On a fine but damp Turf City B, ANZA III resumed their season following 2 washouts. With debutantes in Mark Cordiner and Robert Williams and a return to 3rd grade for Jodie Wachter our prospects were looking good.
Clive won the toss with his Australian 50 cent piece and elected to bat. Garry Hawker had been ill all morning but strode out with Shubham to get us started. Unfortunately Shubham was soon striding back having been bowled. James Bostock batted well for 16 whilst Garry had to retire hurt with double vision after scoring 13. Tony and Mark Cordiner took us to drinks on 2/53. Both batted well for a partnership of 47 being dismissed in their teens. Jodie and Clive put on 42 for the 6th wicket raising our total to 138, probably 20 below par.
The skipper was confident that if we bowled and fielded well we could restrict Marina 2 to less than this. Unfortunately we let ourselves down with several catches being dropped. Clive and James started solidly but Tony was the pick of bowlers with 2/22. Rohan also picked up 2 wickets and Clive one wicket. Howie led the way in the field with a direct hit runout and Robert Williams gave an excellent performance behind the stumps. Also notable were Tony's catch at point and Rohan's effort as he slipped on the turf, smashed his head on the ground and still held on to the catch. Marina were 6 down when they passed our score with 5 overs to go.
Fortunately we have this Sunday morning to redeem ourselves.
ANZA III 7/138 in 30 overs
Clive 39 no
Mark Cordiner 19
James Bostock 16
Tony 15
Garry 13 retired hurt
Marina 2 6/141 in 25 overs
Tony 6-0-22-2
Rohan 6-0-42-2
Clive 6-1-25-1
James 4-0-29-0
Shubham 3.3-0-21-0
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Match report :: Anza Div II vs Island CC, 25 Jul 2010
History was made on Sunday...and without a ball being bowled. Mark won the toss and took ANZA Div 2's coin toss season average above .500 for the first time in living memory. It was also the first fine afternoon for what seemed like weeks, so why not make the opposition sweat it out in the field. The Turf City outfield was still soggy and anything north of 200 would be challenging.
Richie & Corbon again led us off, and again Corbon was in a hurry. He let his intentions be known early by lofting his first ball down the ground and soon followed with a glorious flick off the legs that sailed over the Turf City grandstand. Both opening bowlers were copping some stick but got a measure of revenge when Corbs tried to swat a fuller one and was bowled for 22. Chris Walker came in at #3 and he and Richie took the total to 72 at the first drinks break. We were cruising along nicely at almost 6/over with only 1 wicket down. Richie was happy to turn the strike over and Chris was starting to find the boundary. The second session proved a lot toughter than the first as Island brought on their spinners and slow-mediums to really take the pace off the ball. The boundaries dried up on the slow outfield but we had wickets up our sleeve. Richie fell for 23 just after the break but Chris & Dave Jacq batted steadily and took us through until the 23rd over when Chris was unlucky to be run out 5 short of his half century. DJ (24) was even unluckier, given out lbw attempting to glance one that would have missed leg stump by a mile. Four for 128 in the 27th. The run rate had slowed due to the constant barrage of nude balls, hand grenades and dippers but the outfield showed little signs of quickening and we were still on track for a 200+ target. A few quick wickets brought Ash & Mark to the crease and the pair put on a rapid fire 65 in 8 overs, mixing quick singles and twos with a handful of sixes. Mark fell for 40 off 25 and Ash finished undefeated on 28. Our total of 9 for 226 looked pretty adequate given the slow ground.
And so it proved to be. The Island top order was pinned down by Mark & Clive early and were 1 for 22 after 10 overs - Clive claiming the wicket with a nasty outswinger that the batsman played all around. Clive again bowled his 8 overs straight and finished with a fine 2 for 31. After the drinks break Ash & Tony bowled non-stop for the next 16 overs and, aided by some watertight fielding, they effectively took the game away from Island. Their batsman couldn't get any partnerships going as wickets fell consistently. Ash bagged three of their middle order and Tony picked up 1 while only going for 28 off his 8 overs. Our ground fielding was sharp and though a couple of difficult chances went to ground the batsmen were made to work for everything. We picked up 2 runs out including a superb one handed pick-up, spin and throw from Ash at short cover. Chris Sweet came back to snare their last man and Island were dismissed for 146.
