Gen Next cricket team on a roll

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Talk about fresh blood — guts, temperament and fighting spirit — and you hear it loud and clear in the war cry sounded by Kerala’s Gen Next cricketers in South Africa, a battle field unconquered even by M.S. Dhoni’s, Men in Blue.

The Kerala Colts are back home brimming with confidence and elevated spirits after a fabulous tour of the land of the white lightening and among the war heroes are half-a-dozen power packed boys.

Sachin Baby, Sanju V. Samson, Sanuth Mohammed, Rizwan Rauf, Niyas Nizar and Anthaf P U, all under 23 years of age gave some outstanding performances in South Africa for the Kerala side.

Before the tour, the 22-year-old Sachin was made assistant to the experienced captain V.A. Jagadeesh and when they rested Jaggu for a three-dayer against Western Province, Sachin took over to produce a massive 244 runs victory for the touring side.

“It was a fabulous experience getting the chance to lead the senior side. I had captained at the junior levels before but this was better than everything,” said the gifted left-hand batsman.

The visitors played three three-dayers, three one-dayers and one T20 match against the counties in SA and while Sachin honed his leadership skills from the tour, 22-year-old Sanuth Mohammed and 17-year-old Sanju V. Samson were a class apart from the herd.

Just one innings that Sanuth and Sanju had teamed up in speaks volumes about the maturity and character shown by these young men.

The duo put together an inspiring 140 runs for the ninth wicket stand against Western Province, a partnership that was instrumental in guiding the visitors to an unprecedented victory.

“It was one of my best games as we were 130 for eight when I came to bat and Sanju and I took the score board to 272 which gave us a big boost when we took the ball in the second innings,” said Sanuth, who made 77 in that match and Sanju played a fabulous knock of 108.

On the other end another 22-year-old, leg-break bowler C.P. Rizwan was perhaps the most versatile of them all, picking wickets in every match and also contributing with the bat in almost every innings he batted in.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Niyas Nizar and 23-year-old Anthaf P.U., both pace bowlers also gave great momentum to the Kerala bandwagon that rolled out in style across Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.

“We were winners in the Subbarao Trophy and runners-up in Buchi Babu earlier this year and this tour of South Africa has added another feather to our cap. Our team is full of positive energy. We will continue this form in the domestic tournaments,” said Sachin.