THE PRESIDENT'S XI |
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v. WELLINGTON (YORK) |
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We were however assured by the Wellie that they would have extra players to fill in for us, so I was not unduly perturbed, as it is common knowledge that there are a sufficient number of social misfits within the club who would not be able to arrange any alternative activity no matter how much advance warning we gave them. Sure enough we managed to raise a tour party of 10 players. We were even more reassured when the Wellie told us that they too had only managed to raise 10 players, so we agreed to a 10-a-side match, thus removing the problem that has begun to trouble us on a regular basis this year – where to put the extra fielder. We were indeed fortunate that Brian Lake, Guy Martin, Mike Edwards and Christian Dingwall were able to make the tour and give a much-needed boost to the average age of the party. We would otherwise have been severely embarrassed by a Wellie team that boasted an average age of over 50. A hard core of the team went up to York on Saturday, and an even harder core (Mike, Andrew, Chris and Christian) dropped in for some pre-match socialising with the opposition at the Wellie. However we imposed a very strict curfew and left the pub at 9.30 to make our way to our accommodation conveniently situated a mere one-and-a-half hour’s drive away in Runswick Bay. We arrived in time to make the last few rounds in the local pub, and then retired for some strategy discussions to a neighbour’s house, before heading down to the beach for a strenuous pre-match training session involving a heavy back-pack full of beer. By 3.30 a.m. (or was it 4) most of us were ready for a well-earned rest. Next morning, Chris showed hidden culinary talents by providing a delicious scrambled egg breakfast, and after some further pre-match preparation, we set off for York, arriving only a few minutes after the scheduled start time. Praba, Nikesh, Danish and Raheel were there on time of course as they had only had to make the short drive up from London that morning. Praba lost the toss and we were put in to bat, - Danish and Brian Lake opening. Danish started in the cavalier style which has brought him scores of 35, 47 and 27 so far this season. Unfortunately 5 hours in a car was not ideal preparation and an attempt at a full-blooded drive off his second ball resulted only in the slightest of edges, presenting wicket-keeper Galloway with a simple catch. Brian Lake looked in good form striking a confident boundary to open his score before he too gloved a catch to the wicketkeeper for Ryan’s second wicket. At 19 for 2 after only 3 overs, this had become a real trip down memory lane. However Mike Edwards and Chris Lewis showed the value of leaving no stoned unturned in match preparation and kept the scoreboard ticking over at about 5 per over until Chris unluckily deflected an inside edge onto his stumps. Captain Praba came to the crease playing some immaculate and sensible defensive shots. He looked set for a big score, middling every ball until the last one, an attempted sweep off new spin bowler Roberts which he missed completely. It landed on his foot and resulted in a controversial lbw decision. At 54 for 4, things were starting to look a bit grim for the Presidents. However Mike Edwards (59 – runs, not years) and Raheel (78) rode their luck early on with some skied shots, and countless play and misses (especially from Edwards) to put together a match-winning partnership of [either 117 or 126] runs before Edwards gave an exhausted catch to the mid-on, Roberts, who had put down an identical chance from Raheel a couple of balls earlier. Nikesh never got going and became the 3rd of those who had made the car journey up that day to get out unusually cheaply, being bowled by Bullock for one. Raheel, the only one of the day-trippers to make a score, was next to go, caught by Warlow off Sampson for a magnificent 78. This only served to bring Andrew Swan to the crease. He too showed the value of thorough preparation and knocked up a lively 21 not out. Guy Martin looked in good form, but misjudged the steep trajectory of Baz Ward’s bowling to give a catch to Warlow. Christian Dingwall, taking time off from his cameraman duties , was last man out after contributing a lively 11 runs as part of a final wicket partnership of 27. With a run rate of around 6 an over, things looked good for the Presidents. Our grip on the game was tightened when Danish had Sampson caught behind in his first over for 2. With Praba bowling opener Steve Relf immediately after that with an unplayable ball, and Danish bowling Peter Miller, the Presidents had a vice-like grip on the game. After some subtle arm twisting from Brian, Praba made a bowling change, bringing on Nikesh and Andrew Swan. This provided no relief for the embattled Wellie, who were unable to get the scoreboard moving at anything like the rate needed, even though they did not lose any more wickets. Guy Martin and Brian Lake then brushed off the cobwebs to provide 5 overs each of craft and guile which netted each of them a wicket and conceded precious little runs. Finally, overcome with generosity from what appeared an unassailable position, Praba brought on a very tired Raheel and an exhausted Mike Edwards, coinciding with the arrival at the crease of Martin Ryan, who produced some great hitting to considerably narrow the gap. Praba and Danish returned to the attack for the last 6 overs, Danish getting Ryan caught off a full toss for 42 to end any hope the Wellie had of closing the gap. Although Nick Warlow put together a spirited 28 runs, the Presidents’ target proved to be too much in the end. Pick of the Presidents’ bowlers were Praba who conceded only 18 runs in his 7 overs (7-3-1-18), Danish who picked up 3 wickets (7-1-3-30), Andrew Swan who conceded only 15 in his 5 overs (5-0-15-0) and Brian Lake who took 1 for 19 in his 5 overs (5-0-1-19). Mike Edwards | |||||||
PRESIDENT'S XI | |||||||
ct. GALLOWAY |
b. RYAN |
0 | |||||
ct. GALLOWAY |
b. RYAN |
4 | |||||
... |
b. BULLOCK |
27 | |||||
ct. ROBERTS |
b. WARLOW |
59 | |||||
l.b.w. |
b. ROBERTS |
1 | |||||
ct. WARLOW |
b. SAMPSON |
78 | |||||
... |
b. BULLOCK |
1 | |||||
not out |
... |
21 | |||||
ct. WARLOW |
b. WARD |
1 | |||||
ct. & |
b. SAMPSON |
11 | |||||
EXTRAS |
... |
... |
22 | ||||
TOTAL 225 ALL OUT (38 OVERS) | |||||||
RYAN |
8 |
1 |
34 |
2 | |||
BULLOCK |
8 |
0 |
36 |
2 | |||
SAMPSON |
8 |
0 |
35 |
2 | |||
ROBERTS |
5 |
0 |
33 |
1 | |||
WARLOW |
3 |
0 |
31 |
1 | |||
WARD |
3 |
0 |
22 |
1 | |||
WELLINGTON (YORK) | |||||||
RELF |
... |
9 | |||||
SAMPSON |
ct. CHRIS LEWIS |
b. DANISH |
2 | ||||
MILLER |
... |
b. DANISH |
6 | ||||
GALLOWAY |
... |
run out |
29 | ||||
BULLOCK |
ct. MIKE EDWARDS |
b. GUY MARTIN |
31 | ||||
ROBERTS |
b. |
b. BRIAN LAKE |
5 | ||||
RYAN |
ct. MIKE EDWARDS |
b. DANISH |
42 | ||||
WARD |
... |
run out |
8 | ||||
WARLOW |
not out |
... |
28 | ||||
EUSEDEN |
not out |
... |
0 | ||||
EXTRAS |
... |
... |
25 | ||||
TOTAL 185-8 (40 OVERS) | |||||||
7 |
1 |
30 |
3 | ||||
7 |
3 |
18 |
1 | ||||
5 |
0 |
15 |
0 | ||||
5 |
0 |
26 |
0 | ||||
5 |
0 |
25 |
1 | ||||
5 |
0 |
19 |
1 | ||||
3 |
0 |
18 |
0 | ||||
3 |
0 |
29 |
0 | ||||
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