Club Statistics
Match Summary: vs. Strollers, Sunday, 03 Jun 2007
Ground: King's House Sports Ground
Captain: Andrew Wingfield
Match type: 40 overs
Toss: Strollers elected to bat
Weather: Fine and sunny
Opposition: Strollers scored: 174 for 7 (40 overs)
Exiles Score: 172 all out (39.5 overs)
Result: Lost by 2 runs
Man of the match: Amil Patel 82 runs

Batsmen | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mark Bradshaw | ct. & b. | 33 | 52 | 2 | 0 |
2 | Quentin Davies | b. | 10 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
3 | Amil Patel (W) | b. | 82 | 102 | 7 | 0 |
4 | Jasper Searle | lbw | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Sam Kunowski | lbw | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
6 | Wil Scott | b. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Simon Gundry | b. | 23 | 25 | 3 | 0 |
8 | Pablo Palao | run out | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
9 | Andrew Wingfield (C) | lbw | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
10 | Chris Bunton | run out | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
11 | Naren Patel | not out | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Extra(s) 3b 4lb | 7 | |||||
172 | 241 |
Bowler | O | M | R | W | Avg | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrew Wingfield | 8.0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 15 |
2 | Naren Patel | 8.0 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
3 | Simon Gundry | 8.0 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 8 |
4 | Wil Scott | 6.0 | 2 | 36 | 2 | 18 |
5 | Pablo Palao | 7.0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 24 |
6 | Chris Bunton | 3.0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
Player | Catch | Run Out | Stumping | Penalty |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amil Patel (W) | 1 |
ENERGY EXILES: A VERY ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM
Thank goodness there aren't penalties in cricket, otherwise every member of the Energy Exiles cricket club would've been on a TV advert by now. Sunday's defeat to the Strollers comes about as close to penalties as you get - as the Exiles competed manfully to dominate most of proceedings against decent opposition, only to self-implode when in sight of an excellent victory.
With the Exiles having won both tosses this year, it was something of a surprise that it was left to the opposition captain Nick Clark to decide on his teams' first act of the day. This clearly threw him as well, as consultation was required with his team-mates. The pitch looked like a pretty solid Chiswick pitch and the sun was shining (for a change). Inevitably, we felt, the Exiles were asked to field first.
Both teams looked strongish on paper - though the Exiles missed the likes of Roberts, Hodgson, Tither, Chamberlain and Hilson, whilst the Strollers were missing Matthews, Mohan and French, to name 3 that spring to mind.
Messrs Krunic and Paul opened for the Strollers against myself and Naren. After I'd generously, and perhaps critically (given the fact that we eventually lost by 2 runs) given the Strollers 3 runs in wides before a legal delivery had been bowled - certainly 3 for 0 from 0.0 overs seems a decent strike rate - the match settled into a rather placid opening, as the Strollers looked to build a solid platform. It was steady, if unspectacular, stuff - Naren bowled a typically metronomic 8 over spell right through, whilst I was happy enough to only go for 15 in my opening 5 over spell, after such an inauspicious start. Simon came on at my end, but initially the Strollers continued to move serenely on. Notable in these opening overs (Keith) was the Strollers urgency in taking singles (Keith), turning dot balls into ones (Keith) and annoying the Exiles fielders who usually so enjoy cruising through the opening overs of an opposition innings. After 17 overs, the Strollers were about 50 for 0, but with only one boundary (Keith).
After going for 18 in his first 2 overs, it was Wil who took the first wicket, bowling Paul around his legs for a well-made 36. Wil struck again shortly - after removing the no 3, but no sooner had he found his line and length, he lost it again - perhaps getting carried away by trying to swing the ball in from square leg. Comparisons with Liam Plunkett were muttered amongst the fielders - perhaps harsh on Wil - who did a good job in his first bowl of the season. What followed next is something I'm keen to keep note of for the rest of the season - and urge my fellow team-mates to remember as well. Simon had already seemed slightly on edge, following indulging in a spicy curry the night before. The batsman, through no fault of his own wasn't ready for Simon to bowl, so turned away, forcing Simon to abort his delivery. Simon, visibly irked by the batsman at having to run all that distance for nothing, promptly gave the batsman a nasty stare, returned to his mark, ran in again and smashed over his middle stump, yelling out in celebration. (Note to self - wind Simon up every time he comes on to bowl!).
