Thought Id kick off a new thread to use for this weekend's games, since the "old" thread already had mostly bloggers-ball planning etc...
At a soggy and soaked WP today Bears and Rogers Park rained out, IIT won on 20-overs rule against Advancers (in what was a massive game in Div2, shaking up the standings considerably), and Milwaukee United beat the Satha-less Capitol.
Awful awful day, persistent rain and interruptions all day long. The Advancers and IIT played one of the most important games of the Div2 season - IIT got 92 allout and then there was a bit of a rain-interruption during lunch IIRC. Advancers then batted, and went to 30/3 in 12 overs and there was another rain-interruption. Then they progressed to 49/6 in 20 overs and there was rain again... and it was apparently decided that the conditions were unplayable after that, and so the game has presumbaly been decided on the basis of the first 20 overs (when, supposedly, IIT had scored 60-odd). This would actually be a huge win for Peoria, who would now take over first place if this result holds.
Rogers Park got 206 on the Bears, who replied with 20 odd for 2 before an interruption, and then 40 odd for 3 before another interruption when it became unplayable there too.
I umpired Milwaukee United and Capitol, and all proceeded well until Capitol were about 80/5 in 32 overs, when we had our first rain interruption. Luckily we got covers, and we rolled up the mat and covered it, and waited it out. One more over, then another interruption! Then more game, Capitol 102 allout, and yet another interruption. Then MUCC 55/2 in 10 overs, and another rainstorm! Finally, with all other games called off, everyone long gone home, we soldiered on... and with the clock reading past 7pm, MUCC got home losing about 5 wickets in 17 or so overs IIRC. (The other games had been called off an hour and a half earlier!)
Great credit to both teams, MUCC and Capitol IMHO. Every time it rained, we took out the nails, rolled up the matting, and covered it...then when the rain stopped we swept water off the pitch, relaid the mat, and started again. The mat was laid, unlaid, rolled, unrolled, covered, uncovered, *five* times! Shirts and rags were used to dry the pitch and surroundings. MUCC was in good shape late in the game, and were hosts responsible for doing stuff - but great credit IMHO to Capitol, who never played unfair or slowed down their overrate, and slogged thru some very difficult conditions. They werent thrilled with the conditions after the last interruption, and while they let me know their views, they accepted the umpire's call with grace and sportsmanship that very few teams in our league would have shown, and Iam grateful for that. Without two fair-minded teams who love cricket there is no way on earth the game today could have been played in full, and both teams deserve enormous credit for it IMHO.
Eagles beat Continental by 28 runs in Heritage Park.
Batting first Eagles scored 189 in 40 overs and in response Continental fell short by 28 runs. The game was interrupted by heavy rains few times, but in the end we managed to squeeze in 40 overs under overcast skies and drizzles to complete our victory.
Notable scorers for Eagles were GG (84) and Sunil Sejwal (29).
Without two fair-minded teams who love cricket there is no way on earth the game today could have been played in full, and both teams deserve enormous credit for it IMHO. ----------------------------------
I happened to be the die hard spectator at this game. I agree with c8w, everybody soldiered on and got the game done, this is how it should be done. But this game is an exception to what actually happens in a rain situation. Invariably, the team that feels that they have a better chance of winning want to play and ofcourse their opponents dont. And there's no right or wrong answer to that dilemma. Conditions become a topic of endless debate and everything is subjective and relative anyway. This puts a lot of pressure on the umpire to make a decision. I think in the next AGM, we need to strongly consider the DL method (ofcourse it has its own limitations) or a similar rule. The DL rule wont be perfect but it'll be better and less painful than what we currently have in place. What do you guys think?
With regards to the rain-interrupted games, I guess the league has done well to come up with a set of well-defined rules without any ambiguity. Whether the rules are fair/unfair is again open to debate and I am in no way endorsing any of the rules, but once the rules are set they are there to be followed for the season. At the end of the day all of us enter the park with an aim to win (of course by playing the game fair), and I don't think there is any harm in a team trying to use the rule to their own benefit in order to achieve that goal.
Having said that, we also have to realize that cricket is a game that depends a lot on the ground conditions. We might say that once the pitch is dry everything is fine, but in a hypothetical situation (which many of us have been in) there are times when the rain comes down in torrents after one inning is over. Many times this happens after the first innings has been played in perfect sunlight. Is it then not unfair for the teams to carry on in such ground conditions (where it is like playing in a swimming pool)? I agree with Romeen that umpires are under pressure to take decisions, but the umpires have to realize that their job really is to ensure that both teams get reasonably similar "ground" conditions to play. I have however experienced that many umpires are keener on "getting the match done and dusted", which is really not the objective of a competitive tournament such as ours. Just my 2 cents.
---------- Tonald Drump said... Wow that gotta help Peoria Cricket Club a lot in there quest for DIV 1. Any update on A. Evanston vs Collinsville B. CCI vs Jaguars --------
Yes, a huge help for Peoria, who are now almost thru to Div1 I think. A big break for them in a way, because Warriors gave them a walkover this weekend... witht he amount of rain in the state, if the Warriors had travelled to Peoria, who knows, maybe that match might have been rained out too!
BTW, am just checking in before bed, umpired the CCI/Jaguars game today. Jaguars won by a big margin in the end - Jaguars batted first, and were 72/5 in 19 overs, before their batsmen exploded. Ashish and Satyam batted quite magnificently (starting by smacking 14 off the first over after break, the 20th over), and smashed the bowling all around in making 85 and 77* respectively, clean and chanceless and much quicker than run-a-ball. Jaguars ended up getting 260!
CCI chased strongly to begin, before losing wickets... with everyone watching for 20 overs, they had lost 4 or 5 wickets and needed 23 off 3 overs to get ahead on 20 overs. They came down to needing 8 to get ahead in the last over, and ended up falling 2 runs short (losing another wicket in the bargain)... and after break, having lost too many wickets and not having sufficient batting left, they ended up getting only about 130 to finish. So Jaguars are up to 8-5, 32 points with 1 game left(Raiders). CCI are now 7-5, 28 points but have 2 games remaining (Collinsville and Advancers). Both are still alive in the playoff race, with the Jaguars in a much better position due to their massively important win today.
--------- Vasu said... pool)? I agree with Romeen that umpires are under pressure to take decisions, but the umpires have to realize that their job really is to ensure that both teams get reasonably similar "ground" conditions to play. ---------
This sentence Id like to disagree with completely.
India won the toss and bowled first at Trent Bridge, with England having to bat in very very difficult conditions on D1. India got to bat on D2, with everything dryer, clearer, and far far easier to bat in. The conditions were IMHO in no way similar at all (more general conditions than ground conditions its true - but ground conditions were also different).
I think the job of the umpire is to see if the conditions are *playable*. Thats all. Often batting first or batting second can be very very advantageous in cricket, due often to conditions of various things. All that is, IMHO, part of the glorious vagaries of the game. (TOday, at Urbana, with no rain, the runup was getting worse and worse as the days play progressed, as it often does at that ground. Not all that unusual IMHO). If the conditions are playable that is good enough - I dont think one needs to make sure its all identically good for all sides at all times.
*********************************** I think the job of the umpire is to see if the conditions are *playable*. Thats all. Often batting first or batting second can be very very advantageous in cricket, due often to conditions of various things. All that is, IMHO, part of the glorious vagaries of the game. *********************************** That is the reason why cricket game is so unpredictable and so exciting! Winning the toss keeping gloomy weather condition is ideal and making that call by the captain whether to field first or bat first based on codition would ultimately decide the fate of the match! This adds drama and extra 4th dimension to the game of cricket! That is why game of cricket is 'Never done until its done'. Kudos to both IIT, Advancers, Capitol and MUCC for finishing their games. Last year in Peoria we ourselves played three 25-30 over games with QC Kings, Chicago Giants, and ICC. All these three teams were very eager to play and finish the game the end of the day. Had they wanted it, they could have split points and left. But that was not the case. Its wonderful to see the sight of professionlism that is cropping in our league! Kudos to all teams!
Coming to PCC luck this weekend having received a walk over, what more can I say! It would have definitely gotten rained out on Sunday here too. I guess Lady Luck is still with us and she never deserted us after our IIT game..:)
Madhu, congratulations for getting to Div 1. We Advancers lost the match just due to our hard luck.We got IIT all out for 92 in somewhere 30 overs. But nature God was not with us n we lost.
PCC is not in Div 1 yet, and stranger things have happened than a top rated team losing a game people expect them to win after doing well against the better teams.
Having said that, I do hope Madhu and gang make it to Div 1. I'm sure they won't take anything for granted. I know how hard they've worked and I'd love for them to be rewarded.
Aditya as far I know Universal is also going to give walkover and PCC is going to win against Tiger unless some miracle happens.Whatever may be we lost our chance of getting to DIV 1 by topping the Div 2
That looks like the likely scenario, but that should be incentive for you guys to win the playoffs! Nothing like a big shiny trophy on your mantlepiece or wherever.
I personally would love to have the Advancers in Div 1 as you guys are a good team. Any of the top 4-5 teams would be good additions in my opinion.
You all get Madhu started on how he is already in Div 1. You seen his reports,it takes several days reading.
No-body asked about beloved ICC and Suburban game? Want a report?Rained out. Rup said "left arm,over the water bottles(that were in place of stumps)".Next thing you know is first ball bowled.End game.Game could have gone either way though.
