batsmen only put up 35 runs for the bowlers to defend. The bowling unit had done a great job in the pre quarters and they carried that over to the quarter finals. However super eight only needed 5 runs off the last over for victory and the responsibility again rested on the skippers shoulders as he took the last over. Niraj bowled that last over brilliantly, giving up just two runs. Niraj lead CWCC to a buccaneering victory and the joy was evident in the pompous huddle that CWCC formed after the last ball. Two knockout games won by the skippers magical over’s, it seemed CWCC was destined to get to the finals.
However the first innings batting woes would catch up to CWCC and another meager target of 32 in the semis against the talented Dhan Dhana Dhan Dhan (MOCC) could not be defended by the bowlers as ravishing stroke player Neel finished off CWCC’s pompous advance to the semis. However the tournament was a huge success for CWCC and reaching the semis isn’t a piece of cake either. CWCC will bask in the glory of this success and come out next year hoping to take it another step further.