Nine points to the good guys!
Andhra CC up next this Sunday at TC A.
MC
Richie & Corbon again led us off, and again Corbon was in a hurry. He let his intentions be known early by lofting his first ball down the ground and soon followed with a glorious flick off the legs that sailed over the Turf City grandstand. Both opening bowlers were copping some stick but got a measure of revenge when Corbs tried to swat a fuller one and was bowled for 22. Chris Walker came in at #3 and he and Richie took the total to 72 at the first drinks break. We were cruising along nicely at almost 6/over with only 1 wicket down. Richie was happy to turn the strike over and Chris was starting to find the boundary. The second session proved a lot toughter than the first as Island brought on their spinners and slow-mediums to really take the pace off the ball. The boundaries dried up on the slow outfield but we had wickets up our sleeve. Richie fell for 23 just after the break but Chris & Dave Jacq batted steadily and took us through until the 23rd over when Chris was unlucky to be run out 5 short of his half century. DJ (24) was even unluckier, given out lbw attempting to glance one that would have missed leg stump by a mile. Four for 128 in the 27th. The run rate had slowed due to the constant barrage of nude balls, hand grenades and dippers but the outfield showed little signs of quickening and we were still on track for a 200+ target. A few quick wickets brought Ash & Mark to the crease and the pair put on a rapid fire 65 in 8 overs, mixing quick singles and twos with a handful of sixes. Mark fell for 40 off 25 and Ash finished undefeated on 28. Our total of 9 for 226 looked pretty adequate given the slow ground.
And so it proved to be. The Island top order was pinned down by Mark & Clive early and were 1 for 22 after 10 overs - Clive claiming the wicket with a nasty outswinger that the batsman played all around. Clive again bowled his 8 overs straight and finished with a fine 2 for 31. After the drinks break Ash & Tony bowled non-stop for the next 16 overs and, aided by some watertight fielding, they effectively took the game away from Island. Their batsman couldn't get any partnerships going as wickets fell consistently. Ash bagged three of their middle order and Tony picked up 1 while only going for 28 off his 8 overs. Our ground fielding was sharp and though a couple of difficult chances went to ground the batsmen were made to work for everything. We picked up 2 runs out including a superb one handed pick-up, spin and throw from Ash at short cover. Chris Sweet came back to snare their last man and Island were dismissed for 146.
Nine points to the good guys!
Andhra CC up next this Sunday at TC A.
MC
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Match Report :: Anza Div IV vs SCC
When I woke up this morning the signs were there for a great day’s cricket. After a week of storms and the Singapore meteorologist telling up there was going to be typhoon tail storms from China hitting over the weekend, it was great to see in the paper that these had blown away. Clearly the meteorologist had not been at Dempsey Fields.
I arrived late but was met by black clouds and 21 players standing out in the middle. The umpires didn’t like the water on the ground! Having convinced the umpires that the water on the ground was fine, it then began to rain, or rather sprinkle and threaten to rain. So it was a deferred decision until 8.30.
Now we could have thought that an abandoned game would give us 5 points and push us up the ladder but that sort of thinking isn’t in the Champs’ psyche. We are a bit like the “300”, never retreat, never call a draw, never surrender and go down fighting. Maybe we should practice not being like the 300, because I’m not really into this dying thing!
However, the umpires decided that the game would be reduced to 25 overs per side – how we lost 10 overs in a half hour delay was a bit unclear. After the dilemma of choice last weekend it was reassuring that the captain returned to usual form by losing the toss. “I would have batted first anyway” he said. So bat it was.
And bat they did. Homi and particularly Ashwin got us off to a flying start, scoring 30 off the first 5 overs before Homi was caught. In strode Geoff, confident after strong batting performances over the past few games (a sure sign!). The next over he was back in the pavilion having scored 3. “3” he cried, “will I avoid kit packing?” “It was only 2” calls out Lorraine.