Next piece of action was the grounds-people truck got stuck in the mud. They came to tell us we are standing on wet grass and how it will get sunk in. Then their truck got stuck instead. We had a choice to either listen to em and leave or help em out.
Yeah,they looked intelligent,until after the truck got out the ditch it just keep going and the passenger was running behind b/c once the driver was out he kept goiug. Like the movie "Gods must be crazy"
Romeen said.... I think in the next AGM, we need to strongly consider the DL method (ofcourse it has its own limitations) or a similar rule. The DL rule wont be perfect but it'll be better and less painful than what we currently have in place. What do you guys think?
Romeen,
It's not that I'm not in favour of the D/L method, but I'm not sure we have the infrastructure to support the logistics. One of the key aspects of such rules is that it should be clear, consisten, and easily available to the Captains of both teams to help them strategize real time on the ground.
I'm not sure that anyone of us could calculate it real-time and let people know what the revised equation becomes as the ground conditions change.
I think the current rule needs to change to account for wickets in hand, etc, but otherwise, meets this most intrinsic requirement.
Help: Guys.. misplaced my cell phone last Thursday (8/16/07) after the night game with River city. Its an 8525 smart phone.. grey in color.. slides side ways..
Would greatly appreciate if finders could contact me at naveenganne@hotmail.com
Agam.. Cricket is funny game...and loss with Springfield..is still fresh in our minds..When ever we think of great WINS season, we always seem to remember that particular loss:) We aren't in DIV-I yet...till 2 games to go.. Tigers are pretty good team with young talents. We do know just as in Springfield, some times u loose games because of one man's sheer determination or say it Taletn..like that game in Springfiled Sanjiv patel took over bowling honors..I think he got 7 wickets and scored 51 runs for Springfield or Laxmi from IIT scoring 110 out of 170 odd against Arsenal, and taking 3 wickts after..These games are very heart-rending for teams who lost...its tough!..but sometimes these games make the teams more resilient..I am sure..it was same case for you guys against Lucky XI..You guys are very good team (In only know Syed Khadry what a great chap he is, both as a cricketer and person, I have not gotten play with you guys even last year..bummer) and this weekend game proves it..It was definitely hardluck..but having said that..Good teams will always fights till the end..and IIT were known for this trait long enough no emphasis needed there..Rain interrupted games are always very hard to digest...but its keeps it exciting...I am pretty sure..you guys lost wickets beacuse ur were going for the 20 over run mark..:)Keep the focus, We hope to meet you in Playoffs..Its always great pleasure..to play with best teams out there..! Good luck..to you and Advancers...We did work very hard this season..to be where we are..Team logistics have been big issue..:) but we waded through it successfully..we discovered new talents on our team, which we otherwise we would never had to chance to discover..We played pretty good cricket all through, we hope to keep it.. rest of the way!
If it was catches that buried our game last weekend, it was the same catches that brought us laurels this weekend.
It was a gloomy Saturday morning but Eagles were anything but that. We had nothing to lose. We won the toss on the basis of Continental’s no-show at toss time ( for a long time that morning we thought we were getting a walkover again ). Eagles Batted first and the complete honors go to GG. He played unlike his natural aggressive self but with the same flair. Cutting, pulling and lofting with the same authority. His patient 84 would have been much much more on any other ground and on any other day. Subbu and I both got out to stupendous catches. In the end we scored 189 which I would say equaled to about 250 on a drier ground and a drier ball. These CA balls are something else. They literally wrinkle. Damn! Eagles bowling We have never been known to take bad catches but will always be remembered to take good catches. Far and few, but still. Continental did not start off on a good note. They lost there opener trying to clear. Nasser yamani being bowled to a peach of a delivery from Sunil. Nasser was so flabbergasted that he did not move from his crease for a long time trying to figure out what happened. And then came two outstanding catches from Srikanth at square leg. Plucking both out of thin air off terrific pulls. Not only the players but even the rain stood still. And then Mankesh took a blinder at short midoff. At one stage they lost 3 wickets in one over. All trying to hit out to mark the 20 over standoff. They sure did beat us by a few runs at 20 overs but then they had lost a few wickets trying to do so. Asif and Zeeshan rebuilt the innings and we were getting Arsenal flashes. It rained a few times and continental tried all the rules in the book. But we fought back. When they complained they couldn’t see the ball from around the wickets. We bowled from Over. When the complained that it was too fast to see the ball we bowled with a shorter runup. And when they complained even that was bad. Our spinners bowled dollies. When zeeshan got out trying to clear it was almost over for continental. Asif was next to go. Both playing wonderfully for 41 each. Such was Asifs patience that 37 of his 41 came in 1’s. And it was all over when their last batsman hit one straight at my throat. Continental folded for 161. I think this game was won because of sheer persverence and willingness to continue. And not to forget the outstanding catching from everybody and splendid batting by GG.
Sheks, Thanks man..Don't give me heart attacks man this early in the morning...:) Satha is 'Capitol' by heart..I tried to sign him on PCC contract..:) Didn't work.. I am sure u guys tried too..:) Who does not want Satha on their team..buddy tell..me..:) I am very happy that I gotta know him at LA open man..and see him 'The Man of steel' in person..Until then he was the Phantom the ghost who walks on streets of Springfield to me..:) Only heard about the savage drubbing he gives to the opponents on the cricket field..He phoenom man..:P
Just an FYI on the availability of Hanover Park. I know Romeen called and told me that Sunday night was a little difficult due to the un-availability of several bloggers. Also due to extreme down-pours this week and the last, we have several games of the AL Tournamnet still pending completion. According to the league, completing some of those games will be the priority for us. Therefore, we might have to wait until at least after the Long Weekend to see what days can we schedule a game for the bloggers. For now, we would have to wait until after the long weekend to see if we can schedule something in September.
Angry at CCI - No we weren't. We just did not appreciate On Field Trash Talking brought by Martin aka Chanaka and Manu.
As far as updating scoreboard is concerned we are unable to update the scores and league will have to reopen that game for us to enter the scores.
I also catched a discrepency in Evanston's game. They show a Tie vs Jolly Rover's and when infact Jolly Rovers won the game. So it appears that Evanston will have to back that 2 points soon. Any update from Jolly Rovers team for the game vs Tigers will be greatly appreciated.
I was looking at playoff scnerio. As far as I see these teams are on the bubble and several of them have a good shot at making the playoff still provided they get 30 points and have a good run rate.
Collinsville - 28 PTS with 2 games to go vs CCI and QC Kings. Need to win atleast 1 to assure playoff birth. Both of these games will not be easy.
Lucky XI - 28 PTS with 1 game to go vs Continental. Normally I would say it will be easy but Continental is playing good lately.
CCI - 28 PTS with 2 games to go vs Collinsville and Advancers. Collinsville is fighting for there playoff spot and Advancers trying to move up in the top 4 seeds.
Jolly Rovers - 28 PTS with one mystery game vs Tigers undocumented and 2 games left vs West Suburban 11 and Madison. If they have won the tigers game then I think they are thru to the playoffs.
Springfield - 26 PTS and 2 games to go vs Universal and Warriors. Thanks to Walk Over Gods. Springfield may make it to the playoffs as I don't think Warriors will make a trip to the Capital.
Arsenal - 24 PTS and 2 games left vs Advancers and Continental. Not easy games but if they can play good game and win both they can gurantee themselves a spot in top 12 with 32 PTS.
Illinois Cricket Club. A long shot but still not out. 22 PTS with games vs Evanston and Chicago Cricket Club left. If they can end up with 30 PTS and if some teams on top falters then who know they can still make it.
My feeling is that Evanston is a better team this year and will beat ICC badly. Based on what I read here ICC has given up on this season and will not be surprised if they don't show up to the ground just to save themselves from embarrasment of another loss.
Springfield making it to the playoffs what a joke.
Your Giants and Raiders are not out of the woods yet. They have tough games ahead. I think that only 1 of them will make it and the other will have to fight based on run rate with 30 points.
Between CCI and Collinsville I think only 1 will make it to the top 12 and the other will be stuck with 28 points only.
I don't know much about Div 2, or the nuanaces with who has claimed what points, who should get what points, or researched who is playing who, etc.
But from where I see it, it is likely that the top 12 will make it to the playoffs and there will be little change. JR and Springfield are the only 2 with a decent shot at making the top 12, but they will need to win out because their NRR doesn't compare favourably at all.
Arsenal, ICC, have a slim chance, but they need help from some other teams. I'd love to see ICC in the playoffs, because no team would really like to face them there.
Arsenal wins both they are in. 32 points pretty much gurantees playoff birth.
ICC has to win both and need help. Other teams are playing some stiff competition and even better they play eachother so only 1 can survive. Should give ICC some hope.
Crucial week coming ahead. Cmon Rup and company time to prove that old farts still have it.
Now I turned off the tv as India is diving beyond recovery. Too bad so much influence by the weather last weekend. I hope some sunshine and better cricket set for then end. Yes we will love to see ICC in the playoff as they have a good team. Just a bad year so far. I would not call them old farts if I were you. Say experienced and skilled as those guys can rise to the ocassion. I will try to watch their game this weekend as it seems like a fun agenda at Evanston. Good luck.
