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Friday 28th April. ARM TECHNOLOGY. |
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Venue: Cantabrigian Rugby Club. Toss won by Barry. Format: 20 overs. |
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SUPERSTARS 101-7 Jev Harrison 23, Singh 21 and Taylor 18no |
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ARM TECHNOLOGY 103-2 Konrad 1-21, Taylor 1-12. |
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Superstars lost by 8 wickets. |
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The Superstars season and tour began in promising
style, with the weather being far better than the cold forecast. Then Barry pulled a huge surprise by
winning the toss. Superstars struggled early with George out to the second ball (his first) of the season
and Paul and the bat swirling Alok calmed by good bowling. It was (inevitably) a non-Superstars player, Ian's
mate Jev, who got us out of a hole. The most inevitable run out in the world ever occurred when Barry and
Steve were at the crease, the only surprise being that it was good fielding rather than hapless running and confusion
that was the cause. Mike Taylor's late cameo took the final total to an unimpressive but defendable 101-7. |
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Despite taking a bit of a beating in the field there were highlights.
Konrad's bowling, the traditional Mike Taylor bizarre wicket (caught by keeper Warren off a ball wider than
the English Channel), the traditional Mike Taylor drop off his bowling (Jason to blame for a really dolly dropped),
the traditional Steve Meyler genius moment (he decided to trap a lusty blow to Long Off on the volley a la Messi,
Ozil or Arnold Muhren with his foot) and the traditional Steve Meyler hapless moment (a bit of footwork that kicked
the ball over the boundary to lose the game a la Carlton Palmer, Grant Holt or Carl Leaburn) |
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Team: Gigg (c), Gaught, Warren (wkt), Singh, Harrison, Anand, Meyler, Taylor, Marchant, Forman, Chodzko-Zajko |
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A tough loss for the Superstars against superior opposition. But after
doughnuts and beer with the oppo we headed to the Tram Stop pub for beers and later on 'stylish' kebabs. The
barmaids in the pub had volume almost as loud as the lady in the Regency Cafe! |
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Saturday 29th April. PEMBROKE COLLEGE. |
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Venue: Pembroke Colledge. Toss won by Pembroke. Format: 30 overs. |
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SUPERSTARS 165-2 Walker 51ret, Meyler 45ret, Goel 26no |
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PEMBROKE COLLEGE 49 ALL OUT Marchant 3-5, Forman 3-9, Gundry 2-4 |
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Superstars won by 136 runs. |
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This fixture was a rematch from last year’s tour. Superstars were
humiliated in 2016 with none of our batsmen scoring 20 runs and extras scoring 46. So this year our team turned
up very apprehensive of another humiliation but were greeted with their captain making an apology that he only
had 8 players (this turned to 9 later when a nearly six foot tall 11 year old turned up). So after Will lost
the toss we were put into bat and Pembroke took to the field with 3 Superstars sub fielders. The opening
bowler was an American who asked the umpire where he had to bowl from with the immortal words "Do I have to
pitch from in that box" as he pointed to the bowling crease. Mike Taylor, who was umpiring at that end,
then had to explain to him how and where to bowl. When he finally did start bowling he bowled a good spell
at a reasonable pace creating a few problems for our batsmen but also offering the occasional easy run
ball. The other bowler was one of their players from last year who bowled some excellent deliveries that
whistled past the outside edge on numerous occasions. There was much cheering and clapping from the boundary,
from what was left of the Superstars side, when George scored his first run of the tour after suffering a
golden duck in the first match. An innings was slowly built with Darth doing lots of running until the point
where he was about to collapse and so retired exhausted for 45 no. Will hit a quick fire 51 before retiring
and Superstars ended the day on 165 for 2, not bad compared to the 121 for 8 from the previous year.
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After a short turnaround Pembroke took to batting with the
American as one of their openers, apparently he had to rush off somewhere. After defending his first ball
he asked the WK if he was allowed to go down the pitch to hit the ball then proceeded to charge down
the track miss a straight one and be bowled by the next ball; then he rushed off somewhere. It had to be said
that Pembroke definitely did not have as strong batting line up as last year as tight bowling spells from
Jason Marchant 3-5, Dan Forman 3-9, and Simon Gundry 2-4 devastated their inexperienced line up. There was
even time for the usual Superstars dolly drop, this time by Ian Moxon and the field was at one point pushed
back to ensure that the 11 year old scored a run, a sporting gesture that was very appreciated by the oppo.
There was also a very strange non dismissal with the umpire and the batsmen agreeing that he was run out
only for several of our players calling him back and accusing Will of breaking the stumps before the ball
hit them. Pembroke were eventually all out for 49.
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Team: Walker (c, wkt), Goel, Moxon, Gundry, Warren, Anand, Meyler, Marchant, Forman, Chodzko-Zajko, Patwal |
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A convincing victory for Superstars, if rather discredited by
the opposition having a few cry offs. Still it was a performance that the watching Lord Smith seemed to
approve off. A few Pembroke Ales were enjoyed by all at the beautiful ground. After beers and teas with
the opposition we headed to the St Randegund pub, but didn't get to the sports bar for Joshua v Klitchko
- luckily it was a pretty poor fight (!!!!!!). |
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Sunday 30th April. REMNANTS. |
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Venue: Fitzwilliam Colledge. Toss won by Barry. Format: 2 innings of 20 overs each (combined score). |
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REMNANTS (1st Inns) 112-4 Taylor 2-22 |
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SUPERSTARS (1st Inns) 155-2 Walker 50ret, Patwal 50ret, Gundry 29no |
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SUPERSTARS (2nd Inns) 118-6 Goel 50ret |
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REMNANTS (2nd Inns) 106-9 Anand 3-21, Duggan 2-21, Gundry 2-23 |
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Superstars won by 55 runs. |
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Superstars arrived at Fitzwilliam College, the location of a famous win against St Radegunds
the previous year, knowing the winning/losing nature of the tour rested on this one game. Barry won the toss (2 in 2) and came back to
explain the rather unusual but exciting 2020 test match format with both sides batting twice. With Remnants batting first Superstars bowled
tightly with Anand, Moxon, Taylor, Plahe, Duggan and Goel doing an excellent job of restricting the Remnants. The was even a catch
off Mike Taylor's bowling, totally breaking tour protocol [Ed - a serious breach of club rules this]. The Superstars reply started with
controvsery with Gaught incorrectly given out caught behind, but Walker and Patwal attacked the short boundary in particular and both reached 50.
Gundry's 29no included some lusty end of innings blows and Superstars were 43 ahead when a ccracking tea was enjoyed. |
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It was agreed Superstars would bat first second time around, partly to ensure both sides had
use of a new ball and partly to set a target. Superstars carried on with their batting order so Anand and Goel opened. While a succession of
batsmen came and went Sandeep played an excellent opener's knock and retired for an invaluable 50 that kept the innings on track. In the end
Remnants were set 162 to win in the 4th innings of the game. They started steadily with as befits a fourth innings it was the spinner, in this
case Duggan, who turned the game with a wonderful double wicket maiden. With assistance from Anand and the loosened up Gundry wickets came at
regular intervals to ensure Remenants were playing out the last few overs - Barry even had the luxary of granting Gaught an over. |
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Team: Gigg (c, wkt) Walker, Goel, Moxon, Gundry, Gaught, Anand, Taylor, Duggan, Patwal, Plahe |
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A good victory for Superstars against strong opponents which
sealed a "winning tour" (the third in four years). An excellent tea with the opposition was another high point
too. |
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