Ashwin and Chiro then proceeded to put on 18 before Ashwin fell to the first of 2 dodgy decisions of the day. LBW on the outside of the roll playing a ball that if he had left it was a wide! Ashwin, looking good, gone for 29.
Feroze joined Chiro in the middle and they proceeded to add 32 for the next partnership before Chiro fell to the second dodgy decision, a snick (more like a clunk) onto the pads given out LBW. Even their opening bowler down on the boundary shook his head. Chiro had found some form too, out for 23.
A 56 partnership between Feroze and Tony Waters put us in great shape at 141 off 21.3 overs which brought the gun blazing Munib to the crease. Averaging over 40 this season, Geoff’s only comment was “had Munib left himself too late in the batting order”. Perhaps he had but 1 ball later he was back, bowled going for the tonk (Geoff didn’t know whether to commiserate with Munib or punch the air for joy at avoiding kit packing duties). The next 3 wickets went to runouts as the team tried to grab every run before the umpires declared over 1 ball short in the last over. Finishing score 162, very defendable on the soggy Dempsey ground.
Captain Munib didn’t give his “Just have fun” speech. He was far more serious and determined today. In fact there weren’t the usual laughs as we went out to bowl. We smelt a win. Both openers, Lawrence and Vishal opened solidly and looked threatening. And we didn’t have to wait long before Lawrence in his second over took the first wicket with a catch to Tony and the SCC captain was gone.
We had to wait until over 9 before Ashwin picked up his first wicket, a juggling catch to Disco at first slip. 47 after 9 was keeping us on track. Next over Munib trapped the batsman LBW, a beautiful ball, before putting one down just before drinks off his own bowling. The batsman works with Disco, so he wasn’t keen to see the catch go down. Fortunately Munib redeemed himself after drinks with the batsman facing one 1 more ball before he took a fine 3rd slips catch for Ashwin’s second. End of the first over after drinks and the SCC were 4/66. The number 3 batsman troubled us all day scoring 60 until Disco took out his middle stump with a well flighted ball. 5/119 after 21. SCC needed 44 off 4.
Lawrence and Disco were down to bowl the last 4 overs. An interesting combination - opening bowler and slow 3rd change. Although each of the next 2 overs were reasonable tight 1 lose ball in each left the equation at 22 off 2 overs. Still the pressure was on SCC. SCC’s number 7 was playing in his first game for the SCC Jaguars. He’d scored 5 singles from the first 6 balls he faced. He faced up to the first ball and smashed it straight down the ground for 6, then another 6, two singles and another six. 20 off the over, leaving 2 to be scored for an unlikely SCC victory.
Disco came on to bowl and his first thoughts were “don’t bowl any wides!” The first ball was a repeat of the early wicket ball and the SCC batsman was gone LBW. A great start – was the impossible possible? Next ball a single into the gap and then another single off the 3rd ball delivered victory to SCC and another loss to the Champs.
The team took the loss pretty hard, the Skip even harder. He had strategically played the game well, but the win slipped through our fingers. We had been in control for 23 overs. Cricket can be such a harsh game.
I blame Clarky – calling us the Chumps all season has put the hex on us!
This is now twice this season that SCC has snatched victory from an ANZA side. Is Dempsey a hoodoo ground for ANZACC?
At least ANZACC had one victory for the morning. Disco and Geoff’s boys rolled up fresh from the Under 10s Howzat Cricket Sixes Competition, where they had played in the ANZACC sponsored team, with gold medals around their necks and proceeded to present an extra medal to the ANZACC President. At least that’s one bit of silverware (gold) for the ANZACC cabinet this season.
Results: 25 overs a side game
ANZA batting first scored 9/162. Feroze 44, Ashwin 29, Chiro 23, Tony W 17 (GF 2)
SCC scored 6/163 winning with 3 balls to spare. Disco 2/24 off 4.3, Ashwin 2/26
Monday, July 19, 2010
Match Report :: Anza Div IV vs SPA2
“lets have some fun” were the last words the champs heard from my lips before they entered the wet and wild ground of Turf City B at around 2 pm.
