For South Tamworth captain Mitch Smith it was love at first sight.
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Upon observing slightly built Indian leg-spinner Lalkrishna Kizhuppilly Thachanampara Vijayakumar bowling for the first time, in a net session on Thursday, Smith said: “When I saw one ball I was like, ‘Right. Okay, he’s in.’”
Lalkrishna K.V., 26, did not disappoint in his debut match for South Tamworth, taking 3-42 off eight overs as the sixth bowler used in Souths’ comfortable one-day win over Bective East a Riverside 1 on Saturday.
Post-match, Smith introduced him to the wider community: “This guy, star. You betta get [him in] the newspaper.”
Lalkrishna K.V. was quick to point out that he would have had another scalp but for a dropped catch.
“They dropped ya. They robbed ya of four,” Smith said, adding: “He bowled outstanding. Good leggies, good googlies … We’re working on the visa.”
Lalkrishna K.V. is a self-described allrounder. The left-handed batsman was listed at No.11 on Saturday but did not bat.
He has been in Tamworth about two months, brought here to work as a chef at Cascada Restaurant on Goonoo Goonoo Road.
He came to South Tamworth’s attention thanks to Ram Bheemirebby, a new lower-grade player at the club and Cascada’s console.
Lalkrishna K.V., from the southern Indian state of Kerala, said he played club cricket in India and his brother played in the Ranji Trophy, the country’s Sheffield Shield equivalent.
“I wish to play,” he said when asked if he wanted more games for Souths.
“Definitely, because I wish him [to play] too,” Smith replied immediately.
After winning the toss and electing to bat against Bective East, Souths were 1-0 when Gerhard Labuschagne dismissed Troy Osborne for a duck.
They were in deeper trouble when No.3 Blake Fitzgerald went for nine off Lachlan Davidson’s bowling.
However opener Brock Morley and Tom Groth then combined for 116-run third-wicket partnership, with Morley scoring a composed 69 off 103 balls and Groth a more explosive 76-ball 59.
Third-placed Souths finished 8-208 off 40 overs – the main wicket-takers Davidson (3-23 off eight overs) and Labuschagne (2-55 off eight overs).
Like Souths, the winless, last-placed Bective East got off to a poor start and were 2-19.
But unlike Souths, they did not recover and were removed for 139 in the 37th over.
A.J. Pretorius top-scored with 38, followed by skipper Adam Jones (27) and opener Toby Whale (24).
Along with Lalkrishna K.V., Troy Osborne (3-12 off seven overs) and James Hammond (2-16 off six overs) were Souths’ best bowlers.