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Return of the Mac Inspires 15th Win |
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Date: |
5th September 2009 |
Opponent: |
Cuddington Casuals |
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Attendance: |
4 |
Result: |
Win by 7 Wickets |
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Scores: |
CCCC: 179
for 9 (40 overs)
EMCC 180
for 3 , D MacIntyre 61*, Sulai Salojee 49* |
An
unfamiliar EMCC line-up, featuring three debutants, conjured up a spirited
team performance to claim their fifteenth win of the season.
After stand-in skipper Jim Yelland had won the toss, the ever-dependable
Paul Pennock went about restricting the opposition with the new ball. While
he couldn’t repeat his hat-trick heroics of the last time the two teams met,
he did claim the scalp of Cuddington Casuals opener in a good spell.
For
the second successive week however, a strong second wicket partnership
looked to take the game away from EMCC. Their opener’s compiled an obstinate
fifty, while Thomas looked impressive off his legs as the two kept the
scoreboard ticking at five an over. After a strong spell however, Sulai
(back after a two month absence) got the important breakthrough. A delivery
to Thomas held up a little on the track, and Steve Darke clutched the
spiralling chance in the deep.
A
spell of steady accumulation, regularly punctuated by wickets followed.
Sulai’s brother Shaq picked up his first EMCC wicket as the batsman played
on. 13 year old Chris McCallister filled Garry Knapper’s boots well; ‘The
New Worcester Park Express’ bowled five tight overs and was unlucky to
finish wicket-less. Geoff Morris bowled a typically tight eight overs,
taking a sharp return catch to claim the crucial wicket of the day. Doug
MacIntyre picked up four late scalps with his late swing, including a fine
take by Matt Yelland in his most accomplished performance behind the stumps
this season. Steve Darke marked his last appearance of the year with a trio
of catches at mid-off.
EMCC
required a sizeable 180 from their forty overs, and a tight spell of opening
bowling, particularly from Abraham, made this target look quite daunting.
After debutant Hanni Mustapha (also on loan from Worcester Park) was caught
and bowled, Matt Yelland gave the EMCC innings some momentum with a breezy
knock. When Colin Smith was caught behind for a hard-earned 18 though, EMCC
still required 120 runs to win.
Doug
MacIntyre set the tone with some typically big swings and some good running
between the wickets. Sulai supported him well from the other end, and was
given a crucial lifeline when a miscued sweep bizarrely ended up at third
man, but slipped through the fingers of the unfortunate fielder.
It
proved to be the last chance the Casuals were given. Doug secured a fine
fifty with ten overs remaining, and some lusty late blows from Sulai saw the
away team home with plenty to spare. His winning runs, smacked back over the
bowlers head landed inches from the ropes, cruelly denying him a
half-century.
The
acceleration of runs by Sulai and Doug proved vital, as the dark quickly
descended, and the temperature continued its rapid drop shortly after the
players left the field. The autumn is quickly moving in on us. Let’s hope we
can make room for two more wins before it does.
UNINTERESTING FACT OF THE DAY 1:
Cuddington Casuals will be pleased to see the back of Sulai, who has scored
151 unbeaten runs against them this season.
UNINTERESTING FACT OF THE DAY 2 (Courtesy of Saturday’s hero Doug):
The
first testicular guard was used in cricket in 1874 and the first helmet was
used in 1974. It took 100 years for men to realise that their brains could
also be important ...