The drama had started well before that. With the rain well set in and the umps smoking away under the shed, we like our SPA counterparts were ready and raring to take the field. This was going to be our day…rain, hail or shine.
Eventually the rain god had a snooze and we were on the ground for the toss. “Oh Shit…what do we do”? I asked all but the groundsman. With the drama’s of two weeks ago where a wet ball help create some Champs folklore, not to mention some very tolerant umpiring, I was ready to bat first. My preference for batting was also based on some simple Vegas mantra..... 6 losses in a row while chasing... Surely batting second would do the trick. “But”…...as a skip i've learnt there is always a "But". With the weather the way it was, knowing the target was the smarter non Vegas approach.
As the coin hit the ground, I heard the ump call out “your call”. He was staring at me and I was staring at the sky. As the milliseconds became seconds and nearly a minute. I could here the Champs over my shoulder mutter... "oh shit he's won the toss". Screw Vegas.... I lost money there anyway.... “Fielding it is”.
So back to the wet and wild. Champs took there positions and Klaus started what I consider as one of the best bowling efforts we have seen by a champ this season. Within his first 3 overs, he had 3 for 14 runs and SPA under pressure. Klaus ended the day with 3 for 25 in 5, with 10 wides masking an otherwise great spell. The new and improved, Lord Gibb, after a shaky start, found his rhythm and polished off the 4th SPA batsman. SPA were 4 for around 50 and we were feeling good.
Ashwin and James followed Lord Gibb and Klaus. Ashwin as always gave 100% but with no scalps to show for it. James bowled beautifully and after 3 overs was 6 for 1 wkt....but got some unfair punishment and ended at 28 for 1 in 5. The Champs went into the break with SPA at 5 for 78 after 14 overs and feeling confident. Unfortunately that's where the momentum was lost, that's when the Champs led by yours truly lost the plot and SPA's prayers to Allah paid off. In the following 9 overs SPA amassed a total of 156 doubling their efforts of the first 14. Sorry Champs, 30 runs of 3 overs from your skip was unforgivable and painful. Disco, I'm sure also felt the pain as he ended with 16 in two overs. During all this the champs fielding was above par and Tony and Chiro, showed once again why they are the safest hands in the team. All in all despite great efforts by Klaus and James, the bowling effort had much to be desired. 32 wides in a 23 over game makes life a little bit tough.
With a target of 156, the drizzle and a bunch of devout Muslims waiting for the Champs, the mood was still good. Plenty of banter and support. Not for a second did anyone want a washout. We were there for the kill. Tony and Ashwin padded up and walked in with simple instructions... "have fun". With the rain as unsure about it future as Mrs Nasir (Samosa goddess) was about Lord Gibbs proposal for marriage, Tony and Ash had to ensure 89 runs off the first 12 overs, just in case the rain gods got angrier. 1st ball ... well left ......2nd ball..... Tony jumps only to find the ball hitting the top of his pad, the champs in the shed yelping....”no that's too high”....and the ump, who by the way has drunk enough of our piss post our losses then anyone else, raised his finger. Champs not off to a good start.
Enters Mr Reliable, Champs original skip....Mr Forday. Little did the tea tottling, 100 plus drinking Pakistani's know that they had a Son of Jerusalem amongst them. It was no surprise to see Geoff continue in his merry form and dispatch the ball to the various corners of the ground. He was keeping the strike, come what may and after 5 overs, Geoff was 21 in 28 balls and Ashwin had faced only 1 ball. "Allah o Akbar" ....”god is great” was the cheer from the SPA squad as Geoff succumbed to a lose delivery and skied it. Champs 2 down with 28 on the board in 6 overs.
