Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Akshar A Pay The Price For Incomplete Team

Akshar A, playing with only 7 players and two substitutes as fielders, won the toss and decided to field. Dilip struck in the first over with two inswinging yorkers to bowl Jigar and Yatish for ducks. Jignesh counter attacked by hitting two fours and a six in a quick fire 18 of just 20 balls, but no one in Kericho really got on top of the bowling. 7 starts did however mean that they were able to coax the score along to 122 before they were all out.
In reply, Akshar A really missed not having a complete team, and despite a battling 42 from Jogesh were always going to struggle. When he retired hurt, there was too much left for the few remaining batsmen and Akshar A folded on 100 'all-out' - 22 runs short.
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Scorecard:
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Kericho innings:
Jigar…….….Bowled………......Dilip….....00
Nilesh……...Ct..Pardeep……..Deval….....11
Yatish……...Bowled………......Dilip...…..00
Jignesh….…Ct..Harshil……..Deval…......18
Akshay……..Bowled……….....Jogesh...…06
Dipu………..Ct..Deval…….....Jogesh....…01
Dipesh……..Ct..Pinku………..Ketan….....17
Lalji………..Ct..Harshil...Ghanshyam....10
Tulsi……..…Ct..pardeep…….Harshil.....10
Vipul……..…NOT OUT…….......……….....17
Khimji……..Bowled……….…Jogesh........11
Extras…………………………………..............21
Total….All..Out…………………….............122
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Akshar A innings:
Pragnesh………..Bowled……..Lalji….......12
Divyang………....Bowled…..…Lalji….......15
Jogesh…………..Retired Hurt….....……..42
Deval…………....Run..Out……..........……..13
Pardeep……….…St..Jigar….Akshay…...00
Dilip…………….Run..Out…...........………..01
Ghanshyam…….NOT OUT…......……….02
Extras………………………..............…………15
Total…..All..Out…………...........………….100
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Kericho win by 22 runs.
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Points:
Kericho: Batting - 1, Bowling - 4, Win - 12, Total - 17
Akshar A: Batting - 1, Bowling - 4, Total 5

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nick,

Glancing through the scorecard above, what I find striking is the complete absence of local (indigenous) players in either team. Am I missing something here because otherwise it's a real cause of concern that the indigenous playing numbers are decreasing?

Btw, Nick is there any further development on the proposed SL tour in Nov?..Is it a tour for the A team or for the senior team?...If it's for the senior team, I hope they get to play a 3-ODI series against SL because they need experience on slow turning tracks that they'll come across in WI next year..

Chemosit said...

Hi Ram,

At first glance, your observation is correct. However, since this is really the first season where the area has had a league run properly, it is perhaps not surprising that there are so few African names. I am told however by the RVCA that there are a couple of youngsters who play for a couple of the teams, and that onve they get into the schools program, this number will increase dramatically. Also the Akshar League is only 7 of about 12 teams that will probably make up the Rift Valley League when it starts. Basically the situation cannot be seen as a decline in indigenous players, but breaking new (and very fertile)ground.

When the NPCA league starts next weekend, you will see many more african names in the scorecards and even a few european ones too.

Regards SL in Sept - nothing concrete as yet. Rest assured, as soon as I find out anything, I will be posting on it!

Anonymous said...

Nick,

Outside of Afghanistan and Nepal, I think Kenya has the highest playing numbers among the top Associates. Yet, why does their domestic competition involve clubs instead of regional teams, as is the case with Test nations?..I do think that in the long term, it's only a domestic competition involving strong regional teams that will take Kenya to Test status by ensuring a high level of cricket at the first-class level.

I believe Kenya still doesn't have a domestic competition for the 4-day game and I hope CK incorporates this new structure into that competition, whenever that is introduced..

Chemosit said...

Hi Ram,

I think this issue warrants longterm discussion, so have answered the question in the forum.
Comments tend to get lost after a few days, and it would be better if this were aired there.

Anonymous said...

Nick,

Going through your reply on the forum to my query, I must confess my ignorance of the domestic situation in Kenya..

In this regard, can you tell me how many regions/provinces (or whatever they are called in Kenya) geographically exist and how many of them have club teams playing in the domestic league? Not only should all regions start playing cricket but also should produce enough players so that each region is strong enough to standup to the strongest of regional teams with the aim of having a strong domestic structure that can help produce a quality Kenyan team..

Regarding money, Nick do you have any idea about the financial position of CK?..How do they intend to make money given that they've not been allotted ODIs against Full-member nations unlike their European counterparts?..Will the series against Bangladesh generate sufficient interest for CK to make money?..Thanks for the reply!

Chemosit said...

Ram, there are 7 provinces in Kenya from memory, but it would not yet be feasible to try and spread cricket to all of them, certainly at once. The three existing could possibly be expanded to one more, but it would really stretch resources.
Really, CK need to consolidate what they have in the existing regions, and grow from that. I think the most sensible way will be to use major towns as hubs for each region. Once the Canada trip is over, I will look at doing a post or two on this.
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Regards CK funds, it will always be harder for a third world country to raise funds than European ones. Much will depend on if they go with tv, and if so what sponsors come on board.