And so the Exiles were in amongst the Strollers batting line up. The Plough came on to replace Simon and bowled a superb spell of slow left arm - the highlight being the knocking back of Krunic's middle stump. Chris Bunton returned to official Exiles duty to bowl 3 overs in unison with the Plough, as the Exiles looked to turn the screw with a twin spin attack. Myself and Simon finished off the innings, with a couple of morale-boosting late wickets countering a couple of late blows by Clark for the Strollers.
The Innings closed on 174-7 - a decent score certainly, but I believed a moral victory for the Exiles - it was a good pitch and the Strollers had some decent batters. The Exiles bowled very well - particularly Psycho Simon and Pablo Plough, only 5 boundaries were conceded in the whole innings, whilst the fielding effort was top notch.
Conceding 46 runs in extras really doesn't do justice to the Exiles performance in the field. Indeed, I felt it was by far the most impressive and enthusiastic fielding performance I've witnessed in my time at the club. On numerous occasions Exiles fielders narrowly missed the stumps with a direct hit sure to lead to a run-out, but plenty of runs were saved with excellent stops and determined chases. Some might question the need for a drug test from the Plough, so good was he in the field on this occasion.
One final thought - we also looked after the ball much better than usual - one side was still vaguely shiny at the end - I certainly noted with pleasure that there was still some swing on offer at the death. One to try to maintain for the rest of the season.
And so to the Exiles batting. Mark showed his intentions immediately - nearly running out Q first ball of the innings - so tight was the single. A few more scares quickly ensued before Q did depart - bowled off bat, pad, nose, arse, pavilion and whatever else. Amil then joined Mark to forge an excellent partnership. Both played some beautiful attacking shots - Mark hitting some excellent straight drives - including 2 particularly impressive lofted ones, whilst Amil scored mostly behind square - some gorgeous cuts and flicks off his pads the highlights. Mark eventually fell caught and bowled trying to hit another lofted straight drive - the ball after being dropped by the bowler going for a… lofted straight drive. At least he wasn't cutting uppishly. Jasper came in, but was unable to repeat his heroics of last time out - though he appeared unlucky to be given out LBW to a ball that looked to be clearing the stumps. Sam Kunowski, on debut and having enjoyed an excellent afternoon in the field, came in, was slightly lucky to avoid an LBW shout first up before hitting a couple of nice shots, then fell pretty quickly also. Wil missed a straight one, allowing psycho Simon to the crease. With Amil in full flow and Simon settling well into characteristically powerful drives, the Exiles looked to be cruising. Krunic was even showing off his football skills in the outfield. But we all knew better than start relaxing.
Exiles needed about 20 runs to win off 6 overs with 5 wickets left. Krunic had now settled into an excellently accurate spell and found a way through Simon's defences. The Plough smashed a quick 4 through square leg before running himself out - clearly getting delusions of grandeur after winning a sprint against Chris in the field earlier - presenting me with another chance to hit the winning runs. I'm going to blame modesty for missing a straight one from Clark - though I think sobriety was equally a problem. It would be nice though to not have to bat at such critical times every week. Chris joined a now tiring Amil. And so to the last over. 6 to win with Amil on strike. Two wickets left. Amil misses, Krunic hits. Congratulations though to Amil for a marvellous innings - a real tragedy for him to finish on the losing side having played like that. Game over? Well nearly - Naren played 'sensibly' a couple of nudged singles, and Chris got one as well. 3 needed off 2 balls, with one wicket left. Could the Exiles still win? No. Chris was run out after hitting it straight to a fielder and setting off for an impossible run. Exiles lose by 2 runs. Heartbreak all round. You couldn't have scripted it better (if you were a Strollers player!).
It really is a travesty that the Exiles lost this game. Certainly pressure was exerted by the fielding side - plenty of chirp, plenty of lets say 'thoroughly thought out fielding changes' - but the Exiles threw it away in sight of victory. Typically English - an excellent effort in defeat.
We move on to WICC at Nursery Road this weekend - same effort in the field and a bit more of an Aussie mentality with the bat and we should be fine.
Point for discussion - we gave the opposition 3 LBW decisions - not the first time I recall either. However, not once since I've played for the Exiles can I remember us receiving 3 LBW decisions in the field from the opposition. Overly generous again?Report By: Andy Wingfield