My friend I haven't posted all year but with this comment about ICC I had to post!!!! By your Comment I see you do not know anything about ICC and Evanston Cricket Club. The best game of the year you will see is in Evanston This Sunday . Guranteed . You will see so much people at the park you will ask yourself , Is this an International game being played?. Evanston is Reconised as A west Indian Team ( many members are from Jamaica) ICC Is also Reconised as a West Indian Team (Members hailing from Trinidad & Tobago , Guyana, Dominica,) we also have members from India in our squad . We also once had members from , England, Australlia, South Africa, New Zeland , Playing for us. We are an international team but when it comes to Evanston is west Indian pride brother We long to play each other . I guratee we will have our best squad against Evanston and I gurantee they will have there best squad against us.. Nuff food , drinks, ladies and whatever else you want will be at the park.. If we (ICC) had to play or come to the park for one game for the year it will have to be against Evanston Guranteed!!! Also The game wil be officiated by one of the leagues if not best Umpire .. we will have a fun time maybe you need to come to the Park and see what West Indian Pride is all About before making some foolish comment like you did ! (no disrespect intended but I had to add that in there)
Rajesh, I really like to be there at Evanston. I follow you guys all the way and love your style. Now you got me fully decided that the game at Evanston will be the best of the season,win or loose. Both teams will be winners I guess.
Fair enough explanation Rajesh. Good to hear that ICC is not one of those that rolls over and play dead. I guess I misunderstood Rup's comment at some point.
I will definitely be there for the game this weekend. I have good reasons to be at James Park that day so see you then and that is all I can say.
Are Shekhs and Romeen on vacation? How come the blog is so dead? The playoff races are heating up with only 1-2 weeks left in the regular season ....and there's nothing to talk/blog about? I guess the only interesting topic everyone talks about is getting together for drinks before, during and after games.....nothing else seems to spark any conversations?
Even Rup and Chally are quiet when it comes defending ICC with its upcoming clash with Evanston this weekend....I guess this time they would prefer to have their bats and balls do the talking instead ....Well thats good, cos I am also an ICC fan and would like to see ICC win the the Evanston Match and end their season on a high note...Good Luck guys!:)
Whatup bloggers... been a lil busy with work lately...
Umpired a good game last nite.. Flames beat Rogers Park by 26 runs. Venkat from Flames and Kamran from RP played good knocks. Nasir from RP, Asif, Nasir and Kabir from Flames bowled well. Thanks to Sanjay for helping me out with the umpiring chore
Here's something I was pondering after last nite's game...
I thought it was an interesting and strange scenario..
Hypothetically, if last nite's game was not completed within 11:00pm and the lights were turned off @ Hanover Park with 1 over left to decide the fate of a game....
Would you let Flames play with substitues for 3 people from Milwaukee? Or is it ok to play the last over with 3 subs...
This could be with Horizon (hypothetical again)..with players from Peoria..
I think its a pain in the butt to come all the way to field one over.. :-)
Fast_N_Furious said... guys from what I know Evanston Icc Game this week will be a cracker.. Both teams wants to win West Indian Pride and even if the score is 50 or 250 it will be game on... I think this is the best rivalry in the league bar none. I will be looking forard to seeing a good game this week... of course some ladies and good food too.
yourstruly you are serious win or lose it will be cracker from what my sources are telling me.. Have a buddy on the team and he said he will be bringing this weekend
Nice. Good to see some fire in the posts. I had posted an article earlier about rivalries, and wasn't aware how big this one was. I think, from what I see, this is probably the biggest rivalry. I haven't heard of a bigger rivalry in the MWCC. Any comments?
Good luck to both teams, but I am going to go with ICC on this one for 3 reasons:
1. This will be a silver lining to an otherwise disappointing season
2. I've played with some of them on the same team, and so my loyalty lies there
Fast_N_Furious said... Puppu Yar Tung Na Kar... Well from what I know of them they are cool dudes I think you need a chill pill and stop the hating on ICC... I hope they win this week it will be great for the playoff race and the league... ICC FAN NOT AN EVANSTON HATER
Thank you all...ICC supporters. Been on Vacation over the last week so no blogging. It's a must win for ICC so we are gona be there and ready to play no excuses. Yep that truck thing was funny.. First he wanted to kick us out then he needed our help to push him out. We did and the sight of the helper in a blck rain coat chasing a black truck.. Had us all laughing. ------------------ Not only they fail to deliver they also make up lame excuses like Umpires where bad, Players were on vacation, bla bla bla ... --------------------------- PUPU, We are never afraid to post the truth as much as it hurts to get it across to people like you.
C8W tell us truth..is it the Rivalry or food or babes that you are umpiring this game for..:) hehe....
I remember ICC guys talking about it already..both at night game and at our game in Peoria...PCC didn't play a game this season with Evanston, so we didn't get know them but...I am sure they are very good team this year..This will be very nice game and both teams are pretty evenly poised, though ICC going through rough patch..I am sure ICC guys will 'Bring it on'!!..but at the same time Evaston looking very good on both bowling and batting front this year...with addition new players..this will definitely qualify for the 'Game of the week'..GOod luck to both teams...Nice to see the clash of WINDIES! Rivalry heating..up..already three days in advance:)
I hope that Rain GOD stays off for this weekend...
I know Steve and Perry from Evanston, from playing a game a couple of years ago....really cool guys... I think the best part about Evanston (and ICC for that matter) is there celebration during and after the game.....regardless of the outcome..
I have never seen such ardent fans including women and children....they root for these folks till the last ball is bowled...
And of course, my fav. is to hang out with the rasta men...some jo&*t and some good times...
But I have to stick with rup and his merry men.....
Aiite bloggers...lets make a trip to Evanston this sunday....make it an event...
I think I'll stop by for a little bit.. Romeen...you always wanted to go for a Div 2 game...there's none better than this.. Adi..are you in?
------ C8W tell us truth..is it the Rivalry or food or babes that you are umpiring this game for..:) hehe.... ----
All of the above :-)
It is, IMHO, by *far* the best rivalry in the league, and the fun-nest game of the season (its the one game I requested from Marghoob-bhai before the entire schedule was even released this year :-)
I umpired this game back in 2004. That year ICC was struggling, and not going to the playoffs (they were missing several regulars all year, people off working in Indy etc IIRC), while Evanston was doing well and going to the playoffs. Still, both teams gearedup for this match - Owen Foster from Evanston (excellent veteran player, who had moved to Texas that year) flew in for the game, and *all* the ICC players returned for it, from different parts of the country :-) And it was a complete cracker too, underdog ICC got 194, Evanston (whose batting was always a little suspect) was, IIRC, about 130/8 in reply... and then Perry and the #10 got together, and Perry hit a magnificent 56* and carried them home with 2 wickets in hand (with the guy at the other end defending everything resolutely and with great determination). http://midwestcricket.org/asp/Score88.asp?id=1091
Last year, to my lasting regret, I wasnt able to umpire this game. ICC last year was beating up on everyone, winning most matches by a mile and a half (a week later, for example, ICC went to Madison and played the eventual quarterfinalists away... and made 246 and bowled them out for 55!). Meanwhile Evanston had a tough year, not getting to the playoffs. But when they played each other, ICC got 220, and the underdog Evanston eventually lost by only 25 runs (with the last 2 batsmen runout). http://midwestcricket.org/asp/Score88.asp?id=2254
One never knows if the game can live up to it by being close every year - maybe not. We can only hope it does, cos it'll be even more fantastic fun if it happens :-)
However... was it Sheks who suggested people oughta come watch, and make it an occasion? I think its a little different... you should come, and watch what will already be an occasion :-) Seriously. Morning may be quiet - not a great crowd or anything, probably (a lot of the ECC ladies will still be at church :-) But by late-afternoon, the crowd will probably have swelled to 150-plus. Families of all sorts will be there, including the players families (also non-players families - kids, grandmas, grandads etc, Jamaicans from the general area). There will be old men playing board games, little children running around. There will be reggae playing non-stop. There will be the ECC ladies barbequing, and serving other prepared food too (curry and jerk chicken, corn, plaintains probably, plus other stuff - I think they'll even sell it for like 5 bucks if people want to eat, money being raised for ECC). Then the game will end... maybe 3pm, maybe 4pm, maybe 5pm, who knows. But, different from Washington Park or Hanover, people wont go home - the game is only one part of their day. The players will come off, and theyll get food and drinks, and hang around and enjoy each others company. The crowd will hang around too - eventually people will disperse when they feel like it, some will even stay till 8 or 9pm! A year ago, there used to be so much of a crowd for ECC games, they started having a DJ in at 6pm odd to crank out Jamaican tunes, which started drawing even more Jamaican teens to the park... I dont know if thats still going on this year, it might be :-)
All Iam hoping for this weekend is that the weather is good for Sunday - outside of that, everything is already assured to be fine IMHO. There is a reason they hold this game at the very end of the season... once the league went to an unbalanced schedule, *both* teams have requested that this game actually *be* on the schedule, and it be later in the season (so it can be played at Evanston's home ground, rather than at WP etc which cant hold the same number of people... note, even ICC wanted it at Evanston's home ground, rather than at a "neutral" site :-) The Caribbeans, frankly, know how to enjoy their cricket better than us Indians or Pakistanis do IMHO - the tradition is to have people (and families) come by and watch, for it to be an event, with fun being more important than anything else. (Maybe Iam wrong, and its not just Caribbeans but just the island culture... Ive heard the Sri Lankans have a similar style of cricket back home, we just dont have enough SL cricketers here to really know about it?) IMHO Evanston produces an atmosphere in most of their home games (and especially for their anticipated ICC matchup) that the league *wishes* it could have for our finals every year, but has not yet been able to achieve.
