Fighting Spirit, Wonky Umpires, and Beer Bloopers

This weekend saw York Cricket Club engage in two intense matches against Rajput CC and Masters Foundation CC. While the games themselves were a mix of thrilling victories and narrow losses, there were some off-field issues that caught our attention—issues that we feel need to be addressed to maintain the integrity and reputation of our beloved sport.

Saturday's Match: YCC vs. Rajput CC - A Nail-Biting Victory

Venue: Glendon York Cricket Club Result: YCC won by 1 wicket

Saturday's match against Rajput CC was a classic example of YCC's tenacity and determination. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Rajput CC posted a competitive total of 176/7 in their 40 overs. YCC’s bowlers delivered disciplined performances, with Captain Rafi Mohamed leading the attack with 3 wickets for just 16 runs in his 8 overs.

The fielding was also top-notch, with Roy taking a super cool catch to dismiss a crucial batsman. Pratha Sawant and Dominic Dumenil were razor-sharp in the field, cutting off many singles that could have added pressure. Stephen Williams was exceptional with both his bowling and his tactical field setups, while Shawn Rankothgedra, George Muthu, and Venkat Sivaprakash excelled at boundary riding, launching some rocket throws that cut off crucial runs.

Chasing 177, YCC faced a challenging target. The innings saw early wickets fall, but Harry Shivs anchored the innings with a composed 70 off 83 balls, holding the fort as others fell around him. Despite the pressure, YCC’s lower order, led by Rafi Mohamed's gritty 18 and a vital contribution from George Muthu, saw the team home in the penultimate over, securing a thrilling 1-wicket victory.

Key Performances:

• Harry Shivs: 70 runs off 83 balls

• Rafi Mohamed: 3 wickets for 16 runs, 18 runs off 22 balls

• Roy Nadar: Outstanding catch

• Pratha Sawant & Dominic Dumenil: Sharp fielding, cutting off singles

• Stephen Williams: Excellent bowling and field setups

• Shawn Rankothgedra, George Muthu & Venkat Sivaprakash: Exceptional boundary riding and throws

Sunday's Match: YCC vs. Masters Foundation CC - A Battle to the End

Venue: Glendon York Cricket Club Result: Masters Foundation CC won by 4 wickets

On Sunday, YCC took on Masters Foundation CC in another intense match. Batting first, YCC posted 181/8 in their 40 overs, with standout performances from Tibish Mathew (YCC) who scored 42 off 78 balls and Harry Shivs (YCC) who provided a late surge with 36 off 36 balls. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, YCC managed to put up a challenging total, ensuring the match would be closely contested.

In defense, YCC’s bowlers started strongly, with Rafi Mohamed & Tibish striking early to reduce Masters Foundation CC to 79/4. Venkat Sivaprakash’s super throw created a crucial run-out early in the innings, setting the tone for the fielding performance. Rajit Kadirgamar, Tibish Mathew, Dominic Dumenil, Michael Jansz, Kaushik, Kishore Kanna, Shawn Rankothgedra, and Echi Fernando were all brilliant in the field, cutting off runs and adding pressure on the opponents.

Key Performances:

• Tibish Mathew (YCC): 42 runs off 78 balls, 2 wickets for 21 runs

• Harry Shivs (YCC): 36 runs off 36 balls

• Rafi Mohamed (YCC): 2 wickets for 32 runs

• Venkat Sivaprakash: Phenomenal run-out

Pic courtesy: Rafi Mohamed

The Declining Quality of Umpiring: A Growing Concern

It’s no secret that the quality of umpiring in recent matches has been a topic of concern. While it’s acceptable to have close decisions and marginal errors—part of the game’s natural flow—what we’ve been witnessing lately borders on unfair and blatant. This isn’t just about the odd questionable call; we’re talking about decisions that can, and have, changed the fate of a game.

YCC has always prided itself on upholding fairness in the sport, whether the umpiring is done by us or by our opponents. This commitment to fairness has earned us respect among the teams we play, and it’s something we are determined to maintain. However, the recent spate of biased decisions, particularly in our matches, has been disheartening..

Take, for example, the Sunday match against Masters Foundation CC, where Shavan Demel was clearly caught behind but was allowed to continue batting. This one decision allowed him to build a match-winning innings, turning the tide against YCC. Is it time to establish a more formal fairness policy, perhaps even having both team skippers chat before the game to reinforce the importance of fair play? We ask our readers: Should we make a collective effort to ensure that umpiring is carried out in the gentleman’s way, as cricket was always meant to be?

No-Alcohol Policy at Glendon Campus: A Sobering Reminder

Glendon Campus, where YCC hosts its home games, has a strict no-alcohol policy. It’s a rule that we, as a club, are committed to upholding. However, during Saturday’s game, we noticed something that simply cannot be overlooked—opposing team visitors were enjoying their time at the match a little too much, proudly roaming around the field with ice-cold beers in hand.

This incident caught the attention of three people. First, there was Kannan, who’s been on a dry spell and was clearly envious, wistfully eyeing the frosty cans as he awaited his own chance to enjoy a drink with friends. Then there was Echi Fernando of YCC, who immediately took action, warning the visitors that Glendon Campus is a strict no-alcohol zone, a policy reinforced by the campus management and strictly instructed to YCC.

Unfortunately, even after Echi’s first warning and our skipper having a word with the visitors (following a chat with the Glendon representative), the visitors were determined to finish up the six-pack they brought with them. They were caught hiding in the bushes, enjoying their beers in a spot notorious for being the unofficial ‘loo’ for players before they step onto the field. Echi, who was umpiring at the time, spotted them again and had to stop play to issue a strong disciplinarian warning, making it clear that this behavior would not be tolerated.

This brings us to the question: What more can Glendon Campus and YCC do to ensure the no-alcohol policy is respected? We’ve done our part by reminding visiting teams, but incidents like these highlight the limited control we have over individual actions. Perhaps it’s time for some creative solutions to reinforce this rule. We invite our readers to pitch in with their thoughts and suggestions on how to keep Glendon an alcohol-free zone—while still ensuring everyone enjoys the game.

Final Thoughts

The weekend's games were a reminder of both the highs and lows of cricket—the excitement of a close victory, the frustration of a narrow loss, the importance of fair play, and the responsibility we all share in maintaining the integrity of our playing environment. YCC will continue to stand by its principles of fairness, sportsmanship, and respect for the rules, both on and off the field.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, continue supporting York Cricket Club!