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Match Summary: vs. Innings, Sunday, 29 Apr 2007

Ground: Epsom
Captain: Andrew Wingfield
Match type: 40 overs
Toss: Exiles elected to field
Weather: Fine
Opposition: Innings scored: 112 all out (29.2 overs)
Exiles Score: 75 all out (24.3 overs)
Result: Lost by 37 runs
Man of the match: Keith Roberts 4 for 10

charts of Exiles wicket partnerships for this match
Score board
 Batsmen RunsBalls4s6s
Keith Roberts lbw 
Quentin Davies ct.  20 
Mark Bradshaw ct. 23  38 
Amil Patel (W)b.  10 
Wil Scott ct. & b.  24 
Jasper Searle ct. 
John Hodgson lbw 12  21 
Andrew Wingfield (C)ct.  12 
Phil Chamberlain ct. 
10 Jeff Hilson not out 
11 Naren Patel b. 
  Extra(s)  5w 7b 4lb   16      
    75  147   
Bowling
 BowlerOMRWAvg
Jeff Hilson  6.0 20 20
Phil Chamberlain  5.0 19 19
Naren Patel  6.0 25 25
Andrew Wingfield  8.0 27 9
Keith Roberts  3.2 10 2.5
John Hodgson  1.0 0
Wicket Keeping and Fielding
PlayerCatchRun OutStumpingPenalty
Amil Patel (W)  
Match Photos Album Link

The Exiles started the 2007 away at Innings, traditionally a tough assignment against determined and skilful opposition. It was a glorious summer's day, perfect for cricket, so no need to consult the dreaded Duckworth-Lewis rules or to try and engage any hapless ICC umpiring committee into deciding how to conclude this match. Crowds were out in fair number to enjoy the weather, but their attention was very much focused on the football matches on the neighbouring pitches; a reminder if ever one was needed of how the "beautiful game" maintains a stranglehold on national sporting affections.

Naren had been requested to gather the team for a 13:30 start, and it is a credit to the team for being ready to go at the said time. The same can't be said for the opposition, who numbered no more than 3. With hindsight, this could be attributed to a few of the Sri Lankan fans among their squad recovering from the disappointment of seeing their team demolished by the Australians in the World Cup final the previous night. Rather than put in a call to the under siege ICC and ask for a ruling, common sense prevailed and Exiles waited patiently for the opposition to arrive. Tans were topped up, and Jeff was able to shake off his hangover.

When the teams line ups were finally completed, the captains went out to the middle for the coin toss. The Exiles skipper was delighted to win it and so he put the opposition into bat. It soon became clear that the wicket was going to cause problems for the batsmen, as the bounce was very unpredictable. It was a credit to Amil behind the stumps that he managed to save many byes with various parts of his body, as well as perform many diving stops that a football goalkeeper would have been proud of. The Exiles bowling line up had 5 regular bowlers, and it looked like it was these 5 seamers would enjoy the unpredictable pitch and share the wickets between them. As it turned out, there was a surprise 6th bowler, a spinner none the less, who took the most wickets. The skipper had made it clear last season he rued the lack of this option, and the old adage of finding something you really want under your nose could never have been truer on Sunday.

Phil and Jeff opened the bowling and used the variable bounce to have the batsmen offer chances behind that Amil snapped up. The opposition decided to take a very aggressive approach to batting from the earliest of stages, and the opening bowlers were unlucky not to get further wickets as edges flew over slips, or shots fell short of fielders. There were also plenty of tight running between the wickets throughout the match, and the Exiles fielding were given a good early season test. Andy came on to replace Jeff and took 3 wickets with a variety of deliveries, and at one stage he was on a hat trick. One batsman looked completely bemused at his dismissal and looked as if he would be reluctant to leave the crease as he was completely bamboozled by a ball that kept low and bowled him.

The opposition was heading for a low score as their innings reached just past the 20 over mark, but the Exiles needed to continue to exert pressure on the batsmen with tight bowling, so it was perhaps a surprise when Keith Roberts was called upon as second choice bowler. During the 2006 season Keith had bowled only 12 overs for 79 runs and got only one wicket. He set about correcting this with some clever bowling, varying his flight and line, causing the lower order batsmen to get frustrated. One batsman was given a rank long hop, and must have thought Christmas had come early as he smashed it through the covers before the fielders could move. Next ball however Keith exacted telling revenge, and he then cleaned up their tail before it could wag. It could almost be said that at this stage of the match Keith's performance could draw comparison with Michael Vaughan's efforts in the World Cup.

With a comparatively low total to chase, confidence was high that the Exiles would be able to knock this score off. A strong batting line up this time round and plenty of overs to chase the score down, something the team has traditionally needed, gave hope of a maiden victory in the first match of the season. One Exile, not a million miles away from the author of this report, could be heard to say how he didn't expect to be called upon to bat. It would turn out be a disastrous case of foot-in-mouth. Just as the Exiles bowlers had found the pitch assisted their cause, so the same was true of the Innings bowlers. Their fielders were also determined to make the atmosphere hostile for the Exiles batsman, and they appealed for absolutely everything, regardless of whether or not it was near the bat or pad. This constant appealing would have resulted in post match sanctions at a higher level of the game, and while one is loath to discourage exuberance on the normally serene setting of a cricket pitch, their behaviour did stretch the boundaries of normal cricketing behaviour on occasions.

Keith, having caused so much chaos with the ball, had a chance to further enhance his already legendary Exiles reputation by completing a famous all round performance and guiding the team home in pursuit of 112. Unfortunately, it seemed the Michael Vaughan comparison extended to his batting, as he was out without troubling the scorers to a ball that kept low. He was followed in eventually by Quentin, and things did not look good for the Exiles. Mark did offer some resistance, as he adopted some of the tactics that had helped the opposition reach their score by attacking the bowling. Unfortunately the middle order showed signs of early season rustiness as they prodded at balls in the "corridor of uncertainty" and gave their wickets away cheaply. The author was sporting a cap in support of his beloved Arsenal as he made his way to the middle, and there had been concern expressed by non Arsenal supporting fans among the Exiles that this might encourage the opposition to bowl at his head. Fortunately the opposition resorted to traditional bowling methods that led to a tame dismissal.

The tail did sporadically threaten to wag, as John struck a few lusty blows, and even when Naren made his way to the crease all hope had not been given up, especially when he registered 2 boundaries in quick succession. Indeed someone mentioned that Naren in his long and distinguished career for the Exiles had a score of 70 odd to his name. Alas right on cue, and before the team could even consider humming the theme tune to the "Great Escape", he was dismissed and the Exiles had succumbed in disappointing fashion in just over 24 overs. One immediate post match regret has to be the Exiles not being more disciplined in seeing off the opposition's faster bowlers, and then trying to score from the slower bowlers. This tactical naivety could be argued is a classic example of how the flaws in English methods of playing one day cricket have permeated to all levels of the game, and that controlled aggression as demonstrated by the Australians is easier said than done.

Scribe: Jasper Searle

Comment (anon):

Top match report with plenty of pictures! The reports bar has been set high indeed! Jasper really is rather good at this reporting lark. However, he did not mention two things:

a) Jeff's heroic 0 not out; and
b) Chris Bunton's visit to the ground and subsequent announcement that he is going to make a comeback!

Also forgot to mention the shameless badgering of poor Jeff by the Patels. The champagne moment for me was when Naren was claiming Jeff was the worst exiles fielder, only then to do a true 'Palao' moment on the boundary himself...

Report By: Jasper Searle

Last modified: 11 March 2018 14:31:46. Top of the page

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