|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
|
It's unusual for a touring side to be the "home" team but with Wantage and Grove 2XI keen to play us but without an available ground Dan had booked
the amazingly pictureque Warborough & Shillingford ground, surrounded by thatched cottages and a pub even within a Gaught-Allen stone's throw. The weather was perfect too as Paul strode
out to lose the toss and be asked to bowl in this 40 over clash. Usually that's where perfect ends but not today. |
|
|
|
Superstars opened with Jubril Sunmonu and Vijay Anand and both bowled with pace and accuracy to break the back of the W&G top order. Both took two wickets,
one of which was a solid slip catch from Gaught-Allen off of Jubril's bowling. The legendary Mike Taylor and enthusiastic Guy Boubly took up the bowling resposnibility and it was Mike who took the
wicket of opener Sparrow who was just beginning to fly. Superstars kept chipping away at wickets, with Dan Forman And Az Harris both picking up two as W&G ended on 101 all out. A great display by the bowlers (Jubril, Vijay, Dan and Az picking up two wickets each, Guy and Mike one a piece and only Adnaan - who bowled one tight over - was left wicketless) while the fielding was a revelation with that great catch by Paul, a safe one at square leg for Az and stumping for Barry. There were no dropped catches (yes you read that correctly). Some saw this as a low score in a 40 over clash, more experienced observers noted that 101 is a total Superstars struggle to
make whatever the format. |
|
|
|
After the break Matthew Conway and Arun Aaajan opened with typical skill and aggression but faced Preston (presumably bowling from the North End, I didn't have my compass to hand) bowling well. He was no ordinary boy. Despite obvious attacking intent Superstars were 43-4 (Saajan top scoring with 22, Conway, Az Harris and Adnaan Ali all contributing) and the game was in the balance. At times like this a team
needs cool heads, experience and ability and they had one, may be two, in Gaught-Allen and Gigg who rebuilt slowly but with plenty of time there was no need to push the accelerator (if either had one). One "village"
moment was when the oppo fielder chased after a ball that stopped just short of the boundary, tried to scoop it back (like you see on the TV) and scooped it over the rope for a four. With Paul dismissed
by the impressive, returning, Preston Vijay Anand strode to the crease and he does have an accelerator and four 4s came and went quickly and with Gigg seeing the team home with 24 not out Superstars had won by 5 wickets. |
|
|
|
A true team performance from the Superstars. The tone was set by Jubril's excellent opening spell and continued through the match up to Barry's perfectly judged finishing role.
A cracking team dinner was had in the Six Bells with the Superstars, family and friends pretty much taking over the pub - it was great to see everyone bonding. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Back row: Guy Boubly, Aarron Harris, Mike Taylor, Paul Gaught-Allen (c), Arun Saajan, Jubril Sunmonu, Adnaan Ali. |
|
| Front row: Dan Forman, Matthew Conway, Barry Gigg (w), Vijay Anand. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
|
Day Two of Tour arrived. Always a day to judge the professionalism of the tour squad. Some would have been tucked up in bed after 30 minutes of yoga, reading Wisden. Others,
naming no names, would have been gulping down scotch in a hotel room like they're the feckin' Who in 1969. The dark glasses fool no one. Anyway, we arrived in various states of physical and mental condition
in the beautiful village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and in particular at their lovely recreation ground which had pretty short boundaries particularly on the pavillion side. Bouyed by the win yesterday
and the huge development of winning the toss, skipper for the day Matthew Conway decided "if it ain't broke" and elected to field first. |
|
|
|
Given the short boundaries and local knowledge of the batters trying the pepper the pavillion side Superstars bowled and caught well. It wasn't easy
but all the bowlers (Alok, Mike T, Vijay, Garu and Mike D) stuck to their task and they were helped by important catches from Matthew, Vijay, Az and in particular a short caught and bowled
from Mike D (on his, I believe, Superstars Tour debut). 131 felt a good but reachable total, but only after a few cakes. |
|
|
|
The Superstars innings started explosively with Arun and Aarron the best soundalike opening batting partnership I can remember. Az in particular was in ferocious
form hitting huge sixes and powerful fours in his 32 in no time. With Arun (6) and skipper Conway (11) adopting a similarly agressive outlook the Superstars were ahead of the rate required. But it, for the
