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Sat. 25th August 2007
1st XI (133) vs MTSSC (71) Won
(Away – 30pts)
We arrived at MTSSC in plenty of time as the benefits
of earlier starts mean lighter traffic on the roads.
With players away again (the story of the season)
we were not a full strength but equally a few faces
were missing from MTSSC with a Tamil school tournament
on the day. We naturally made full use of our early
arrival by hanging around the pavilion recovering,
in my case from an excellent night’s kip on
Derrick’s four foot sofa. The weather was looking
good although the pitch was somewhat sodden with
the weight of the week’s rain. Losing the toss
and being put in was therefore not the best start
against a strong MTSSC opening bowling line up.
We made a slow start with both Alistair Wilson and
Derrick Cordy struggling to get hold of the new ball.
Extras were top scorers for some time as we approached
10 overs with only 20 on the board. Unfortunately
the frustration led to Derrick aka ‘JC’ chasing
a wide one and edging to slip. Colin Williams then
joined Lummox (Alistair) for the biggest stand of
the day as whilst neither ever got on top of the
bowling they battled hard for runs, scampering on
the slow outfield and supplementing this with the
odd boundary. Having batted through to drinks and
seen some acceleration MTSSC had gone rather quiet
when, with the score on 84, AW was adjudged LBW 7
short of his fifty (that makes 43 for those not so
sharp in the mathematical department). Colin continued
to look in fine form including hitting the MTSSC ‘pro’ for
an enormous straight 6 but alas the umpire’s
finger appeared again as the first ball from the
third change bowler hit Colin on the full in front
with him making 34 (the ball probably deserved to
make that 40!). Skipper Tariq looked in good nick
but we were dealt a blow as the umpire raised his
finger for the third time to adjudge him LBW despite
a huge edge. From 122/3 we went into an AP terminal
decline as the middle and lower order failed to have
any impact and fell to a range of full tosses and
innocuous balls as we lost 7 wickets for 11 runs.
Amit Bose top scored from batsman 5 and below with
a couple of lusty blows to make 6. Despite the pitch
we felt this was well below what we should have made
and that it would be a struggle to defend.
Taking the old ball we struck early with Tariq opening
his account. Their number 3 took a liking to Nigel
Bagley, however, and they quickly raced to 49 although
they had given a few half chances in the process.
Indeed the number 3 seemed to be on a self destruct
course and eventually hoiked Taz straight up in the
air for the skipper to take a good caught and bowled.
The next ball the opener, who had been batting very
sensibly, got a leading edge for Taz to take another
caught and bowled. Suddenly they were under a bit
of pressure as they’d fiddled around with the
batting line up to give a couple of people a game.
It didn’t take us long to get numbers 4, 5
and 6 and Taz joined forces with Rutjiga Perera.
This was the crucial period as their skipper joined
their ‘pro’ but they could not get any
momentum as with some superb bowling, backed up by
some excellent fielding, including some serious body
blows up close, led to both their dismissals. With
just their wicketkeeper, no mean bat, and the tail
we were suddenly on top and we didn’t let it
slip with Tariq ending up with 6 wickets and Rutjiga
4.
Once again the result shows some of our inconsistencies
this season but the excellent spirit in which we
play most of the time. We need to learn from this
for next season, get a strong side out each week
and we will be favourites to go up. Sadly a couple
of results not going our way means it will be tough
to do this year.
AW
2nd XI (172/8) vs Old Lyonians (187) Drawn
3rd XI (28) vs Twickenham (29) Lost
4th XI (170/9) Mill Hill Village (177) Drawn
No reports received
Sun. 26th August 2007
1st XI (168/2) vs Old Finchleians (167/9) WON
A rare AP win at Southover for an XI missing several
Sunday regulars with Terry McGrath MOM for his
runs and wickets. After winning the toss, AP chose
to field in this 40 overs game and use the Dukes
ball first as it does swing considerably when new.
We had lots of bowling options but the batting
line-up was best suited to a chase. Manan Banker
and Nigel Bagley (1-12) had some early success
to reduce OFs to 30/3 and it should have been more
as we dropped some sitters and the batsmen rode
their luck. Just as OFs threatened something in
the region of 200 or so, Terry took 3-43 with his
off-spin and Amit Bose came back to take 2-26.
Manan knocked over the last OFs batter for 3-22.
(They only had 10 players).
After tea, the skipper suggested to openers McGrath
and Rohan DaSilva that a big opening partnership
would be required to give AP a chance. The
lads didn’t disappoint, compiling a stand of
126 to win the game well ahead of schedule. The OFs
attack was picked off clinically and with only one
chance given and not taken. Rohan was eventually
run out for 47 and Terry just missed out on a ton – 92
not out - thanks to a rash of extras, 5 penalty
runs for the ball striking the helmet behind the
keeper and Rohan pinching the strike when he was
in his 60s. Shyraz Mohammed looked in no trouble
but holed out to mid-on for 6, but Terry and Arvind
Damarla saw us home. Thanks to everyone who played.
NB
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