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| v DODGERS, 18TH JULY 2012 |
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Superstars retain Ken Block Trophy with tight win over Dodgers
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Superstars 147 all out (34 overs) BEAT |
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Dodgers 142 all out (33.4 overs) BY 5 RUNS |
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With the jet stream stubbornly refusing to move before the game
got underway, Superstars and Dodgers faced off under grey skies at Chiswick in a 35-over match with the potential
to determine who would hold the coveted Ken Block Trophy at the end of the season, following the tie in the series'
first match. Barry won (or rather Dodgers lost) the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that was to
prove important later on. |
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Paul was unable to replicate his usual run-scoring feats against Dodgers
as he was given out caught behind for 7. Adam (50 retired) and Will built a steady platform, adding 74 in 15 overs.
However, Vijay's dismissal, lbw for 1, sparked a collapse of 'England in the 90s' proportions. The score went from 97-1
to 101-6 in the space of about 3 overs as Will (caught behind for 30), Errol (bowled for 2), Chris (caught at cover
for 1) and Barry (caught at point for 0) swiftly followed Vijay back to the "changing room". Mr Scarecrow and Mr Zumba
were then left with the task of rebuilding the innings and getting Superstars up to a defendable total. They started
cautiously but increased their scoring rate so that the score was on 145 with two overs remaining. What should
have been the penultimate over of the innings actually proved to be the final over as first Jason (for 24), then Mike
(13) and Alok (0) were all run out. The mathematically minded amongst you might realise that this only makes 9 wickets;
Jez didn't turn up in time to bat and, as the rain worsened during the innings break, Superstars were left to wonder
if they would rue the missed runs they could have got in the 35th over. |
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After a bitter of a shower and some grumblings about whether we should
just get on with it or all go home, play resumed under a light drizzle. The rain had slowed the outfield and this,
combined with some sharp ground fielding and tight bowling restricted the Dodgers openers. They appeared to be waiting
for the bad ball but didn't get many from Jez who, fresh from not having to bat, bowled a 7 over spell for just 9 runs,
including 4 maidens and a spell of 23 consecutive dot balls. Chris opened from the other end and also kept it very
tight, with his first 4 yielding just 17 runs. The pressure of the slow scoring rate was trying to tell and as they
tried to attack Mike and Alok (5-0-30-0) Dodgers started to offer a number of chances. Unfortunately the catching wasn't
quite of the same standard as the ground fielding and at least 3 catches were put down before Jason hung on to one from
Mike's bowling to dismiss McBarron for 29. Mike then returned the compliment, catching Lindsay for 0 off Jason's
bowling before Jason also accounted for danger man Dollin (45). The drops appeared to be returning, though, as Paul put
down a straight forward chance but it turned out to be a clever ploy as he swiftly scooped the ball up and affected a
run out. 2 devastatingly straight "Zumba" balls from Jason sped the Dodgers collapse and he finished with 7-0-27-4.
Vijay (4-0-30-1) picked up a wicket lbw before engaging in some verbal sparring as the tension mounted. With 3 overs
remaining, Dodgers needed only 12 with 3 wickets remaining. After his earlier heroics with the bat, Mike was called on
and picked up 2 more wickets, courtesy of some ferocious short pitched bowling and catches by Barry and Jason,
to finish with 20-3 off 6 overs. Chris (4.4-0-21-1) was recalled to bowl the penultimate over, with 11 needed for the
win and the last pair at the crease. Carr hit one down the ground for 4 but the Big Hill didn't let that faze him and
duly induced a loopy shot to point, where Mike claimed the catch and the win that guarantees Superstars will at
least retain the Ken Block Trophy. |
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One of the great Dodgers-Superstars matches which will go down in history. |
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