Nashville Vols Overwhelms Tropical.  Stone Mountain gets first win; McNair Lions also victorious.

By Conroy Reid

It’s been twenty four years.  No league opponent or friendly team had ever surpassed this Tropical’s self imposed threshold.  It ended on Sunday.  The Nashville Vols, led by Vamsee Reddy’s thundering hundred in 17 overs, and 64 from Aniket Borwankar, blasted their way pass the 300 runs mark – a first against Tropical – and with Borwankar’s 4 for 39, and Srinivas Gunna’s 3 for 23, also handed Tropical their worst ever defeat, a whopping 168 run loss.   Reddy’s ton was the second league century scored against Tropical this season – another first; Redwood scored one earlier for Vibes.

At Nashville:   Vols versus Tropical

The Vols won the toss and took first strike on the batsman friendly, matting covered, concrete wicket at White Creek.  A short handed and undermanned Tropical team took the field and was immediately put under the gun as Reddy began to fire away, launching rockets into the adjoining baseball field and tennis courts.  The bowlers and fieldsmen faltered not only under this onslaught, but also the sweltering sun, and a horrendous fielding display ensued.  Among the opportunities: a skier to long off was put down; so were two to mid-wicket, and a simple dolly to mid off.  All through this Reddy banged away, and six 4s and nine 6s later had his ton, before he was out for 107, caught by Lindo off Slocombe.  This was not the end of the drubbing.  After a mild middle order collapse in which Harris grabbed three quick wickets, the Vols regrouped and the resurgence followed.  When Borwankar joined the fray at number 8, there was a sense that the score was still not enough and he, like Reddy, banged away.  More towering sixes into the baseball field, and soon it was 300 on the board.  Tropical fielders slumped. The once thought of brick wall had crumbled. 

Tropical’s drained batsmen failed to muster any form of a serious challenge in their reply against a pumped-up Vols bowling attack and aggressive fielding.   After a towering six over long-on, Johnson failed to clear the boundary at the same position and was caught by Brindavanam off the next delivery.  Givance followed in the next over, adjudged LBW, padding up to one from Gunna.  Lindo and Williams staged a short lived recovery before Lindo top-edged a pull shot and was caught on the pitch by the bowler, Borwankar.   Two overs later, the wheels came off the cart.  Harris tapped a full toss back to Borwankar, and, next ball, Cole spun on a short one , top – edged, and was caught at mid-on.  At  90 for 6, a 200 run defeat loomed nigh.   Sutton and Reid saved a little grace and delayed the inevitable for awhile before Borwankar produced a peach of a delivery to bowl Sutton, and Reid was soon undone by Lodhi.

Score: Nashville 323 for 7, off 40 overs; Harris 3 for 55.  Tropical 155 for 9, off 28.3 overs; Williams 34, Lindo 29.

At Mark Trail: Stone Mountain versus CSC

Stone Mountain broke a seven game losing streak to record their first win of the season by defeating CSC in their match at Mark Trail.  Kevin Edmonson continued his fine run of form with another half century, and Lynch spanked the CSC bowling with a surprising 89, including eleven 4s and two 6s in leading Stone Mountain.  Both clubs are out of the play-off picture.

Score: Stone Mountain, 237 for 7, Lynch 89, Edmonson 60, Morton 3 for 14, defeats CSC, 210 all out, McMaster 48, Gabbidon 46, Ewart 4 for 39

At Best Academy: McNair Lions versus MCC

An intriguing twist, rather unpleasant surprise, struck the MCC team full in the face when they gathered on the field for their match against McNair Lions at Best Academy on Sunday.  Without many of the player’s knowledge, their captain, Andre Hooper, had transferred to McNair during the week, and was now preparing to oppose them in a key match-up as the teams vie for a play-off spot.  MCC batted first and posted 187 for 8 off the allotted 40 overs, with extras being the top score at 41.  Murray took 3 for 27, and Hooper went wicket-less (0 for 28), as MCC denied him any success with the ball.    However, he added salt to injury with the bat by top scoring with 45 in leading the successful Lions run chase, and featured in a vital fourth wicket partnership with Lambert (32).  The loss dealt a severe blow on MCC’s chances for a play-off spot, and they must now win both remaining games, including a rematch with the Lions, plus get some help from other clubs.

Score: McNair Lions, 189 for7; Hooper 45, pulls off surprise on MCC, 187 for 8, off 40 overs

Detailed Scoreboards at:  http://www.gascl.org/