CRICKET NOT AT BACK FORTY AS CDVCA AND CDCA TAKE FIELD

The Coimbatore District Veterans Cricket Association (CDVCA) and Coimbatore District Cricket Association (CDCA) Umpires came together for two friendly 25 over a side cricket matches on Sunday, 08 February 2026 at SNR Cricket Grounds, Coimbatore. Both the matches turned out to be wonderful cricketing contests. The matches assumed significance as the matches were officiated by a woman umpire and a trans person umpire marking a new chapter in inclusivity. 

Match 1 - CDCA Office Bearers XI vs CDVCA President's XI

The first match was held between CDCA Office Bearers XI and CDVCA President's XI. CDVCA President's XI won the toss and chose to field. Opening bowlers Gopiraj and Dr Madhushankar made instant impact and had the CDCA Office Bearers XI at 29/3 at end of eight overs. Gajendran, Gopal and Captain Bharathi ensured recovery for CDCA and lifted the side to 93/4 in 17. But CDVCA bowlers kept the pressure up and ensured that CDCA folded up for 140/7 in 25 overs. Captain Bharathi with 37 of 32 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes) was the leading run scorer for CDCA while Syed, Dr Madhu, Gopiraj and Huzefa shared the wickets for CDVCA. 

CDVCA chase was led by their captain Hemanand. His well paced 52 of 40 balls (2 fours and four sixes) and steady partnerships with Prabhu and Venugopal helped them stay ahead in the chase. CDCA created a flutter by taking 3 wickets in 3 consecutive overs reducing CDVCA from 121/3 in 15 to 127/3 6 in 18 but Syed and Huzefa ensured that CDVCA walked home with 3 wickets and 5 overs to spare finishing at 143/7 in 20.1 overs. 

Match 2 - CDCA Umpires XI vs CDVCA Secretary's XI

In the second match between CDCA Umpires XI and CDVCA Secretary's XI, CDCA Umpires XI won the toss and chose to bat. After an early wicket, opener Karthikeyan and keeper Raj Ganesh played steadily to build a 66 run partnership of 59 balls. Just when the duo were about to accelerate, Veterans started to make inroads. Karthikeyan was bowled by Juzer and Ashok was run out in search of quick single. However CDCA  kept accelerating and despite the loss of another wicket, Raj Ganesh and Ramesh ensured that CDCA scored 70 in the last 7 overs. Raj Ganesh unbeaten at 74 of 70 balls with 7 fours was the leading run scorer for CDCA. 

CDVCA Secretary's XI had a poor start losing both the openers in the first two overs. Vipin and Huzefa ensured stability with a 65 run partnership for the 3rd wicket. But CDCA fought their way back restricting CDVCA from 72/2 in 11.3 to 107/6 in 17 overs with captain Ranjit claiming 2 wickets in an over. Needing 64 in 8 overs with just 4 wickets in hand, CDVCA looked in trouble. But their captain Arivumani seemed unruffled and in the company of Juzerbhai scored 32 in 5 overs. He then attacked even better in company of Suresh and the duo with the equation of 32 needed from 20 balls chased the target with 3 balls to spare. Arivumani's captain's innings 58 of 36 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes made the difference. 

The Coimbatore District Veterans Cricket Association (CDVCA) is an association of cricketers aged 40 and more and serves as a platform for senior cricketers, retired cricketers and late bloomers to continue their tryst with cricket. The CDCA Office Bearers are responsible for the yeoman work of managing cricket in Coimbatore which they do in an impeccable manner. The CDCA Umpires are a well knit group that helps in registration, coordination and upskilling of cricket officials in Coimbatore. The CDCA teams are mostly used to enabling and observing action in cricket fields and for a change were a part of action themselves. The teams with cricketers on the wrong side of forty ensured that cricket does not take the back forty in their minds.