-------- Aditya said... Shekhs, Not sure man. I live downtown... not the burbs! So it's tougher... but want to come. I'll let you know. --------
Evanston barely even qualifies as the burbs, Adi :-) Its the nearest burb to the city, not like Hanover or anything which is miles and miles away :-)
Dont you sometimes come to Pita Inn in Skokie for Middle-Eastern? Thats actually further from you than the Evanston ground is :-) (The Evanston ground is actually fairly close to the border of Skokie... if youre at Devon, the ground is like 5-7 minutes away, maybe).
--------- >Tonald Drump said... >CAN 30 Points get you in DIV 2 >Playoffs?
Historically even 32 hasnt usually gotten you to the Div2 playoffs... often 36 are needed. I think 3 years ago one team made it with 32 (and 2 or 3 others also on 32 fell short by runrate), that was the last time 32 even had a chance!
I understand this year is different, with lots of rain etc. But 30 still sounds a bit low to me, to get to the playoffs. Note, 7 teams already have 32 or more... and 2 more you havent listed (currently #8 and #9, Giants and Raiders) have 30 already, both with 2 games left.
-------
>Collinsville - 28 PTS with 2 >games to go vs CCI and QC Kings. >Need to win atleast 1 to assure >playoff birth. Both of these >games will not be easy. >CCI - 28 PTS with 2 games to go >vs Collinsville and Advancers. >Collinsville is fighting for >there playoff spot and Advancers >trying to move up in the top 4 >seeds.
Note, these 2 teams are at 28 already... but they play each other. Unless we presume bad weather in their game, one of them will be at 32 for sure! And both have a shot at getting 32, of course, even if a difficult one. But at least we should presume one 32-pointer out of these two teams, at minimum.
Either way, definitely 10 teams with 30 or above after these 2 teams play each other.
>Lucky XI - 28 PTS with 1 game to >go vs Continental. Normally I >would say it will be easy but >Continental is playing good >lately.
I think Lucky has a good shot at 32 as well, Continental is now out of hte playoff picture. Nasir Yemani is still dangerous, however, but all Lucky needs is a win against a team ranked lower than them at the moment.
>Jolly Rovers - 28 PTS with one >mystery game vs Tigers >undocumented and 2 games left vs >West Suburban 11 and Madison. If >they have won the tigers game >then I think they are thru to >the playoffs.
I think JR will make the playoffs. We dont know about their Tigers game, but I doubt they lost it (either 2 points or 4 Id presume, we would have heard if they had lost it :-) And unless it rains, they have a very good chance of getting 4 against West-Suburban too IMHO.. I think they will be 32 or more by the end.
>Springfield - 26 PTS and 2 games >to go vs Universal and Warriors. >Thanks to Walk Over Gods. >Springfield may make it to the >playoffs as I don't think >Warriors will make a trip to the >Capital.
You may well be right.. but if the weather holds, Id personally pick Springfield to win *both* these games anyway, they have the easiest schedule remaining of any contender. I think, unless there are weather issues, that we will see Springfield at 34 by the end (or even with weather maybe 32... only extreme bad weather, both matches washed out, could see them at only 30, and lets not wish *that* sort of badluck on anyone :-)
>Arsenal - 24 PTS and 2 games >left vs Advancers and >Continental. Not easy games but >if they can play good game and >win both they can gurantee >themselves a spot in top 12 with >32 PTS.
A very hard ask for Swetal's talented outfit IMHO. If they win both they are probably in (the weather helped them a lot last week, since they didnt play)... but the Advancers especially will be a very difficult game. But if the weather holds, at least their fate is in their own hands - 2 wins is probably enough for them now (it wouldnt have been, but for the rainouts last weekend).
>Illinois Cricket Club. A long >shot but still not out. 22 PTS >with games vs Evanston and >Chicago Cricket Club left. If >they can end up with 30 PTS and >if some teams on top falters >then who know they can still >make it.
I think ICC has a very very very long shot - sadly the weather last week may have destroyed their chances. They always have a strong runrate, so they needed 3 straight wins to get to 32 and probably make it - but the weather gave them only 2 last week (against a very beatable opponent). Now they can only get to 30 at best.
I personally dont think 30 will be enough - note, we've listed 10 teams with 30 or more already above (presuming that CCI/Collinsville has a result), and thats with 2 games left for each of Giants and Raiders. Then, I personally think both Springfield and JR will reach 32 or more. Thats 12 right there... and we havent even considered Lucky and Arsenal, both of whom can also get to 32. I dont believe 30 will be sufficient, not unless there continue to be rainouts this weekend and next weekend.
>What do you guys think.
I think 32 will be needed... and Iam not sure that all 32 point teams will make it either! There is a chance, IMHO, that some 32-point teams will be left out on run-rate, as often happens. (Last year, the 12th team got in with 34. The year before, the 14th team had 36! This year is strange with all the rain... but even so, I believe not all 32-point-teams will make it in the end, not in Div2, I dont believe the cutoff will drop as low as 30. But thats Div2, in Div1, of course, even 30 may make it this year :-)
All the "long shots" about getting into playoffs make me fell you guys playing golf. Reality,ICC was done with playoff since I oped my big mouth a month ago. Rup still feel a chance,I do not. Weekend game will be about food,music and perhaps some ladies.
-------- Dr B said... Reality,ICC was done with playoff since I oped my big mouth a month ago. Rup still feel a chance,I do not. --------
Rup has the right attitude, tho - you have to play believing there's a chance, always. Everyone else can say what they like - as long as youre not mathematically eliminated (and youre definitely not), anything can happen, other teams can get upset, it happens all the time in cricket. Especially this year, with the weather having such a big say, nobody really knows how many points are enough - more rain this weekend could change all the calculations completely!
Anjuman beat Arsenal cricket club in Al tourney chasing 142 Anjuman won in the last over thanks totally to Adam Menk (4wkts ans 40 or so not out credit to arsenal who insisted on playing thru the rain as the game could have gone either way
I am Dinesh from Jolly Rovers. I read the blog and I saw that a few of you had questions for JR.
1) A request was made by Tigers and MCC for postponing our match with Tigers. Apparently, their captain was taking some kids to play in LA or something and so that game was not played. I think we might play them sometime.
2) Yes. We won the match against Evanston by one run, but they have mentioned in the website as a tie.
94 comments:
Thought Id kick off a new thread to use for this weekend's games, since the "old" thread already had mostly bloggers-ball planning etc...
At a soggy and soaked WP today Bears and Rogers Park rained out, IIT won on 20-overs rule against Advancers (in what was a massive game in Div2, shaking up the standings considerably), and Milwaukee United beat the Satha-less Capitol.
Awful awful day, persistent rain and interruptions all day long. The Advancers and IIT played one of the most important games of the Div2 season - IIT got 92 allout and then there was a bit of a rain-interruption during lunch IIRC. Advancers then batted, and went to 30/3 in 12 overs and there was another rain-interruption. Then they progressed to 49/6 in 20 overs and there was rain again... and it was apparently decided that the conditions were unplayable after that, and so the game has presumbaly been decided on the basis of the first 20 overs (when, supposedly, IIT had scored 60-odd). This would actually be a huge win for Peoria, who would now take over first place if this result holds.
Rogers Park got 206 on the Bears, who replied with 20 odd for 2 before an interruption, and then 40 odd for 3 before another interruption when it became unplayable there too.
I umpired Milwaukee United and Capitol, and all proceeded well until Capitol were about 80/5 in 32 overs, when we had our first rain interruption. Luckily we got covers, and we rolled up the mat and covered it, and waited it out. One more over, then another interruption! Then more game, Capitol 102 allout, and yet another interruption. Then MUCC 55/2 in 10 overs, and another rainstorm! Finally, with all other games called off, everyone long gone home, we soldiered on... and with the clock reading past 7pm, MUCC got home losing about 5 wickets in 17 or so overs IIRC. (The other games had been called off an hour and a half earlier!)
Great credit to both teams, MUCC and Capitol IMHO. Every time it rained, we took out the nails, rolled up the matting, and covered it...then when the rain stopped we swept water off the pitch, relaid the mat, and started again. The mat was laid, unlaid, rolled, unrolled, covered, uncovered, *five* times! Shirts and rags were used to dry the pitch and surroundings. MUCC was in good shape late in the game, and were hosts responsible for doing stuff - but great credit IMHO to Capitol, who never played unfair or slowed down their overrate, and slogged thru some very difficult conditions. They werent thrilled with the conditions after the last interruption, and while they let me know their views, they accepted the umpire's call with grace and sportsmanship that very few teams in our league would have shown, and Iam grateful for that. Without two fair-minded teams who love cricket there is no way on earth the game today could have been played in full, and both teams deserve enormous credit for it IMHO.
c8w
Eagles beat Continental by 28 runs in Heritage Park.
Batting first Eagles scored 189 in 40 overs and in response Continental fell short by 28 runs. The game was interrupted by heavy rains few times, but in the end we managed to squeeze in 40 overs under overcast skies and drizzles to complete our victory.
Notable scorers for Eagles were GG (84) and Sunil Sejwal (29).
How badly do you think Purdue will lose to Royals?
Om Namah Sivaya
c8w said:
Without two fair-minded teams who love cricket there is no way on earth the game today could have been played in full, and both teams deserve enormous credit for it IMHO.