I arrived at the pitch with Ashwin in good spirits. Ashwin and I pushed the total to 54, with Ash helping me through my shots and ensuring I don't do an afridi. The Pakistani fielding made ours look like Champs. Every ball was followed by yet another field change. They were as organised as the taxi rank in lahore. With the total in mind, style afridi was the solution. But there was a glitch. A leg spinner named Arafat... Yasir Arafat?. Another Son of Jerusalem. "Allah o Akbar" they roared as Ashwin frustrated with the short pitch, ankle high leggies founds himself outside the crease.
Next on to the ground comes a champ who I feel for the most. Someone, who since joining the champs has made the most appearances at nets, both scheduled and on his own time, has run ragged in the field, has been supportive to all and yet awaits his day in the sun. Homi we determined to stay the whole 23 overs. But before he could start we came off for drinks after 12 overs with 55 on the board and a large but achievable 101 in the next 11 overs. With 3 wickets down we were far from out of this one. The boys in the shed reminded us of the need for speed and that's what the game plan was.
Homi's entrance was confident and exit was painful. Like a true champ his face said it all. Unable to deliver for his team his only concern. A mistimed hit saw Mr Arafat catch of his own effort and send homi home.
Chiro's stint at the crease while short, was full of wisdom. With his help we got the runs flowing again and in 5 overs we took the score from 56 to 104. Leaving us with 52 off the last 6. Achievable given what we had achieved in the last 5. Chiro and I were fired up, the rain had nearly stopped, I for a second even imagined calling zahrah to tell her to bring the kids and some extra beers to the ground as we had won. "Allah o Akbar" they cried and chiro starts heading for the shed. This was the over in which chiro and I were aiming to unleash.....
Klaus's arrival at the pitch was comforting. Here is someone who gives 100% in whatever he does and as a skip I would have him on the pitch even before myself. He is a proven run maker both with intelligent singles and big hits when required. We knew what was required....just hit the bad balls and the rest would come. Klaus stuck around for a few and in his attempt to keep the runs flowing, played one on to his stumps. Champs 116 for 6.
This was truly a day when Allah was listening. After a few “Allah o Akbar”, the muslim in me also forgot about the much anticipated beer call and looked to the sky. I was rewarded with a few dropped catches and enough time on the crease to register an enjoyable but hollow 54. Even Allah gave up on me and yours truly skied one, leaving the Champs 7 for 118.
The champs story doesn't end there. What happens next is what makes the champs the champs. James, Disco, Ben and Lord Gibb, all entered the ground to win. They all gave there best and went down fighting. These are the true champs who game after game, bowl and field their guts out, to the point where they start seeing two chiro's behind the stump and then give another 100% as batsmen. This season they have been called upon to deliver again and again, both with the ball and bat. In true champ style not one has ever complained. The last blow came in the last over, lord gibb attempting a 6 lands short, into the hands of jubilant Pakistani.
Champs our bowling was patchy and batting well below its potential. 32 wides and only 3 batsmen in double figures is well below our standard. Having said that, Champs it is a pleasure to play with you all and an honor to be your skip. I'd rather lose all matches with the champs then win one with anyone else.
Mm
The drama had started well before that. With the rain well set in and the umps smoking away under the shed, we like our SPA counterparts were ready and raring to take the field. This was going to be our day…rain, hail or shine.
Eventually the rain god had a snooze and we were on the ground for the toss. “Oh Shit…what do we do”? I asked all but the groundsman. With the drama’s of two weeks ago where a wet ball help create some Champs folklore, not to mention some very tolerant umpiring, I was ready to bat first. My preference for batting was also based on some simple Vegas mantra..... 6 losses in a row while chasing... Surely batting second would do the trick. “But”…...as a skip i've learnt there is always a "But". With the weather the way it was, knowing the target was the smarter non Vegas approach.
As the coin hit the ground, I heard the ump call out “your call”. He was staring at me and I was staring at the sky. As the milliseconds became seconds and nearly a minute. I could here the Champs over my shoulder mutter... "oh shit he's won the toss". Screw Vegas.... I lost money there anyway.... “Fielding it is”.
