Fall. Fight. Finish. Repeat. York’s Way

SpicyBoy
Jul 8
3 min read

Three games in five days. Three wins. York’s summer campaign gains serious traction.

July 2 – Old Bais CC vs YCC 2025

Result: YCC 2025 won by 4 wickets

Scorecard here: https://cricclubs.com/YorkCricketClubYCC/viewScorecard.do?matchId=981&clubId=1001384

York returned to action midweek with a match against Old Bais CC, who won the toss and chose to bat. They posted 159 all out in 35 overs, but their innings never quite gathered pace as York’s bowlers kept things tight from the outset. Andrew Anandappa made the crucial breakthroughs, removing both openers and later striking again to dismiss a set batter. Supported by disciplined spells from Dominic, Rajit, and Echi, YCC restricted Old Bais to a total that felt 20 runs light on a good batting surface.

In response, York’s innings started steadily but not without challenges. Dominic Dumenil (28) provided early momentum, and Anuradha Gamage (40) played the anchor role with some elegant strokeplay. The middle order briefly wobbled after Anuradha’s dismissal, but the experience of Raj and Jayantha helped steer the chase with patience. YCC crossed the target in the 33rd over, finishing on 160 for 6, collecting a clinical midweek win to kick off the run of games.

July 5 – YCC 2025 vs Maharajas Knight Riders

Result: YCC 2025 won by 55 runs

Scorecard here: https://cricclubs.com/YorkCricketClubYCC/viewScorecard.do?matchId=982&clubId=1001384

Back at home turf, YCC batted first and compiled a commanding 226 all out in 33.2 overs. Things weren’t smooth at the start — Abdullah fell early — but a stellar 117-run stand between Sri Krishnan (63) and Sathishraj Mohanraj (63) flipped the game’s momentum. Both batters rotated the strike smartly, kept the scoreboard ticking, and found boundaries with increasing ease.

Though the lower order lost wickets in a flurry, a wave of extras — 38 in total, including 32 wides — swelled York’s total to above-par.

With the ball, York started on the back foot as Mandeep launched a counterattack, hammering 53 off just 23 balls. But once Rafi dismissed Paritosh and Arvind in successive overs, Maharajas collapsed from 95 for 3 to 171 all out in 28.3 overs. Rafi (4/30) and Tibish (4/57) did the damage, supported by tidy overs from Echi and Shawn. It was a well-rounded win that showcased resilience after early setbacks.

Satish scoring his first 50 of this season - Video Courtesy: Rafi M

Sri getting to his 50 with a classic pull shot - Video Courtesy: 'DHL' Shawn

July 6 – East End CC vs YCC 2025

Result: YCC 2025 won by 5 wickets

Scorecard here: https://cricclubs.com/YorkCricketClubYCC/viewScorecard.do?matchId=983&clubId=1001384

In the third game in five days, YCC faced East End CC on a warm Sunday morning. East End won the toss and batted first, putting up a competitive 192 all out in 30.4 overs, thanks largely to a dazzling knock of 74 off 41 balls by Darrel Desousa. He took on all bowlers with clean hitting, including four sixes in his blitz. But YCC’s bowlers remained composed. Chris Cooke (3/30) bowled a clever spell, and Rafi (2/32) applied the brakes with wickets in key moments. The rest of the lineup offered support through pressure-building overs, especially from Echi and Jerome.

Chasing 193, York welcomed Kishore Kanna Ramalingam for his season debut — and the right-hander made an immediate impression. Settling in after a cautious start, Kishore gradually shifted gears and compiled a match-winning 83, mixing composure with clever placement. The heart of the chase was a massive 146-run partnership with Jayantha Abeyesekera, who played the ideal foil with a steady 32 not out. Though a few wickets fell late, Harry Shivs closed the game with an assertive 15*, as York finished on 196 for 5 in 36.4 overs, marking a perfect weekend.

Kishore hammering one to the boundary to get to his maiden 50 for this season. Video Courtesy: Rafi M

A Moment Beyond Cricket

Midway through Sunday’s game at Glendon, something special happened — a mother deer and her baby fawn wandered gracefully across the field, prompting a gentle pause to the action. The players watched quietly as the animals moved along the boundary before slipping into the woods. Shawn Rankothgedra captured the moment on video — a rare and beautiful interlude in an otherwise intense match. The footage will be included with this blog.

Video courtesy: Shawn R

Words from the Captain

After the dust had settled on a remarkable three-match stretch, skipper Rafi Mohamed shared the following message with the squad:

“Excellent weekend of cricket with great wins. 3 different batsmen scoring 50’s is great for the team as different players are stepping up every game. Both games opponents seemed to take the game away from us but we never gave up and came back strong to win the games. Really proud of the team. 6 game win streak on, let’s keep this going.”