second day in a row, required the experience of Gaught-Allen (22) and Gigg (17) near to the target. When both of those fell and Vijay was quickly dismissed for 4 it was left to Alok and Steve Meyler to
bring the Superstars home and although there was a point where the rate was being to be a slight concern a flurry of Singh sizzlers, including a flat hit 6 through point meant that it was left to Steve to
hit the winning runs with 11 balls spare - a lovely straight drive although there was farcial running which could have resulted in a run out on a different day |
|
|
|
A true team performance from the Superstars with everyone contributing to a good win against excellent oppostion. This match broke a record we didn't know we had -
as it was the game with the most appearences for a Superstars XI - 2,956 appearences (an average of 236 per player). |
|
|
|
A few beers were had at the Red Lion pub, a short walk from the ground and then most players made it to have food in Wallingford in the evening. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Back row (kinda): Vijay Annad, Arun Saajan (w), Dan Forman, Mike Taylor, Mike Duggan. |
|
| Front row (kinda): Gary Plahe, Mary, Paul Gaught-Allen, Barry Gigg, Matthew Conway (c), Steve Meyler, Izzie, Aarron Harris. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
|
After a night of good food and an amazingly loud pub (I can hear the chuntering of some past players about both of those things)
the Superstars headed to Oxford City Centre to play Bicester 4XI at the Merton College Sports Ground (possibly named after Paul, I didn't ask). After a bit of a palava
getting parked Dan, our third captain in three days, lost the toss and was asked to field. |
|
|
|
Final days of tour are notorious. Especially the fielding. Stories of former greats not being able to move 5 yards and the like. But
there was none of that today as Alok, Vijay and Gary kept a tight reign early on but it took until the 14th over when Mick D had one of the openers caught by Suleman Ali, at that point
at 38-1. Superstars from that point chipped away with the skipper taking 3-31 from his 6 overs including a stumping from Arun (and yes, James was the keeping pads in the picture below.
I'll let you decide what was going on there). There were minor fielding issues including Vijay dropping a catch 4 times and Matthew's HUGE call of "mine" followed by dropping
the catch and falling over. But overall it will not get anywhere near the pantheon of famous stories of tour haplessness before the journey home. In fact Alok was on a hat trick and young Abhi Singh made his Superstars debut as a 12th man. Bicester and North Oxford CC had made 130-6 in 35 overs - so Superstars needed the highest total of the tour to
bring home a famous all-win tour. |
|
|
|
The innings did not start well with Superstars collapsing to 16-4 and 38-6 as Sammy, Hamed and Small wreaked havoc and none of Adnaan, Suleman, James H, Matthew, Arun or Gary making more than 3. It would have been easy for the Superstars to throw in the towel and get the early train home but Az and Alok had other ideas with the
ball flying to all parts. After a stand of 40, Harris was bowled for 28 and Sups were still 53 short with only 3 wickets in hand. It was down to
Vijay, Mike D and Dan to keep Alok company as he blitzed the bowling. And both Vijay and Mike did that role excellently with stands of 22 and 23 but
Alok, who had just bought his 2nd half century for the club, edged to the keeper and then Mike D, joined by Dan, was caught and bowled and Sups were left 6 runs short of the BNOCC total. |
|
|
|
Another great game, and while a shame we couldn't quite pull off a great comeback Bicester were deserving winners. Highlights of the
the day included James' baking, Abhi debut and Alok's stunning innings. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| l to r: Michael Duggan, Aarron Harris, Suleman Ali, Adnaan Ali, Gary Plahe, Dan Forman (c), Matthew Conway, Mike Taylor, Alok Singh, Abhi Singh, James Hewlett (w). [not pictured, Arun Saajan] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A truly great tour. Probably a modern classic. A huge thank you to Dan who did the organsing and a (less large but significant) thank you to everyone who came along, playing
or non playing. Oh and a huge thank you to our wonderful hosts and opponents in the beautiful grounds of Oxfordshire. |
|
|
|
Tour Squad |
|
|
|
Dan Forman (organiser, captain), Paul Gaught-Allen (captain), Matthew Conway (captain), Guy Boubly, Aarron Harris, Mike Taylor, Arun Saajan, Jubril Sunmonu, Adnaan Ali, Barry Gigg (w), Vijay Anand, Mike Duggan, Gary Plahe, Steve Meyler, Suleman Ali, Abhi Singh, James Hewlett. |
|
|
|
|
