With a strong turnout for Thursday’s second annual Cricket Bonanza, the Mississippi State Cricket Club proved again a strong interest in the sport on campus for fans and newcomers alike is growing. Upward of 50 people watched the event on the Drill Field, which pitted a veteran Maroon team against this year’s newcomers on the White team. Free pizza and cold drinks provided by the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center helped draw the crowd, a large portion of which stayed to take in the match.
Despite some great bowling from the White team, the Maroon team prevailed 84-50 after the White team was all out of batsmen by the 14th over. With 40 runs and four wickets between them, Alok Singh and Prabhuram Jagadeesan were both named man of the match.
The match was an initiation of sorts for the incoming players on the White team, MSU Cricket Club president Surya Saha said.
“The game was slightly more lopsided than last year,” Saha said. “But some of these guys are competing in a college match for the first time, so it is a good experience for them.”
Maroon team member Prashanth Dueoor was delighted with the outcome, and thought the newcomers showed potential.
“It was a good, close game for a while, and the other team played a great defense but did not do so well in the second half,” Dueoor said. “We bowled excellently against them.”
Saha said the team has taken in nine new players this year among the several that tried out and is in contact with a few more potential recruits.
“We even have people from other schools wanting to play with us,” Saha said. “Someone from Ole Miss contacted us recently and willing to make the trip down every time we play. So we know our reputation is growing.”
Shaz Akram, the international student program coordinator for the Holmes Center, said organizing events like these can provide a taste of home for the international students involved while helping them get acclimated.
“When people come from other countries, it is always good to get them in touch with a bit of their own culture,” Akram said. “It takes time to settle in sometimes, but events like this help.”
Akram added that such events are not only for MSU’s foreign population.
“What we really try to do is highlight international students’ skills and culture to American students.” Akram said.
Transfer student Harpreet Grewal, who played cricket for his college in India, was surprised and impressed to find a cricket club at MSU. Although the improvised field and equipment were different than what he was used to, he said it was great to see his favorite game being played here in the states.
Others, like freshman Matt Williams, stopped to watch out of curiosity after just walking by.
“All I’ve seen of cricket has been on TV sometimes,” Williams said. “I’ve never really watched a game, though.”
The match was punctuated with wry commentary from announcer Amrit Thakur, who provided explanatory remarks for the uninitiated as well as a few laughs for the crowd.
“The best thing about cricket is the pizza,” Thakur said during a lull in play.
Doubtless some who came only for the food would agree, but among the many that stayed, most would realize he was only joking.