So back to the wet and wild. Champs took there positions and Klaus started what I consider as one of the best bowling efforts we have seen by a champ this season. Within his first 3 overs, he had 3 for 14 runs and SPA under pressure. Klaus ended the day with 3 for 25 in 5, with 10 wides masking an otherwise great spell. The new and improved, Lord Gibb, after a shaky start, found his rhythm and polished off the 4th SPA batsman. SPA were 4 for around 50 and we were feeling good.
Ashwin and James followed Lord Gibb and Klaus. Ashwin as always gave 100% but with no scalps to show for it. James bowled beautifully and after 3 overs was 6 for 1 wkt....but got some unfair punishment and ended at 28 for 1 in 5. The Champs went into the break with SPA at 5 for 78 after 14 overs and feeling confident. Unfortunately that's where the momentum was lost, that's when the Champs led by yours truly lost the plot and SPA's prayers to Allah paid off. In the following 9 overs SPA amassed a total of 156 doubling their efforts of the first 14. Sorry Champs, 30 runs of 3 overs from your skip was unforgivable and painful. Disco, I'm sure also felt the pain as he ended with 16 in two overs. During all this the champs fielding was above par and Tony and Chiro, showed once again why they are the safest hands in the team. All in all despite great efforts by Klaus and James, the bowling effort had much to be desired. 32 wides in a 23 over game makes life a little bit tough.
With a target of 156, the drizzle and a bunch of devout Muslims waiting for the Champs, the mood was still good. Plenty of banter and support. Not for a second did anyone want a washout. We were there for the kill. Tony and Ashwin padded up and walked in with simple instructions... "have fun". With the rain as unsure about it future as Mrs Nasir (Samosa goddess) was about Lord Gibbs proposal for marriage, Tony and Ash had to ensure 89 runs off the first 12 overs, just in case the rain gods got angrier. 1st ball ... well left ......2nd ball..... Tony jumps only to find the ball hitting the top of his pad, the champs in the shed yelping....”no that's too high”....and the ump, who by the way has drunk enough of our piss post our losses then anyone else, raised his finger. Champs not off to a good start.
Enters Mr Reliable, Champs original skip....Mr Forday. Little did the tea tottling, 100 plus drinking Pakistani's know that they had a Son of Jerusalem amongst them. It was no surprise to see Geoff continue in his merry form and dispatch the ball to the various corners of the ground. He was keeping the strike, come what may and after 5 overs, Geoff was 21 in 28 balls and Ashwin had faced only 1 ball. "Allah o Akbar" ....”god is great” was the cheer from the SPA squad as Geoff succumbed to a lose delivery and skied it. Champs 2 down with 28 on the board in 6 overs.
I arrived at the pitch with Ashwin in good spirits. Ashwin and I pushed the total to 54, with Ash helping me through my shots and ensuring I don't do an afridi. The Pakistani fielding made ours look like Champs. Every ball was followed by yet another field change. They were as organised as the taxi rank in lahore. With the total in mind, style afridi was the solution. But there was a glitch. A leg spinner named Arafat... Yasir Arafat?. Another Son of Jerusalem. "Allah o Akbar" they roared as Ashwin frustrated with the short pitch, ankle high leggies founds himself outside the crease.
Next on to the ground comes a champ who I feel for the most. Someone, who since joining the champs has made the most appearances at nets, both scheduled and on his own time, has run ragged in the field, has been supportive to all and yet awaits his day in the sun. Homi we determined to stay the whole 23 overs. But before he could start we came off for drinks after 12 overs with 55 on the board and a large but achievable 101 in the next 11 overs. With 3 wickets down we were far from out of this one. The boys in the shed reminded us of the need for speed and that's what the game plan was.
Homi's entrance was confident and exit was painful. Like a true champ his face said it all. Unable to deliver for his team his only concern. A mistimed hit saw Mr Arafat catch of his own effort and send homi home.
