SYIAE Cricketers Reach National Finals
Hits： Time：2009-07-01
The SYIAE squad. Front row, left to right: Hu Rong (coach), Tang Yusheng, Liu Jia, Zhu Hai, Qu Xin, Liu Tao (captain), Li Zheng, Pang Xuetao, Matt Smith (coach). Back row, Pubudu Tharanga, Jerry Adrian, Jiang Shilei, Lu You, Zhang Xuefeng, Zhou Honglu, Ren Shaopeng, Li Mingzhe, Tang Wenbo, Qiao Gang.
Over the past semester, 15 first-year Shenyang Institute of Aeronautical Engineering students have dedicated themselves to learning to play a sport few of them had even heard of until late last year. Whilst there are great hopes that cricket can develop at the university, no one had expected the students to gain more than experience and enjoyment from their participation in this year's Chinese National Cricket Championships, but with a committed and exuberant performance against hosts Shenyang University, and a convincing victory over Shenyang Normal University, they have booked themselves a place in the national finals.
Early on Saturday morning, SYIAE found themselves nervously taking the field in their first competitive cricket match. But their nerves were quickly settled when Liu Jia had Shenyang University captain, and former national team player, Zhang Peng, bravely caught in the deep by Li Zheng. Despite this early setback, the hosts batted positively throughout, as they to sought control the game and post a challenging target. The SYIAE bowlers were put under considerable pressure, but they kept their cool and, when they created chances, their fielders didn't disappoint. The steady fall of wickets, including two very smart run outs, restricted the hosts to a respectable, but gettable, 105 for eight from their twenty overs.
SYIAE's innings got off to a bad start when they lost left-handed opener Zhu Hai early on, but the arrival at the crease of overseas student, Jerry Adrian, brought much needed stability. The normally dashing Sri Lankan batsman played a measured and responsible innings, ably supported by opener, Pang Xuetao. Together, they ran briskly and punished the bad balls to keep up with the asking rate. After Pang was dismissed, Jiang Shilei, who had already put in a strong performance with the ball, did his best to support Adrian, but the run rate began to slow. When the Sri Lankan retired on 50, as is required of the one permitted overseas player in these championship games, SYIAE still required 27 from little more than three overs. Cometh the hour, cometh the man; Jiang, now supported by his captain, Liu Tao, was beginning to find his timing and, with the crowd on the edge of their seats, he cracked four crucial boundaries in quick succession. When he was clean bowled on the second ball of the final over, the scores were level and, fittingly, it was Li Zheng who, having given the team such a great start, now joined his skipper to scamper the winning run and secure a memorable seven-wicket victory.
Hero Jiang Shilei leaves the field after setting up the win.
With their second game, against Shenyang Normal University, scheduled to start in little more than half an hour, there was little time for the team to savour either their victory or the splendid lunch provided by their hosts at Shenyang University. Captain, Liu Tao, decided to keep the team unchanged but for the replacement of Jerry Adrian with the other permitted overseas squad member, Pubudu Tharanga, and winning the toss, elected to bat.
Whilst the bowlers got some much-needed rest, SYIAE's batsmen set about building a formidable target. Despite losing his partner, Pang Xuetao, early on, Zhu Hai dug in against the Shenyang Normal University pacemen to give the team the platform it needed. Zhu was joined by Tharanga who, as his countryman had done in the previous match, played a beautifully-paced innings. When Tharanga retired on 50, having been ably supported, first by Jiang, star of the earlier game, and Liu Tao, the team were well on their way to posting an imposing total. With just a couple of overs remaining, Liu Tao and Liu Jia ran smartly to add a further 16 and post 133 for 3.
After the exhilaration of the morning's victory on a hot and humid day, and, perhaps, slightly complacent having posted such a commanding total, SYIAE's fielding now lacked its earlier sharpness. As Shenyang Normal gamely began their run chase, early chances were missed but the bowlers stuck to their task. The side got a lucky break when opener Zhang Shishuai was given out leg before wicket from the bowling of Tharanga and soon the pressure on the rest of the batsmen began to tell. Shenyang Normal captain, Zhang Shi'en, was well caught by, keeper, Li Mingzhe off Liu Jia. Leg-spinner, Qiao Gang's flight and bounce proved too much for the batsmen, as he removed two, both caught and bowled. Liu Tao and Jiang Shilei, who had been in the thick of the action throughout, also picked up two wickets each as the opposition struggled to 98 for 9 at the end.
Leg-spinner, Qiao Gang, in action.
The second game, in particular, was memorable for the sporting spirit in which it was played. The two teams, neighbours in North Shenyang, had met earlier in the season for most of the players first ever game of cricket and learnt much about the game together. That day, it was Shenyang Normal University who were victorious. Today, the roles were reversed, but both teams look forward to meeting again before the end of the semester.
The hundred runs Jerry Adrian and Pubudu Tharanga scored between them were clearly very important to the teams success, but to focus only on the numbers would be to understate their contribution. Both Sri Lankans proved to be great role models for their team-mates, not just in their technique and application but also in the way they conducted themselves on the field. They, along with many of the other overseas students, have assisted in coaching the players and brought together a team to play two warm-up games against the university side.
After a thrilling day, the players will be brought back down to earth as their end of term exams begin. Once the exams are out of the way, they can begin in earnest to train for the national finals, which are this year to be held in Shenyang, in late July and early August.
Overseas and Chinese students after an evening warm-up game.