----------------------------------
I happened to be the die hard spectator at this game. I agree with c8w, everybody soldiered on and got the game done, this is how it should be done. But this game is an exception to what actually happens in a rain situation. Invariably, the team that feels that they have a better chance of winning want to play and ofcourse their opponents dont. And there's no right or wrong answer to that dilemma. Conditions become a topic of endless debate and everything is subjective and relative anyway. This puts a lot of pressure on the umpire to make a decision.
I think in the next AGM, we need to strongly consider the DL method (ofcourse it has its own limitations) or a similar rule. The DL rule wont be perfect but it'll be better and less painful than what we currently have in place.
What do you guys think?
Can anybody confirm if the QC kings game was rained out ?
Yes, QC Kings v/s Raiders was rained out.
Thanks
Pankaj
Wow that gotta help Peoria Cricket Club a lot in there quest for DIV 1.
Any update on
A. Evanston vs Collinsville
B. CCI vs Jaguars
Thanks
With regards to the rain-interrupted games, I guess the league has done well to come up with a set of well-defined rules without any ambiguity. Whether the rules are fair/unfair is again open to debate and I am in no way endorsing any of the rules, but once the rules are set they are there to be followed for the season. At the end of the day all of us enter the park with an aim to win (of course by playing the game fair), and I don't think there is any harm in a team trying to use the rule to their own benefit in order to achieve that goal.
Having said that, we also have to realize that cricket is a game that depends a lot on the ground conditions. We might say that once the pitch is dry everything is fine, but in a hypothetical situation (which many of us have been in) there are times when the rain comes down in torrents after one inning is over. Many times this happens after the first innings has been played in perfect sunlight. Is it then not unfair for the teams to carry on in such ground conditions (where it is like playing in a swimming pool)? I agree with Romeen that umpires are under pressure to take decisions, but the umpires have to realize that their job really is to ensure that both teams get reasonably similar "ground" conditions to play. I have however experienced that many umpires are keener on "getting the match done and dusted", which is really not the objective of a competitive tournament such as ours. Just my 2 cents.
----------
Tonald Drump said...
Wow that gotta help Peoria Cricket Club a lot in there quest for DIV 1.
Any update on
A. Evanston vs Collinsville
B. CCI vs Jaguars
--------
Yes, a huge help for Peoria, who are now almost thru to Div1 I think. A big break for them in a way, because Warriors gave them a walkover this weekend... witht he amount of rain in the state, if the Warriors had travelled to Peoria, who knows, maybe that match might have been rained out too!
BTW, am just checking in before bed, umpired the CCI/Jaguars game today. Jaguars won by a big margin in the end - Jaguars batted first, and were 72/5 in 19 overs, before their batsmen exploded. Ashish and Satyam batted quite magnificently (starting by smacking 14 off the first over after break, the 20th over), and smashed the bowling all around in making 85 and 77* respectively, clean and chanceless and much quicker than run-a-ball. Jaguars ended up getting 260!
CCI chased strongly to begin, before losing wickets... with everyone watching for 20 overs, they had lost 4 or 5 wickets and needed 23 off 3 overs to get ahead on 20 overs. They came down to needing 8 to get ahead in the last over, and ended up falling 2 runs short (losing another wicket in the bargain)... and after break, having lost too many wickets and not having sufficient batting left, they ended up getting only about 130 to finish. So Jaguars are up to 8-5, 32 points with 1 game left(Raiders). CCI are now 7-5, 28 points but have 2 games remaining (Collinsville and Advancers). Both are still alive in the playoff race, with the Jaguars in a much better position due to their massively important win today.
c8w
---------
Vasu said...
pool)? I agree with Romeen that umpires are under pressure to take decisions, but the umpires have to realize that their job really is to ensure that both teams get reasonably similar "ground" conditions to play.
---------
This sentence Id like to disagree with completely.
India won the toss and bowled first at Trent Bridge, with England having to bat in very very difficult conditions on D1. India got to bat on D2, with everything dryer, clearer, and far far easier to bat in. The conditions were IMHO in no way similar at all (more general conditions than ground conditions its true - but ground conditions were also different).
I think the job of the umpire is to see if the conditions are *playable*. Thats all. Often batting first or batting second can be very very advantageous in cricket, due often to conditions of various things. All that is, IMHO, part of the glorious vagaries of the game. (TOday, at Urbana, with no rain, the runup was getting worse and worse as the days play progressed, as it often does at that ground. Not all that unusual IMHO). If the conditions are playable that is good enough - I dont think one needs to make sure its all identically good for all sides at all times.
c8w
***********************************
I think the job of the umpire is to see if the conditions are *playable*. Thats all. Often batting first or batting second can be very very advantageous in cricket, due often to conditions of various things. All that is, IMHO, part of the glorious vagaries of the game.
***********************************
That is the reason why cricket game is so unpredictable and so exciting! Winning the toss keeping gloomy weather condition is ideal and making that call by the captain whether to field first or bat first based on codition would ultimately decide the fate of the match! This adds drama and extra 4th dimension to the game of cricket! That is why game of cricket is 'Never done until its done'. Kudos to both IIT, Advancers, Capitol and MUCC for finishing their games. Last year in Peoria we ourselves played three 25-30 over games with QC Kings, Chicago Giants, and ICC. All these three teams were very eager to play and finish the game the end of the day. Had they wanted it, they could have split points and left. But that was not the case. Its wonderful to see the sight of professionlism that is cropping in our league! Kudos to all teams!
Coming to PCC luck this weekend having received a walk over, what more can I say! It would have definitely gotten rained out on Sunday here too. I guess Lady Luck is still with us and she never deserted us after our IIT game..:)
Madhu, congratulations for getting to Div 1.
We Advancers lost the match just due to our hard luck.We got IIT all out for 92 in somewhere 30 overs.
But nature God was not with us n we lost.
agam,
PCC is not in Div 1 yet, and stranger things have happened than a top rated team losing a game people expect them to win after doing well against the better teams.
Having said that, I do hope Madhu and gang make it to Div 1. I'm sure they won't take anything for granted. I know how hard they've worked and I'd love for them to be rewarded.
Adi, havent heard fro other guys yet.
Should we give it another day?
*from
Aditya as far I know Universal is also going to give walkover and PCC is going to win against Tiger unless some miracle happens.Whatever may be we lost our chance of getting to DIV 1 by topping the Div 2
Romeen,
Agreed. Lets wait till Tue / Wed to decide.
But, as of now, it looks like you and Shiraz will have to go back into a huddle and work on some other possible dates (and maybe venues?).
Agam,
That looks like the likely scenario, but that should be incentive for you guys to win the playoffs! Nothing like a big shiny trophy on your mantlepiece or wherever.
I personally would love to have the Advancers in Div 1 as you guys are a good team. Any of the top 4-5 teams would be good additions in my opinion.
You all get Madhu started on how he is already in Div 1. You seen his reports,it takes several days reading.
No-body asked about beloved ICC and Suburban game? Want a report?Rained out. Rup said "left arm,over the water bottles(that were in place of stumps)".Next thing you know is first ball bowled.End game.Game could have gone either way though.
Next piece of action was the grounds-people truck got stuck in the mud. They came to tell us we are standing on wet grass and how it will get sunk in. Then their truck got stuck instead. We had a choice to either listen to em and leave or help em out.
Dr b, I saw some pretty bad truck tire trails on ground 2, they are deep and will need repair. Cant believe the ground people did this!
Crap. I believe Phoenix is playing Muslim Gym this Sat at WP #2.
The irony of this situation and the sheer intelligence of certain folk continue to astound me!
Yeah,they looked intelligent,until after the truck got out the ditch it just keep going and the passenger was running behind b/c once the driver was out he kept goiug. Like the movie "Gods must be crazy"
LOL. That's hilarious Dr. B! I have that mental image in my mind now....
Romeen said....
I think in the next AGM, we need to strongly consider the DL method (ofcourse it has its own limitations) or a similar rule. The DL rule wont be perfect but it'll be better and less painful than what we currently have in place.
What do you guys think?
Romeen,
It's not that I'm not in favour of the D/L method, but I'm not sure we have the infrastructure to support the logistics. One of the key aspects of such rules is that it should be clear, consisten, and easily available to the Captains of both teams to help them strategize real time on the ground.
I'm not sure that anyone of us could calculate it real-time and let people know what the revised equation becomes as the ground conditions change.
I think the current rule needs to change to account for wickets in hand, etc, but otherwise, meets this most intrinsic requirement.
Help: Guys.. misplaced my cell phone last Thursday (8/16/07) after the night game with River city. Its an 8525 smart phone.. grey in color.. slides side ways..
Would greatly appreciate if finders could contact me at naveenganne@hotmail.com
Thanks
-Naveen
naveenganne@hotmail.com
Agam..