Chiro's stint at the crease while short, was full of wisdom. With his help we got the runs flowing again and in 5 overs we took the score from 56 to 104. Leaving us with 52 off the last 6. Achievable given what we had achieved in the last 5. Chiro and I were fired up, the rain had nearly stopped, I for a second even imagined calling zahrah to tell her to bring the kids and some extra beers to the ground as we had won. "Allah o Akbar" they cried and chiro starts heading for the shed. This was the over in which chiro and I were aiming to unleash.....
Klaus's arrival at the pitch was comforting. Here is someone who gives 100% in whatever he does and as a skip I would have him on the pitch even before myself. He is a proven run maker both with intelligent singles and big hits when required. We knew what was required....just hit the bad balls and the rest would come. Klaus stuck around for a few and in his attempt to keep the runs flowing, played one on to his stumps. Champs 116 for 6.
This was truly a day when Allah was listening. After a few “Allah o Akbar”, the muslim in me also forgot about the much anticipated beer call and looked to the sky. I was rewarded with a few dropped catches and enough time on the crease to register an enjoyable but hollow 54. Even Allah gave up on me and yours truly skied one, leaving the Champs 7 for 118.
The champs story doesn't end there. What happens next is what makes the champs the champs. James, Disco, Ben and Lord Gibb, all entered the ground to win. They all gave there best and went down fighting. These are the true champs who game after game, bowl and field their guts out, to the point where they start seeing two chiro's behind the stump and then give another 100% as batsmen. This season they have been called upon to deliver again and again, both with the ball and bat. In true champ style not one has ever complained. The last blow came in the last over, lord gibb attempting a 6 lands short, into the hands of jubilant Pakistani.
Champs our bowling was patchy and batting well below its potential. 32 wides and only 3 batsmen in double figures is well below our standard. Having said that, Champs it is a pleasure to play with you all and an honor to be your skip. I'd rather lose all matches with the champs then win one with anyone else.
Mm
Monday, July 12, 2010
Match report :: Anza Div V vs British Club, 11 Jul 2010
Tom Woods blasted 78 off only 42 balls to provide the perfect platform for a resounding victory for the Feisty Fifths over the British Club at Turf City on Sunday.
The Fifths were asked to bat with the ground still bathed in early morning dew, Spainy later admitting that if he would have won the toss he would have also inserted the opposition. If the British Club thought that the early morning moisture would make it difficult for the batsmen to score, they were mistaken. Tom and Mark got the Fifths off to a flier, putting on 128 for the first wicket, before Tom was smartly stumped for 78. His innings consisted of nine four's and three sixes. Their partnership flourished despite much sledging from their team mates on the sidelines. Appeals were heard from their fellow ANZA players anxious that they might miss out on their opportunity to hit some easy runs; they needn't have bothered.
Once the first wicket fell, others quickly followed. 128-1 soon became 156-5, as Geoff (4), Mark (42), Robert (3) and Jodie (8) all departed in quick succession. Spainy (5) and Josh (19) put up a little resistance, managing 20 for the sixth wicket amd taking the total to 176. Paul made 10 and was one of only five batsmen that made double figures. Josh and Jim (8) got the total over 200, but the second highest partnership of the day came from the last two batsmen Lawrence (23*) and John (8*), who put on 27. Fortunately the Fifths maintained a healthy run-rate throughout, leaving the British Club facing a daunting 239 to win.
They needed to get a off to good start but they never found themselves in the hunt.
Captain Spainy and Lawrence opened the bowling and the British club found the going tough. Geoff took a blinder of a catch with his legs off Lawrence for the first dismissal. Spainy then bowled the other opener with a leg cutter leaving the British Club on 32-2. This brought Chris Pardey to the crease, clearly anxious to get the scoreboard moving and did so with a couple of good boundaries. Paul took a great catch at mid-off off Jim to dismiss White (15). Ali (0) didn't last much longer, being run-out smartly by Mark in a race to the bowler's end from mid-wicket. The British Club were struggling at 62-4. Prakash who had taken 3 wickets during ANZA's innings came in and with his repertoire of only one shot managed to strike three fours before walking across his crease andbeing trapped in front by Jim. By now the British club's required rate was well over 10 runs an over and despite Chris Pardey and Andy Watson putting on 53 for the sixth partnership they were struggling to hit the boundaries they needed. John got Pardey (64) out lbw and was unlucky not to pick up another wicket when Jim took a one handed catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary, only to throw the ball back as he started to fall back over the rope. Lawrence picked up the seventh wicket as the British Club tried to get an additional point by making 180. Their skipper Andy Watson remained unbeaten on 28 off 32 balls, but the British Club finished well behind at 176-7, also failing to get that extra point - will that come to haunt them in the future? ANZA's 62 run victory was well deserved.
