Sumit show produces sparks on damp pitch

The match between Sporting Cricket Club and Collage Sports Club in the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament on Friday got stuck in a limbo in the morning after the latter protested against playing on a pitch that had become wet due to overnight rains

The covers had come off due to strong gusts in the night, exposing the pitch to rain. As a result, the match at the St Stephen’s ground got delayed.

When it eventually began at 11.30 am, the game was reduced to 30 overs a side and completely dependent on the toss as the surface was damp with a wet patch on it.

Sporting Cricket Club was put into bat and dismissed for 184 on the last ball of the 30th over.

“The toss mattered a lot in this match. Whoever batted first had to face difficulty,” said Sporting Club opener Vikas Solanki, who top-scored for his side with 63 off 67 balls.

The batsman from Najafgarh played carefully and even though wickets kept falling around him, he made sure to stay till the 29th over.

On a surface where run-a-ball is par for the course and boundaries and sixes abound generally, Solanki was content with just three boundaries.

“It was very wet in the morning and even when we began close to mid-day, there was still some moisture. It was difficult to cash in and hit the balls. Shots were being hit but unfortunately, results weren’t coming. Spinners were very effective. The ball was spinning and stopping before reaching the batsman.”

Aakash Antil, who showed aggression for his 17 but couldn’t continue on the tricky pitch, said, “The pitch had become easier later but we didn’t bowl that well.”

Sumit Kumar, a Haryana Ranji Trophy all-rounder, was the most successful bowler picking 4/35, including batsmen Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

And he wasn’t done with just bowling.

The right-handed batsman, who had two important half-centuries for Haryana on a seaming Lahli surface this season, was unfazed on the surface and went after the Sporting Club’s bowling after they had picked three early wickets of a rampaging Collage.

The 27-year-old Sumit hammered four sixes and six fours on way to a 39-ball 63. He was supported by wicketkeeper-batsman Arvind Kumar, who hit 68 off 47 balls. The two added 116 for the fourth wicket to seal the game in Collage’s favour by six wickets with 19.2 overs remaining.