Scorecard

Long Ditton v Phoenix Cricket Club Phoenix on Sun 23 Sep 2007 at 12pm
Phoenix Cricket Club Lost 6 wickets

Match report The Merry Men are the group of outlaws who follow Robin Hood, according to English folklore

The Last Hurrah - Stars Spencer Tracy as Frank Skeffington who is an old Irish-American political boss, running for re-election as Mayor of a US town for the last time. Film Directed by John Ford.

Echelon - An arrangement of a body of troops when its divisions are drawn up in parallel lines each to the right or the left of the one in advance of it, like the steps of a ladder in position for climbing.


Sanj returned as stand-in captain and led Jason's Merry Men to the last game of the season and our annual last fixture with Long Ditton. Last season Phoenix couldn’t hold out for a draw even though only a few overs were left to play so could today's match be just as close.

A lovely bright autumn day welcomed both teams and with most of the team taking an extended route to the ground Fabian went out to represent Phoenix at the toss. On winning the toss, Fabian had no hesitation on deciding to bat first.

Phoenix began tentatively in which the first two overs of the innings were played out to maidens. The next four overs saw Fabian and Nad express themselves as five fours were smashed to the boundary. Being in a commanding position and then throwing the wicket away became a pattern of choice as Phoenix lost batsman after batsman due to silly shot when the scoreboard was ticking over and Phoenix looking trouble free.

Phoenix looked settled and in charge of proceedings when :

Nad, likened to Much the Miller's Son, a seasoned fighter, played a 'bat shot' when reaching double figures gave Long Ditton the breakthrough. A special mention to Nad for passing the four hundred runs for the season.

Fabian, likened to Little John, a huge & strong lieutenant, was on form as he battered his way to a brilliant forty nine (which included six fours and two sixes) before playing his out shot.

Shiv, likened to Arthur a Bland, accused poacher, got into the act after a slow start as he stole singles and punished the bad balls with ease scoring an excellent thirty (which included three fours and a six) before running himself out.

Varun, likened to Will Scarlet, a skilled swordsman, crafted a splendid twenty (which included three fours) before getting himself bowled around his legs.

Tushar, likened to Alan-a-Dale, a roving minstrel, ran brilliantly easing to fifteen as tried to up the tempo in the last few overs but couldn’t punish the quick bowler who then had him caught.

Richard, likened to David of Doncaster, a renowned wrestler, dug in and competed hard for every run as he made his first runs for the team. He made a gutsy twenty one before running himself out with the last ball of the innings.

At tea, Phoenix had made one hundred and sixty runs of their allotted forty overs. With so many batsman making a start Phoenix's final score was well below par. Wickets fell at regular intervals when Phoenix were well placed to set about making a huge score and losing three wickets in four balls in the twenty eighth over didn’t help the cause either.

Long Ditton came out to bat with a dogged determination and concentration in which the they defended the good balls and put away the bad balls without taking too many risks. Nad made the breakthrough early with Rahul taking a good catch but from then on for the next thirty overs Long Ditton slowly but surely made in roads to the Phoenix score.

Then came the glitch as Fabian made the breakthrough with Rowdy taking a fine catch at mid-off to get rid off Sweeney who top scored with an sublime seventy five. Long Ditton then wobbled as they lost two wickets in the next two overs as Shiv held on to two well judged catches.

Long Ditton needed thirty runs off thirty balls to win. The new batsmen played and missed to the oohs and aahs of the Phoenix fielders and the pressure was on. With wickets in hand they defused the tension with some excellent stroke play and got Long Ditton over the winning line with an over to spare.

Well done to Long Ditton for another close finishing game and being great hosts. The Last Hurrah ended up with a fun full day - for once again even though we lost the game we were victorious in showing to all involved the fun that can be had from playing cricket in terms of spirit and laughter. The season started with the words 'Responsibility' and 'Accountability' being echoed around the upper & lower echelons of Phoenix's inner chamber and the season ends with these very words coming back to invigorate us.

To quote Antoine de Saint-Exupery (French Pilot, Writer and Author of 'The Little Prince', 1900-1944), 'The greatness of a craft consists firstly in how it brings comradeship to men'.

The craft of Cricket has given Phoenix the unity it prides itself on - to quote David Storey (British Novelist, Playwright and Poet, b.1933), 'The essence of true friendship is to make allowances for another's little lapses'.

Gratitude preserves old friendships, and procures new. On this note the Phoenix committee would like to thank all the members for another great season.


Phoenix Cricket Club Phoenix Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
160		        
Fabian Saverimuttu Caught  49
Nadeem 'Nad' Rashid Caught  10
Rahul Ghai Caught  4 1
Shiv Sud Run out  30 2
Varun Ghai Bowled  20
Kashif Ihsan Bowled  0
Richard Parker Run out  21
Tushar Ilwahdi Caught  15
Amrit Toor Stumped  0
Farhan 'Rowdy' Nabeel Not Out  2 1
Sanjeev Kumar  

Long Ditton Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Long Ditton Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 4 wickets
0
161 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Phoenix Cricket Club Phoenix Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Farhan 'Rowdy' Nabeel7.013000.004.29
Nadeem 'Nad' Rashid8.0214114.001.75
Sanjeev Kumar8.0038138.004.75
Amrit Toor5.001500.003.00
Tushar Ilwahdi3.002300.007.67
Fabian Saverimuttu8.0034217.004.25