Special thanks to Geoff who was conned into packing the kit. I suspect that will be the last time that he'll take his team mates word for it that he was the lowest scoring batsman.
ANZA V 238 - 9
Tom 78 off 42 (9x 4's, 3x 6's)
Mark 42 off 45 (3 x 4's)
Lawrence 23* off 30
British Club 176-7
Lawrence 6-0-2-26
Jim 6-1-2-32
Spainy 6-0-1-35
By James Howlett
The Fifths were asked to bat with the ground still bathed in early morning dew, Spainy later admitting that if he would have won the toss he would have also inserted the opposition. If the British Club thought that the early morning moisture would make it difficult for the batsmen to score, they were mistaken. Tom and Mark got the Fifths off to a flier, putting on 128 for the first wicket, before Tom was smartly stumped for 78. His innings consisted of nine four's and three sixes. Their partnership flourished despite much sledging from their team mates on the sidelines. Appeals were heard from their fellow ANZA players anxious that they might miss out on their opportunity to hit some easy runs; they needn't have bothered.
Once the first wicket fell, others quickly followed. 128-1 soon became 156-5, as Geoff (4), Mark (42), Robert (3) and Jodie (8) all departed in quick succession. Spainy (5) and Josh (19) put up a little resistance, managing 20 for the sixth wicket amd taking the total to 176. Paul made 10 and was one of only five batsmen that made double figures. Josh and Jim (8) got the total over 200, but the second highest partnership of the day came from the last two batsmen Lawrence (23*) and John (8*), who put on 27. Fortunately the Fifths maintained a healthy run-rate throughout, leaving the British Club facing a daunting 239 to win.
They needed to get a off to good start but they never found themselves in the hunt.
Captain Spainy and Lawrence opened the bowling and the British club found the going tough. Geoff took a blinder of a catch with his legs off Lawrence for the first dismissal. Spainy then bowled the other opener with a leg cutter leaving the British Club on 32-2. This brought Chris Pardey to the crease, clearly anxious to get the scoreboard moving and did so with a couple of good boundaries. Paul took a great catch at mid-off off Jim to dismiss White (15). Ali (0) didn't last much longer, being run-out smartly by Mark in a race to the bowler's end from mid-wicket. The British Club were struggling at 62-4. Prakash who had taken 3 wickets during ANZA's innings came in and with his repertoire of only one shot managed to strike three fours before walking across his crease andbeing trapped in front by Jim. By now the British club's required rate was well over 10 runs an over and despite Chris Pardey and Andy Watson putting on 53 for the sixth partnership they were struggling to hit the boundaries they needed. John got Pardey (64) out lbw and was unlucky not to pick up another wicket when Jim took a one handed catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary, only to throw the ball back as he started to fall back over the rope. Lawrence picked up the seventh wicket as the British Club tried to get an additional point by making 180. Their skipper Andy Watson remained unbeaten on 28 off 32 balls, but the British Club finished well behind at 176-7, also failing to get that extra point - will that come to haunt them in the future? ANZA's 62 run victory was well deserved.
Special thanks to Geoff who was conned into packing the kit. I suspect that will be the last time that he'll take his team mates word for it that he was the lowest scoring batsman.
ANZA V 238 - 9
Tom 78 off 42 (9x 4's, 3x 6's)
Mark 42 off 45 (3 x 4's)
Lawrence 23* off 30
British Club 176-7
Lawrence 6-0-2-26
Jim 6-1-2-32
Spainy 6-0-1-35
By James Howlett
