Scorecard

Bovingdon v Phoenix Cricket Club Phoenix on Sat 25 Apr 2009 at 1.30pm
Phoenix Cricket Club Won 8 wickets

Match report With the Skipper and Vice unavailable for the game, Sanj lead Fabian's Legionnaires' (sounds like an STD but fingers crossed it's not contagious) & Jason's Argonauts to the picturesque trip to the village of Bovingdon. Raj & Parm were making their Phoenix debut.

A sunny day welcomed both teams and on winning the toss, Sanj elected to bowl first.

The Bovingdon batsman came out looking to attack and after eight overs had reached fifty runs. Was bowling first the right option but it was not as the batsman made chance-less runs with edges flying past the close fielders and the mistimed hits falling short of the fielders in the deep.

The opening partnership was ended with an inspired piece of individual brilliance as Dinesh ran out the opener as he swooped in from mid-on and hit the stumps with a direct throw. This was the first of two run outs as the second run out was executed beautifully with the batsman being out by miles returning for a second run as he took on the arm of Sofian, who rocketed in a throw from third man straight over the stumps for Indi to take the bails.

This was the breakthrough Phoenix so desperately needed and with the run rate as high as it was, Sanj decided to bring on Parm and Himself. Parm bowled a beautiful line and length reducing the run rate somewhat but what happened next is now etched in the Phoenix Hall of Fame as the best ever bowing performance.

Sanj could be heard singing his own version of the song by The Four Tops 'Just Seven Numbers':

Baby, wo-o-o
Just seven wickets
Can straighten out that line
But my fingers will turn that ball
Just seven wickets
Can put me straight to the top
Just your hello would make me smile.

Bovingdon were bowled out for one hundred and fifty-five in the thirty-eighth over as Sanj took seven wickets for just thirty-six runs in eleven point four overs. Phoenix bowled and fielded well especially taking into account the fact that a 'harsh but fair' umpire signaling anything outside leg stump as a wide. This is clearly highlighted as Bovingdon's top score was in the form of forty-nine extras.

At tea, Phoenix knew they just had to bat sensibly in order to win the game. This Phoenix duly did as Partnerships were the order of the day as the chase was over with nine overs to go. Noman & Raj opened the batting and made fifty-four runs off fourteen over, Noman & Bob then made forty-two runs off eight overs and finally Bob & Rahul scored sixty-three runs off nine overs.

Noman batted sublimely with a superb sixty-nine (which included twelve fours) that gave Phoenix the solid foundation they needed and Rahul batted with ease as he powered his way to a well made thirty-nine (which included five fours and a six) that helped Phoenix cross the winning line.

Sanj's seven wickets turned the game into Phoenix's favour and for this reason he is named Man of the Match.

Back in the 14th century of Bovingdon, due to strong religious views two people were executed for Lollardism (religious intolerance). Today such killing was not required as Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs & Christians alike played in 'ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on a cricket field, oh lord, why dont we?' - maximum respect to Stevie Wonder.

Well done to Bovingdon who played the game in the correct spirit and having one of the best teas we have ever had. As for Phoenix who displayed great team spirit, to quote Harold S. Geneen (American Businessman, CEO of ITT, 1910-1997) 'Performance is your reality. Forget everything else'.

Bovingdon Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
155 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Phoenix Cricket Club Phoenix Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sofian Mohammed7.002600.003.71
Farhan 'Rowdy' Nabeel10.0045145.004.50
Sanjeev Kumar11.423675.143.09
Dinesh Padwal2.001700.008.50
Parmjit Singh7.001900.002.71

Phoenix Cricket Club Phoenix Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
159		        
Noman Sohail ct  Mid-on 69
Radjindre 'Raaj' Jagram Bowled  7
Wahab 'Bob' Mohammed Not Out  15
Rahul Ghai Not Out  39
Vishal-Karna Kumar  
Dinesh Padwal   1
Inderjit 'Indi' Jassal   1
Sofian Mohammed   1 1
Parmjit Singh  
Farhan 'Rowdy' Nabeel  
Sanjeev Kumar  

Bovingdon Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.