Match Report

fixture+date
     27/07/2011

match+result
     HOME WIN

home+team
     SWAN

home+runs
     148

home+wickets
     7

home+overs
     20

away+team
     ANITE TELECOMS

away+runs
     147

away+wickets
     9

away+overs
     20

match+report
     Here is a short report.

 

The Swan won the toss and elected to bat. The opening batsmen raced away to an excellent start until celebrity publican and local personality, Derek Middleton, pulled a hamstring. Most unfortunately this ended Derek's participation on the playing field. The departure of Derek brought P. Brown to the crease. Shortly afterwards the other opener was dismissed and this allowed Matt Sparks to enter the fray. With Brown and Sparks at the crease runs flowed at a furious pace. By the end of the 12th over, the Swan had 93 runs on the board.

 

During this spell a rather nasty injury befell one of the Anite team. Diving to stop a ball at mid-wicket, Sarab, always a strong performer with bat and ball, fell awkwardly and dislocated his shoulder. He was able to leave the field with assistance but was later taken to hospital by ambulance. Our best wishes go to Sarab for a speedy recovery.

 

The flow of the innings was then seriously undermined by the dismissals of Sparks and Brown. With new batsmen coming to the crease the initiative turned towards the bowling side. For Anite, the bowling of Sukhi (apologies if the spelling is wrong but I don't have the book to hand) and skipper Saroj Panda were key components in the fight back. In the end the Swan finished on 148 from their 20 overs.

 

When interviewed by your correspondent between the innings, Anite captain, Saroj Panda, was not too confident in his sides ability to respond to the Swan score. Missing Sarab, he felt the total might be beyond them. Nevertheless, the two opening batsmen, Sukhi and Sandeep, strode purposefully to the crease, determined to rise to the occasion. And rise they did! Both batsmen found no difficulty in putting bat to ball. In particular Sukhi flailed the bowling to all corners of the ground and soon retired with 35 to his name. Sandeep took a more measured approach but he to made it into the 30s before falling.

 

The reply had momentum from the start and this boosted the Anite moral. Even the normally frugal Matt Sparks received a bit of 'treatment' from the batters. Having said that, wickets did fall from time to time and the Swan fielding was very good. Those watching could sense the match was heading to a tight finish and it was certainly a great spectacle for the fans who crowded into the ground (small exaggeration here!).

 

With the last 'normal' Anite wicket falling, the main man Sukhi returned to the crease. With something like 21 runs required from 3 overs and one wicket remaining, things were tight. More boundaries followed and Anite found themselves needing 7 from the last over. With Matt Sparks to bowl, in the ever decreasing light, this was not going to be easy.

 

It all boiled down to Anite needing 4 from the last ball. Bat met ball and nobody could be quite sure where it had gone. The batters ran but the ball returned from the deep in time to stop them taking a third run. The Swan had won by 1 run.

 

This was a great match, played in a very competitive manner but also in an excellent spirit. The two umpires, Pete Brewer and Simon Tickner, played a large part in this by showing total consistency across the two innings. Our thanks go to both of them.

 

Postscipt on the League title:

 

The Scrummagers, the Swan and Anite were all tied on the same number of points at the top of the league table, it not being possible to split them under the existing league rules. Given this impasse, Saroj Panda and Derek Middleton showed true sportsmanship by agreeing that whoever won the final would have their league record judged against the Scrummagers to decide the league title. The other team stepping aside.

 

Given the result of the Cup Final, this meant that the result of the league match between the Scummagers and the Swan would decide the destination of the league trophy. As the Scrummagers beat the Swan in this fixture they were duly crowned champions for the 2011 season.

 

Well done to all!

 

Your+Name
     Ian Verrinder