The Hsinchu Titans played two games against Taipei’s Formosa Cricket Club at a ground in Hsinchu where the home team are hoping to establish regular competition.
While the visitors have been playing for more than 10 years, the Titans only started last year, but have already made an impact at national tournaments. They finished runner-up at the Jan Hong tournament in Chiayi City in March and pulled off a stunning win over powerhouse Taipei side the Pakistan Cricket Club (PCCT), chasing down 194 to win with three deliveries to spare in a 20-over match last month.
They play on what is usually a baseball ground in Fengshanxihebin Sports Park in Hsinchu County’s Xinpu Township, which team members scouted out and gained permission to use from local authorities.
Photo: Grant Dexter, Taipei Times
Titans captain Thomas Rayen said they have permission to use the ground at least once per month based on availability.
“We have discussed things with the authorities and booked the ground until August,” Rayen said. “We will be renewing the booking after that.”
“We prepared a pitch, but we can’t go for a full pitch since we share the ground with baseball teams,” Raven added.
He said they have a sponsor, Taichung’s Little India restaurant, and believe the team have great potential.
The team have quality players, including some exciting batsmen and pacey bowlers, Rayen said.
One of them is Vijay Venkatesh Rao, who scored consecutive fifties against PCCT.
“I think this ground is good, for Taiwan,” Rao said.
“What would be good is if there was an IPL-style competition where each city could play against each other,” Rao said.
Even though he has met many Taiwanese through his job at Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Rao said it is difficult to get Taiwanese to play.
“There is one guy, but the problem is he lives in Taipei, so he is not here on the weekends,” Rao said.
The teams played two games yesterday. In the opening match, Bremner Claassen top scored with 29 not out, while Arun Parappagoudar hit 24 in a total of 140-9 in the visitor’s 20 overs. Nitesh Gupta took 3-25 in his four overs, while Sham Chabukswar took 2-14 in three, including a double-wicket maiden.
Gupta (40) and Chabukswar (41) saw the Titans home in 17.3 overs for the loss of five wickets.
The second game between the two teams ended in a tie.
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