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BARRY WON THE TOSS AND NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED |
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The Superstars turned up at a traditionally wet and windy Wandgas,
still looking for their first win of the season. Skipper Gigg, having perfected a new tossing
technique over the off-season, won the toss and chose to bat, to the relief of the majority who
didn't want to field in the rain. Extras (25) immediately put the pressure on the Epsom bowlers,
scoring 5 off the first over, allowing openers Smith and Conway some time to settle in and put
together a partnership of 27, ending only when Conway pulled one straight to mid-on in the 6th
over and was out for a brisk 14. |
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Conway's wicket was the start of the all-too familiar Superstars
collapse, as Gaught-Allen (2), Cuthberston (3), and Farnham (1) all had their stumps rearranged
to leave the score at 43-4 at the halfway stage. Smith and Browne halted the collapse in contrasting
style; with Browne taking 13 balls to get off the mark whereas Smith hit a passer-by with a 6 over
square leg, parried over the rope by the boundary fielder. Smith eventually retired for an excellent
29 of 31 balls, before Browne was stumped off a wide, looking to up the rate. This gave the famous
pinch-hitting duo of Gigg (16*) and Meyler (5*) their chance to shine, which they duly did,
putting on a partnership of 18 off the final 14 balls of the innings to drag the Superstars
into three figures. As one player wisely commented during the interval, this was the third
total in a row that offered something to bowl at, but probably wasn't enough. |
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The change in weather meant that the Superstars bowlers were
able to run in in the evening sunshine, and there was immediately drama off the third ball of the
innings. The Epsom opener Jagdish (7) miscued to mid-off, where he was dropped by Smith. Looking
to rub salt into the wounds, the batters looked to run two, but Smith's throwing proved better
than his catching, and he threw down the non-striker's stumps to affect a run out. Buoyed by
the early wicket and the sunshine, Konrad (0-17) and Plahe (1-16) kept things tight, with Plahe
trapping the previously-reprieved Jagdish in front. Unfortunately, Gaught-Allen couldn't hold
a sharp chance diving to his right off Konrad's final delivery, giving a reprieve to the
dangerous-looking Wilson. |
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Having seen off the new ball, Epsom looked to accelerate, and
Jason (25 ret.) and Wilson (40 ret.) took advantage of the wet conditions to score quickly, with
Wilson particularly prolific down the ground. Wilson took advantage of Epsom's slightly dubious
"retire at the end of the over in which you scored 25" rule to attack Smith, taking 18 off his
first over. Once they'd both retired, Nos. 3 and 4 had put Epsom into a commanding position.
Superstars then pulled back the scoring, with Duggan (1-25) and Farnham (1-22) picking up
consolation wickets, and Smith (0-23) bowling two tighter overs. Gaught-Allen almost pulled off
a carbon copy of his catch-of-the-season nominee from Sunday against Mandarins, but alas,
the ball didn't stick, and by this point the damage had already been done, and Epsom
wandered home in relative ease. All in all, a far less dramatic ending than the Champions
League semi-final that was enjoyed in the bar afterwards, along with the customary
post-game refreshments! |
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Barry Gigg (c), Matthew Conway, Gary Plahe, Konrad Chodzko-Zajko, Michael Duggan,
Steve Meyler, Paul Gaught-Allen, Richard Smith, Dave Cuthbertson, Chris Browne, Sam Farnham. |
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