Cricket is funny game...and loss with Springfield..is still fresh in our minds..When ever we think of great WINS season, we always seem to remember that particular loss:) We aren't in DIV-I yet...till 2 games to go.. Tigers are pretty good team with young talents. We do know just as in Springfield, some times u loose games because of one man's sheer determination or say it Taletn..like that game in Springfiled Sanjiv patel took over bowling honors..I think he got 7 wickets and scored 51 runs for Springfield or Laxmi from IIT scoring 110 out of 170 odd against Arsenal, and taking 3 wickts after..These games are very heart-rending for teams who lost...its tough!..but sometimes these games make the teams more resilient..I am sure..it was same case for you guys against Lucky XI..You guys are very good team (In only know Syed Khadry what a great chap he is, both as a cricketer and person, I have not gotten play with you guys even last year..bummer) and this weekend game proves it..It was definitely hardluck..but having said that..Good teams will always fights till the end..and IIT were known for this trait long enough no emphasis needed there..Rain interrupted games are always very hard to digest...but its keeps it exciting...I am pretty sure..you guys lost wickets beacuse ur were going for the 20 over run mark..:)Keep the focus, We hope to meet you in Playoffs..Its always great pleasure..to play with best teams out there..! Good luck..to you and Advancers...We did work very hard this season..to be where we are..Team logistics have been big issue..:) but we waded through it successfully..we discovered new talents on our team, which we otherwise we would never had to chance to discover..We played pretty good cricket all through, we hope to keep it.. rest of the way!
Madhu Reddy
PCC
Eagles Vs Continental
Match Summary
If it was catches that buried our game last weekend, it was the same catches that brought us laurels this weekend.
It was a gloomy Saturday morning but Eagles were anything but that. We had nothing to lose.
We won the toss on the basis of Continental’s no-show at toss time ( for a long time that morning we thought we were getting a walkover again ).
Eagles Batted first and the complete honors go to GG. He played unlike his natural aggressive self but with the same flair. Cutting, pulling and lofting with the same authority. His patient 84 would have been much much more on any other ground and on any other day. Subbu and I both got out to stupendous catches. In the end we scored 189 which I would say equaled to about 250 on a drier ground and a drier ball.
These CA balls are something else. They literally wrinkle. Damn!
Eagles bowling
We have never been known to take bad catches but will always be remembered to take good catches. Far and few, but still.
Continental did not start off on a good note. They lost there opener trying to clear. Nasser yamani being bowled to a peach of a delivery from Sunil. Nasser was so flabbergasted that he did not move from his crease for a long time trying to figure out what happened.
And then came two outstanding catches from Srikanth at square leg. Plucking both out of thin air off terrific pulls. Not only the players but even the rain stood still.
And then Mankesh took a blinder at short midoff. At one stage they lost 3 wickets in one over. All trying to hit out to mark the 20 over standoff.
They sure did beat us by a few runs at 20 overs but then they had lost a few wickets trying to do so.
Asif and Zeeshan rebuilt the innings and we were getting Arsenal flashes. It rained a few times and continental tried all the rules in the book. But we fought back. When they complained they couldn’t see the ball from around the wickets. We bowled from Over. When the complained that it was too fast to see the ball we bowled with a shorter runup. And when they complained even that was bad. Our spinners bowled dollies.
When zeeshan got out trying to clear it was almost over for continental. Asif was next to go. Both playing wonderfully for 41 each. Such was Asifs patience that 37 of his 41 came in 1’s. And it was all over when their last batsman hit one straight at my throat.
Continental folded for 161.
I think this game was won because of sheer persverence and willingness to continue. And not to forget the outstanding catching from everybody and splendid batting by GG.
Madew,
Rumor is that Satha and couple other players are transferring to Tigers...
I dunno...man..hope Lady luck stays with ya..
Just kiddin Madew...looks like you guys are thru...unless.. ?????
Good luck man!
Sheks,
Thanks man..Don't give me heart attacks man this early in the morning...:) Satha is 'Capitol' by heart..I tried to sign him on PCC contract..:) Didn't work.. I am sure u guys tried too..:) Who does not want Satha on their team..buddy tell..me..:) I am very happy that I gotta know him at LA open man..and see him 'The Man of steel' in person..Until then he was the Phantom the ghost who walks on streets of Springfield to me..:) Only heard about the savage drubbing he gives to the opponents on the cricket field..He phoenom man..:P
Cheers
Madhu R
Is Chicago Giants still angry for their loss to CCI? It is more than 2 weeks and scorecard is not updated.
Also, what happened to the mysterious game between JollyRovers and Tigers? Based on schedule it is more than 2 weeks back and there is no scorecard.
I hope all teams complete their scorecards before the beginning of next season.
So quiet on Monday ?? Youhana n Razaq joined ICL .. Will PCB keep these 2 out of Pakistani team now ?? I doubt !!
Hi Bloggers,
Just an FYI on the availability of Hanover Park. I know Romeen called and told me that Sunday night was a little difficult due to the un-availability of several bloggers. Also due to extreme down-pours this week and the last, we have several games of the AL Tournamnet still pending completion. According to the league, completing some of those games will be the priority for us. Therefore, we might have to wait until at least after the Long Weekend to see what days can we schedule a game for the bloggers. For now, we would have to wait until after the long weekend to see if we can schedule something in September.
Regards,
Shiraz
YoursTruly,
Angry at CCI - No we weren't. We just did not appreciate On Field Trash Talking brought by Martin aka Chanaka and Manu.
As far as updating scoreboard is concerned we are unable to update the scores and league will have to reopen that game for us to enter the scores.
I also catched a discrepency in Evanston's game. They show a Tie vs Jolly Rover's and when infact Jolly Rovers won the game. So it appears that Evanston will have to back that 2 points soon. Any update from Jolly Rovers team for the game vs Tigers will be greatly appreciated.
Hmmm.... this seems to have become a Div 2 dominated thread! Perhaps blogger ball has inspired some particiapation for a chance to play??? ;-)
Just kidding, but it's good to see more people with input.
Weather is the main issue last weekend and i hope it will stay away from now on till end.
How does the forecast look and any predictions for this weekend games?
We are only three weeks away from playoffs.
CAN 30 Points get you in DIV 2 Playoffs?
I was looking at playoff scnerio. As far as I see these teams are on the bubble and several of them have a good shot at making the playoff still provided they get 30 points and have a good run rate.
Collinsville - 28 PTS with 2 games to go vs CCI and QC Kings. Need to win atleast 1 to assure playoff birth. Both of these games will not be easy.
Lucky XI - 28 PTS with 1 game to go vs Continental. Normally I would say it will be easy but Continental is playing good lately.
CCI - 28 PTS with 2 games to go vs Collinsville and Advancers. Collinsville is fighting for there playoff spot and Advancers trying to move up in the top 4 seeds.
Jolly Rovers - 28 PTS with one mystery game vs Tigers undocumented and 2 games left vs West Suburban 11 and Madison. If they have won the tigers game then I think they are thru to the playoffs.
Springfield - 26 PTS and 2 games to go vs Universal and Warriors. Thanks to Walk Over Gods. Springfield may make it to the playoffs as I don't think Warriors will make a trip to the Capital.
Arsenal - 24 PTS and 2 games left vs Advancers and Continental. Not easy games but if they can play good game and win both they can gurantee themselves a spot in top 12 with 32 PTS.
Illinois Cricket Club. A long shot but still not out. 22 PTS with games vs Evanston and Chicago Cricket Club left. If they can end up with 30 PTS and if some teams on top falters then who know they can still make it.
What do you guys think.
My feeling is that Evanston is a better team this year and will beat ICC badly. Based on what I read here ICC has given up on this season and will not be surprised if they don't show up to the ground just to save themselves from embarrasment of another loss.
Springfield making it to the playoffs what a joke.
Your Giants and Raiders are not out of the woods yet. They have tough games ahead. I think that only 1 of them will make it and the other will have to fight based on run rate with 30 points.
Between CCI and Collinsville I think only 1 will make it to the top 12 and the other will be stuck with 28 points only.
Wow. Looks close.
I don't know much about Div 2, or the nuanaces with who has claimed what points, who should get what points, or researched who is playing who, etc.
But from where I see it, it is likely that the top 12 will make it to the playoffs and there will be little change. JR and Springfield are the only 2 with a decent shot at making the top 12, but they will need to win out because their NRR doesn't compare favourably at all.
Arsenal, ICC, have a slim chance, but they need help from some other teams. I'd love to see ICC in the playoffs, because no team would really like to face them there.
Arsenal wins both they are in. 32 points pretty much gurantees playoff birth.
ICC has to win both and need help. Other teams are playing some stiff competition and even better they play eachother so only 1 can survive. Should give ICC some hope.
Crucial week coming ahead. Cmon Rup and company time to prove that old farts still have it.
Now I turned off the tv as India is diving beyond recovery. Too bad so much influence by the weather last weekend. I hope some sunshine and better cricket set for then end. Yes we will love to see ICC in the playoff as they have a good team. Just a bad year so far. I would not call them old farts if I were you. Say experienced and skilled as those guys can rise to the ocassion. I will try to watch their game this weekend as it seems like a fun agenda at Evanston.
Good luck.
ICC fan.
Old Farts was not written in dergatory sense. Anyone that is not Spring Chicken is Old Fart. ;-)
OK.
I wish to see some sunshine in the forecast. Some good games left.
