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GREEN SOX |
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Saturday 7th September, 1.45pm start. |
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Dundonald Recreation Ground, South Wimbledon. |
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35 over match (not a timed match). Tight, sweaty day. |
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SUPERSTARS GREEN AT SOX'S ABILITY |
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What luck would a new home ground bring for Superstars against
the growing might of Green Sox? Gary was happy to find a diner close by for brunch, Bish arrived early,
much to everyone's shock but many of us learned this only virtually as we struggled in our travels with
both District line and SW Trains suffering. Paul, Our skipper suffered most guessing wrong and choosing
the underground option. From Parsons Green, he delegated the toss to Gary and we duly lost with Greenies
opting to bat first in a match reduced to 35 overs. |
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Once Paul arrived, and with Alok still 40 min away,
he gave Morgan the opening over. The match seemed to start in slow motion with Lawrie's gentle
medium pace provoking a couple of forward defensives. Then a slow motion lofted drive followed by
a slow motion drop by Gary at mid on. By contrast Vijay's over was quick and he bowled the Sox #1.
In the celebration huddle Gary was heard to say he had been worried the batter would go
on to get a hundred. Lawrie's second over was much like the first with Gary misjudging another
chance at mid on off the #3. He didn't get a ton either (see below). As Vijay was replaced by
Sandeep G and the batters adjusted to Lawrie's pace the run rate started to accelerate with #3
Athwal particularly strong on the drive and finding the boundary regularly over a fast outfield.
Gary couldn't stem the rate either. We were not helped by being one short in the field as Alok's
40 min stretched to an hour and Paul declined the oppo's offer of a fielder because Alok was
due "any minute." The second wicket finally fell at 145 when Duggan induced Athwal to hole out
to the recently arrived Alok at deep midwicket for 99. So Gary was not embarrassed by
dropping a centurion. By now Green Sox were swinging for everything and Superstars were
wilting in the field, with overthrows leading to the unusual 7 off one ball. Even Alok
went for 6 an over. Despite a couple of wickets falling Green Sox made 275 for 5
with a run out off the last ball. |
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Not the best mood over tea and I had a bit of a
strop at the opposition practising on the pitch in clear contravention of Law 17.
I was starting to think that getting all their bowlers banned would be our only chance. So with
cheery cries of "8 an over wins it boys," we set off to bat. Paul had it all sorted with
Bish and Chris to umpire as he walked out to open. But where was Bishop? Paul flustered by
or furious at having to delegate another umpire, proceeded to drive at two outswingers,
the first he missed, not that prevented loud appeals, and the second he edged for a
comfortable caught behind and a duck. Cue further strop. Meanwhile Sandeep was making
progress and scored a quick 29 while Chris T kept up the other end. The Green Sox leg
spinner came on and was difficult to get away. Entertainingly, his appeals for LBW
against Chris involved jumping up and down like a toddler having a strop.
He eventually got Lawrie to give a decision, which Chris was not too happy with but
too good natured to have a real strop. Wickets continued to fall with only Vijay
making many runs in the middle order. Other batters struggling to survive with
Natalie showing particular determination against the left arm over medium pace who
liked to bang in it short. Green Sox kept their foot on our throats bringing back
the opening bowlers at the tail. That didn't put off Gary who kept playing his shots
to end not out 29, he even hit one on the posh side. |
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We lost by more than 100. I had to
leave straight after so don't know if we won the drinking. It's a nice ground
but not a propitious first vusit |
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Author: Mike Duggan |
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Team: Gaught (c), Goel, Thomson, Anand, Daniels, Williams, Singh, Bishop, Duggan, Morgan, Plahe. |
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Photos. |
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1 / 2
The troops prepare
2 / 2
Merv celebrating his 50th appearence
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Notes. |
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Notable drop: Gary's Mid On drops
were pretty bad, the first worse, the second more costly. |
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Notable catch: Taking a catch when the guy is on 99 takes a solid nerve, well done Alok! |
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Comedy Moment: ?. |
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Stat: Despite the thrashing the 154-8 was one the larger Superstars totals of the year. Which kinda says a lot. |
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Scorecards. |
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