Vijay CC emerge champions

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Vijay CC (India Cements) had to wait a little longer than expected but the win (virtue of a 180-run first innings lead) arrived 45 minutes before lunch on the final day as they regained the Raja of Palyampatti Shield after a gap of four seasons.

Sunil Sam and W. Antony Dhas provided the sparse crowd rich entertainment with some good hitting. The last wicket stand of 95 between the two was well worth watching.

Globe Trotters (MRF) were finally dismissed for 250. Left-arm spinner Rahil Shah picked all three wickets to fall.

Resuming at 112 for seven, Trotters lost their mainstay Y. Venugopal Rao for 74 (159m, 120b, 13x4) early in the day. Prasanth Chandran was the next batsman to fall as Vijay tightened the noose.

What followed was totally against the run of play as Sunil Sam (65, 57m, 53b, 7x4, 5x6) and Dhas (43*, 120m, 90b, 7x4) prolonged the innings.

Sam was severe on both R. Ashwin and Shah, clouting five massive sixes. Dhas was more subdued in his effort and was content playing second fiddle.

Sam continued to bat even after getting hit on the ankle and literally was on one leg through the innings. Kiran Kashyap was guilty of putting down a regulation chance at covers when Sam mis-hit Ashwin.
It took an armer from Shah to defeat Sam on the defence to signal the end of Trotters. It was Shah’s 41st wicket for the season.

Vijay CC had to bat 10 overs, in which they lost the wicket of B. Aparajith, W. Antony Dhas took an excellent return catch offered by the first innings centurion.

The defending champions did not have the toss going their way but full credit for a committed effort under harsh weather conditions.

There were good periods of cricket over the last three days and also a lesson. Unless the knockouts are held before peak summer, the team winning the toss will carry undue advantage.

Dravid backs Mahi’s Test captaincy

Retirement has not taken the competitive sheen out of Rahul Dravid. The veteran remains a touch of class with the bat in hand and razor sharp while pouching catches at slip.

The first division final here against Globe Trotters (MRF) gave a glimpse on what made Dravid the quintessential professional.

Not once did he leave the field and more importantly backed the call for every sharp single while batting. The former Indian captain spoke to a select group after three tiring days under the hot Chennai sun.

You were in good touch in the IPL and here as well, have you taken a call on your participation in the IPL next year?

A: It will be a good question six months down the line.

Gautam Gambhir has said he is ready for Test captaincy. Dhoni has not had the best of runs in the last year, do you think there needs to be a change in leadership?

A: I think Dhoni has done a really fine job. It was under his leadership that India got the No. 1 ranking and also won the World Cup.

As much as success is a team game, failure is also a team game. It has been a tough period for him but he had a great success.

Knowing him, I think he will learn a lot from it, you learn a lot from failures and tough times. What’s the use of riding on someone’s success and at the first sign of failure you sack him. You have to back t-hem through tough times as well.

Who according to you is best suited to fill in your shoes in the Test team?

A: I don’t want to mention one name; that will be really unfair. I think there’s a lot of good young talent and it will be really interesting to see which of them steps up and establishes.

For Indian cricket’s sake, I hope three or four of them can really put up good performances. One of the keys to our success in the last ten years was a settled middle-order. And you can only have a settled middle-order if they are performing.

Do you think the present generation values duration cricket as much as players from you era did?

A: The sad thing is because they have so much cricket to play, every game doesn’t mean as much. But that’s the way it is. But I would like to believe duration cricket means a lot to them.

If you take pride in your performance as an all-round cricketer you will know that the duration game is where you’ll be challenged the most but why won’t a young kid not want to be part of the IPL?

It’s an exciting tournament to be part of and to play against some of the best players in the world and in front of packed stadiums will teach them a lot.

Given the amount of cricket played, is it possible for players to succeed in all formats?

A: I think it’s something that can be managed. People are able to play all three forms of the game.

Take for instance the likes of Gambhir, Tendulkar and Sehwag — they are all established Test cricketers who are able to hold their own in all three forms of the game. So there are role-models for the youngsters to follow.

What forced you to brave this harsh sun and play the final?

A: Got to do a lot with the memories from the time I was here as a young kid. I benefited a lot from the cricket I played here two or three years before I played international cricket.

I have a lot of friends here who are selectors and all and that makes me feel really old (laughs). Yes as a one-off, this being a final, I wanted to play.

Vijay CC hadn’t won in a few years but looking at the game, it didn’t look like they needed me. That’s what I told the team as well.