My friend I haven't posted all year but with this comment about ICC I had to post!!!! By your Comment I see you do not know anything about ICC and Evanston Cricket Club. The best game of the year you will see is in Evanston This Sunday . Guranteed . You will see so much people at the park you will ask yourself , Is this an International game being played?. Evanston is Reconised as A west Indian Team ( many members are from Jamaica) ICC Is also Reconised as a West Indian Team (Members hailing from Trinidad & Tobago , Guyana, Dominica,) we also have members from India in our squad . We also once had members from , England, Australlia, South Africa, New Zeland , Playing for us. We are an international team but when it comes to Evanston is west Indian pride brother We long to play each other . I guratee we will have our best squad against Evanston and I gurantee they will have there best squad against us.. Nuff food , drinks, ladies and whatever else you want will be at the park.. If we (ICC) had to play or come to the park for one game for the year it will have to be against Evanston Guranteed!!! Also The game wil be officiated by one of the leagues if not best Umpire .. we will have a fun time maybe you need to come to the Park and see what West Indian Pride is all About before making some foolish comment like you did ! (no disrespect intended but I had to add that in there)
Rajesh
ICC
Rajesh,
I really like to be there at Evanston. I follow you guys all the way and love your style. Now you got me fully decided that the game at Evanston will be the best of the season,win or loose. Both teams will be winners I guess.
Fair enough explanation Rajesh. Good to hear that ICC is not one of those that rolls over and play dead. I guess I misunderstood Rup's comment at some point.
I will definitely be there for the game this weekend. I have good reasons to be at James Park that day so see you then and that is all I can say.
Are Shekhs and Romeen on vacation? How come the blog is so dead? The playoff races are heating up with only 1-2 weeks left in the regular season ....and there's nothing to talk/blog about? I guess the only interesting topic everyone talks about is getting together for drinks before, during and after games.....nothing else seems to spark any conversations?
Even Rup and Chally are quiet when it comes defending ICC with its upcoming clash with Evanston this weekend....I guess this time they would prefer to have their bats and balls do the talking instead ....Well thats good, cos I am also an ICC fan and would like to see ICC win the the Evanston Match and end their season on a high note...Good Luck guys!:)
With Romeen, shekhs and aditya around...the blog scores a century within minutes after a new thread is opened....and now we are barely crossing 50 ?
Well...I thought I might as well hit the 50th run...as I would never get to do so in an actual game :)
dang it Cleo you scored the 50.
Hey Cleo - are you a Keeper?
pytnk,
Nope...not a keeper.
Whatup bloggers...
been a lil busy with work lately...
Umpired a good game last nite..
Flames beat Rogers Park by 26 runs.
Venkat from Flames and Kamran from RP played good knocks.
Nasir from RP, Asif, Nasir and Kabir from Flames bowled well.
Thanks to Sanjay for helping me out with the umpiring chore
Here's something I was pondering after last nite's game...
I thought it was an interesting and strange scenario..
Hypothetically, if last nite's game was not completed within 11:00pm and the lights were turned off @ Hanover Park with 1 over left to decide the fate of a game....
Would you let Flames play with substitues for 3 people from Milwaukee?
Or is it ok to play the last over with 3 subs...
This could be with Horizon (hypothetical again)..with players from Peoria..
I think its a pain in the butt to come all the way to field one over.. :-)
test
Fast_N_Furious said...
guys from what I know Evanston Icc Game this week will be a cracker.. Both teams wants to win West Indian Pride and even if the score is 50 or 250 it will be game on...
I think this is the best rivalry in the league bar none.
I will be looking forard to seeing a good game this week... of course some ladies and good food too.
ICC FAN
Cut all this crap about west indian pride and think about winning the game first.
Don't come afterwards with other crap if you lose the match.
Evanston fan.
yourstruly you are serious win or lose it will be cracker from what my sources are telling me.. Have a buddy on the team and he said he will be bringing this weekend
I agree with YoursTruly about cutting the crap about West Indian Pride. ICC always sells HYPE and then fails to deliver.
Not only they fail to deliver they also make up lame excuses like Umpires where bad, Players were on vacation, bla bla bla ...
GO EVANSTON
Nice. Good to see some fire in the posts. I had posted an article earlier about rivalries, and wasn't aware how big this one was. I think, from what I see, this is probably the biggest rivalry. I haven't heard of a bigger rivalry in the MWCC. Any comments?
Good luck to both teams, but I am going to go with ICC on this one for 3 reasons:
1. This will be a silver lining to an otherwise disappointing season
2. I've played with some of them on the same team, and so my loyalty lies there
3. It's Evanston!
Good luck to all - including the umpire!
Yeah, didnt know about this rivalry either...seems like a huge one..
I'm gonna support my buddy Rup and his team....
Good luck ICC....bring this one home..
Fast_N_Furious said...
Puppu Yar Tung Na Kar... Well from what I know of them they are cool dudes I think you need a chill pill and stop the hating on ICC...
I hope they win this week it will be great for the playoff race and the league...
ICC FAN NOT AN EVANSTON HATER
Thank you all...ICC supporters.
Been on Vacation over the last week so no blogging.
It's a must win for ICC so we are gona be there and ready to play no excuses.
Yep that truck thing was funny.. First he wanted to kick us out then he needed our help to push him out. We did and the sight of the helper in a blck rain coat chasing a black truck.. Had us all laughing.
------------------
Not only they fail to deliver they also make up lame excuses like Umpires where bad, Players were on vacation, bla bla bla ...
---------------------------
PUPU, We are never afraid to post the truth as much as it hurts to get it across to people like you.
Sheks,
This will be cracker of a game!!
C8W tell us truth..is it the Rivalry or food or babes that you are umpiring this game for..:) hehe....
I remember ICC guys talking about it already..both at night game and at our game in Peoria...PCC didn't play a game this season with Evanston, so we didn't get know them but...I am sure they are very good team this year..This will be very nice game and both teams are pretty evenly poised, though ICC going through rough patch..I am sure ICC guys will 'Bring it on'!!..but at the same time Evaston looking very good on both bowling and batting front this year...with addition new players..this will definitely qualify for the 'Game of the week'..GOod luck to both teams...Nice to see the clash of WINDIES! Rivalry heating..up..already three days in advance:)
I hope that Rain GOD stays off for this weekend...
Cheers
Madhu R
Is this game on saturday or sunday?
I'm very tempted to attend.
Madew,
Thats definitely a cracker..
I know Steve and Perry from Evanston, from playing a game a couple of years ago....really cool guys...
I think the best part about Evanston (and ICC for that matter) is there celebration during and after the game.....regardless of the outcome..
I have never seen such ardent fans including women and children....they root for these folks till the last ball is bowled...
And of course, my fav. is to hang out with the rasta men...some jo&*t and some good times...
But I have to stick with rup and his merry men.....
Aiite bloggers...lets make a trip to Evanston this sunday....make it an event...
I think I'll stop by for a little bit..
Romeen...you always wanted to go for a Div 2 game...there's none better than this..
Adi..are you in?
Yep.. DA game is on Sunday.
Be there and get merry. Don't miss out.
OK, shekhs, lets do it.
Evanston, Sunday it is.
Shekhs,
Not sure man. I live downtown... not the burbs! So it's tougher... but want to come. I'll let you know.
c-mon Adi.. Downtown to Evanston ground. 15 mins Max??
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C8W tell us truth..is it the Rivalry or food or babes that you are umpiring this game for..:) hehe....
----
All of the above :-)
It is, IMHO, by *far* the best rivalry in the league, and the fun-nest game of the season (its the one game I requested from Marghoob-bhai before the entire schedule was even released this year :-)
I umpired this game back in 2004. That year ICC was struggling, and not going to the playoffs (they were missing several regulars all year, people off working in Indy etc IIRC), while Evanston was doing well and going to the playoffs. Still, both teams gearedup for this match - Owen Foster from Evanston (excellent veteran player, who had moved to Texas that year) flew in for the game, and *all* the ICC players returned for it, from different parts of the country :-) And it was a complete cracker too, underdog ICC got 194, Evanston (whose batting was always a little suspect) was, IIRC, about 130/8 in reply... and then Perry and the #10 got together, and Perry hit a magnificent 56* and carried them home with 2 wickets in hand (with the guy at the other end defending everything resolutely and with great determination).
http://midwestcricket.org/asp/Score88.asp?id=1091
Last year, to my lasting regret, I wasnt able to umpire this game. ICC last year was beating up on everyone, winning most matches by a mile and a half (a week later, for example, ICC went to Madison and played the eventual quarterfinalists away... and made 246 and bowled them out for 55!). Meanwhile Evanston had a tough year, not getting to the playoffs. But when they played each other, ICC got 220, and the underdog Evanston eventually lost by only 25 runs (with the last 2 batsmen runout).
http://midwestcricket.org/asp/Score88.asp?id=2254
One never knows if the game can live up to it by being close every year - maybe not. We can only hope it does, cos it'll be even more fantastic fun if it happens :-)
However... was it Sheks who suggested people oughta come watch, and make it an occasion? I think its a little different... you should come, and watch what will already be an occasion :-) Seriously. Morning may be quiet - not a great crowd or anything, probably (a lot of the ECC ladies will still be at church :-) But by late-afternoon, the crowd will probably have swelled to 150-plus. Families of all sorts will be there, including the players families (also non-players families - kids, grandmas, grandads etc, Jamaicans from the general area). There will be old men playing board games, little children running around. There will be reggae playing non-stop. There will be the ECC ladies barbequing, and serving other prepared food too (curry and jerk chicken, corn, plaintains probably, plus other stuff - I think they'll even sell it for like 5 bucks if people want to eat, money being raised for ECC). Then the game will end... maybe 3pm, maybe 4pm, maybe 5pm, who knows. But, different from Washington Park or Hanover, people wont go home - the game is only one part of their day. The players will come off, and theyll get food and drinks, and hang around and enjoy each others company. The crowd will hang around too - eventually people will disperse when they feel like it, some will even stay till 8 or 9pm! A year ago, there used to be so much of a crowd for ECC games, they started having a DJ in at 6pm odd to crank out Jamaican tunes, which started drawing even more Jamaican teens to the park... I dont know if thats still going on this year, it might be :-)
All Iam hoping for this weekend is that the weather is good for Sunday - outside of that, everything is already assured to be fine IMHO. There is a reason they hold this game at the very end of the season... once the league went to an unbalanced schedule, *both* teams have requested that this game actually *be* on the schedule, and it be later in the season (so it can be played at Evanston's home ground, rather than at WP etc which cant hold the same number of people... note, even ICC wanted it at Evanston's home ground, rather than at a "neutral" site :-) The Caribbeans, frankly, know how to enjoy their cricket better than us Indians or Pakistanis do IMHO - the tradition is to have people (and families) come by and watch, for it to be an event, with fun being more important than anything else. (Maybe Iam wrong, and its not just Caribbeans but just the island culture... Ive heard the Sri Lankans have a similar style of cricket back home, we just dont have enough SL cricketers here to really know about it?) IMHO Evanston produces an atmosphere in most of their home games (and especially for their anticipated ICC matchup) that the league *wishes* it could have for our finals every year, but has not yet been able to achieve.
c8w
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Aditya said...
Shekhs,
Not sure man. I live downtown... not the burbs! So it's tougher... but want to come. I'll let you know.
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Evanston barely even qualifies as the burbs, Adi :-) Its the nearest burb to the city, not like Hanover or anything which is miles and miles away :-)
Dont you sometimes come to Pita Inn in Skokie for Middle-Eastern? Thats actually further from you than the Evanston ground is :-) (The Evanston ground is actually fairly close to the border of Skokie... if youre at Devon, the ground is like 5-7 minutes away, maybe).
c8w
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>Tonald Drump said...
>CAN 30 Points get you in DIV 2 >Playoffs?
Historically even 32 hasnt usually gotten you to the Div2 playoffs... often 36 are needed. I think 3 years ago one team made it with 32 (and 2 or 3 others also on 32 fell short by runrate), that was the last time 32 even had a chance!
I understand this year is different, with lots of rain etc. But 30 still sounds a bit low to me, to get to the playoffs. Note, 7 teams already have 32 or more... and 2 more you havent listed (currently #8 and #9, Giants and Raiders) have 30 already, both with 2 games left.
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>Collinsville - 28 PTS with 2 >games to go vs CCI and QC Kings. >Need to win atleast 1 to assure >playoff birth. Both of these >games will not be easy.
>CCI - 28 PTS with 2 games to go >vs Collinsville and Advancers. >Collinsville is fighting for >there playoff spot and Advancers >trying to move up in the top 4 >seeds.
Note, these 2 teams are at 28 already... but they play each other. Unless we presume bad weather in their game, one of them will be at 32 for sure! And both have a shot at getting 32, of course, even if a difficult one. But at least we should presume one 32-pointer out of these two teams, at minimum.
Either way, definitely 10 teams with 30 or above after these 2 teams play each other.
>Lucky XI - 28 PTS with 1 game to >go vs Continental. Normally I >would say it will be easy but >Continental is playing good >lately.
I think Lucky has a good shot at 32 as well, Continental is now out of hte playoff picture. Nasir Yemani is still dangerous, however, but all Lucky needs is a win against a team ranked lower than them at the moment.
>Jolly Rovers - 28 PTS with one >mystery game vs Tigers >undocumented and 2 games left vs >West Suburban 11 and Madison. If >they have won the tigers game >then I think they are thru to >the playoffs.
I think JR will make the playoffs. We dont know about their Tigers game, but I doubt they lost it (either 2 points or 4 Id presume, we would have heard if they had lost it :-) And unless it rains, they have a very good chance of getting 4 against West-Suburban too IMHO.. I think they will be 32 or more by the end.
>Springfield - 26 PTS and 2 games >to go vs Universal and Warriors. >Thanks to Walk Over Gods. >Springfield may make it to the >playoffs as I don't think >Warriors will make a trip to the >Capital.
You may well be right.. but if the weather holds, Id personally pick Springfield to win *both* these games anyway, they have the easiest schedule remaining of any contender. I think, unless there are weather issues, that we will see Springfield at 34 by the end (or even with weather maybe 32... only extreme bad weather, both matches washed out, could see them at only 30, and lets not wish *that* sort of badluck on anyone :-)
>Arsenal - 24 PTS and 2 games >left vs Advancers and >Continental. Not easy games but >if they can play good game and >win both they can gurantee >themselves a spot in top 12 with >32 PTS.
A very hard ask for Swetal's talented outfit IMHO. If they win both they are probably in (the weather helped them a lot last week, since they didnt play)... but the Advancers especially will be a very difficult game. But if the weather holds, at least their fate is in their own hands - 2 wins is probably enough for them now (it wouldnt have been, but for the rainouts last weekend).
>Illinois Cricket Club. A long >shot but still not out. 22 PTS >with games vs Evanston and >Chicago Cricket Club left. If >they can end up with 30 PTS and >if some teams on top falters >then who know they can still >make it.
I think ICC has a very very very long shot - sadly the weather last week may have destroyed their chances. They always have a strong runrate, so they needed 3 straight wins to get to 32 and probably make it - but the weather gave them only 2 last week (against a very beatable opponent). Now they can only get to 30 at best.
I personally dont think 30 will be enough - note, we've listed 10 teams with 30 or more already above (presuming that CCI/Collinsville has a result), and thats with 2 games left for each of Giants and Raiders. Then, I personally think both Springfield and JR will reach 32 or more. Thats 12 right there... and we havent even considered Lucky and Arsenal, both of whom can also get to 32. I dont believe 30 will be sufficient, not unless there continue to be rainouts this weekend and next weekend.
>What do you guys think.
I think 32 will be needed... and Iam not sure that all 32 point teams will make it either! There is a chance, IMHO, that some 32-point teams will be left out on run-rate, as often happens. (Last year, the 12th team got in with 34. The year before, the 14th team had 36! This year is strange with all the rain... but even so, I believe not all 32-point-teams will make it in the end, not in Div2, I dont believe the cutoff will drop as low as 30. But thats Div2, in Div1, of course, even 30 may make it this year :-)
c8w
The Masta of all umpires has spoken!!
All the "long shots" about getting into playoffs make me fell you guys playing golf. Reality,ICC was done with playoff since I oped my big mouth a month ago. Rup still feel a chance,I do not. Weekend game will be about food,music and perhaps some ladies.
Div 2 predictions this weekend:
Acers vs Madison CC - Madison
Jolly Rovers vs West Suburban - Jolly Rovers
Arsenal vs Advancers - Arsenal
Peoria vs Tigers - Peoria
IIT vs Warriors - IIT
Springfield vs Universal - Springfield (w/o)
Raiders vs Jaguars - Jaguars
Eagles vs Chicago CC - Eagles
Continental vs Lucky XI - Continental
CCI vs Collinsville - Collinsville
Evanston vs ICC - Evanston
QC Kings vs Chicago Giants - QC Kings
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Dr B said...
Reality,ICC was done with playoff since I oped my big mouth a month ago. Rup still feel a chance,I do not.
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Rup has the right attitude, tho - you have to play believing there's a chance, always. Everyone else can say what they like - as long as youre not mathematically eliminated (and youre definitely not), anything can happen, other teams can get upset, it happens all the time in cricket. Especially this year, with the weather having such a big say, nobody really knows how many points are enough - more rain this weekend could change all the calculations completely!
c8w
Suna hain thakur ne do shehri ki fauz banayi hain .. kaha hain woh ... Tango and NW .. :)
Bhai ... why is everybody so silent ?? Losing interest as the season is getting over ...
Jaago Mohan Pyare .. Jaago .. :)
Anjuman beat Arsenal cricket club in Al tourney
chasing 142 Anjuman won in the last over thanks totally to Adam Menk (4wkts ans 40 or so not out
credit to arsenal who insisted on playing thru the rain as the game could have gone either way
Any predictions for this week? Thank god no RAIN!!!!!!!
Rain or Game Prediction?
papa smurf u are smarter then that!!!! please figure this out on ur OWN!!!!
Lot of predictions / talk about Div 2 which I've been enjoying a lot.
But what about Div 1? We're also part of MWCC! How come no one talks about us anymore? :):):):)
Even the Div 1 playoff race has heated up, and there are a lot of key games this weekend. C8w, your thoughts?
You are right Cricketer411. Let me ask my lil smurfs.
They all are yelling UPSET WEEK.
Upset #1 Continental beats Lucky XI.
Upset #2 Illinois Cricket Club beats Evanston.
Alpesh,
I think everybody decided to actually work this week :)
BTW, send me an email when u get a chance.
Please read and share....
http://www.indiatribune.com/popuparticle.aspx?Article_ID=7342
Adnan Baig
United Cricket Club
Hi Guys,
I am Dinesh from Jolly Rovers. I read the blog and I saw that a few of you had questions for JR.
1) A request was made by Tigers and MCC for postponing our match with Tigers. Apparently, their captain was taking some kids to play in LA or something and so that game was not played. I think we might play them sometime.
2) Yes. We won the match against Evanston by one run, but they have mentioned in the website as a tie.
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