Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. British Library, Sunday, 22 Jun 2008

Ground: King's House Sports Ground
Captain: Andrew Wingfield
Match type: Timed
Toss: Exiles elected to field
Weather: Windy, patchy pitch
Opposition: British Library scored: 128 for 6 (40 overs)
Exiles Score: 129 for 1 (30.3 overs)
Result: Won by 9 wickets
Man of the match: Quentin Davies 51 runs

The Exiles headed into the game with one win in six matches but with a strong team on paper were determined to kick start their season against British Library. Omens were good as the only player with a 100% record this season, David Stiffell, turned up armed with his latest novel to read in the sun and looking forward to discussing the prose and rhythm of the opening chapter with the opposition.

In bright but windy conditions the toss was won again by Captain Wingco and elected to field in a timed match to prevent the opposition from shutting up shop for a draw in the second innings. Exiles started brightly keeping it very tight, the bails were constantly dislodged, alas from the wind rather than being broken by the ball. Half chances came and went but nothing easy. The skipper went to his Phil in bowlers of Ling and Humphreys and the opposition started playing as if it was a timeless match…

A moment of genius from Humphreys with his "knuckleball" slower delivery completed bamboozled the best opener and castled him. Thereafter with time running out the British Library tried to up the pace but succumbed to quick wickets with catches from Stiffell (whilst in the middle of his press up routine) and Naren (who showed Keith how to catch a skier), whilst Humphrey bowled a cracker which nipped through the gate for his second of the match. The innings also saw the competitive return of Gundry who took a while to get going but finished with 2 deserved wickets as the opposition continued to push on. British Library ended on 128-6 and Exiles went to tea very happy after a strong fielding display.

All thoughts turned to the pending Euro 2008 QF of Spain v Italy and where we were going to watch it and Q was keen to catch it as he progressed at a run a ball. Keith was less fussed as he was tied down with their most accurate bowler Marke. At one stage a certain Yorkshireman in the team bet a pint with Gundry that Keith would not score a run off the bowler. Keith did manage a run but Simon never saw his pint…

After 38 balls Keith managed to double his tally of runs to 2 and scoring became easier for the openers as the back up bowlers were unable to provide any threat. Q got a deserved 51 before being bowled which gave the opportunity for Amil to get some much needed batting practice. Pressure off both Keith and Amil got their highest scores of the season and Exiles romped home to win by 9 wickets.

A second victory of the season and hopefully the start of a winning streak.

Report By: Phil Ling

Captains log: Andrew Wingfield

on a rare comprehensive victory:

We've got a bit of a knack of doing this - I'd far rather win 3 close games in a row, rather than lose most of the close games and then win emphatically once in a while; that said, we've been beaten pretty thoroughly by the Strollers and Agricola so far this season, so I'll take whatever wins we can get! I'm also slightly mindful of our performances against Barnes Occasionals a couple of seasons ago - where we won both games against them by about 150 runs and they've refused to play us since - yet we lost more than we won that season...

on the all round tight bowling performance:

It was a good effort - everyone bowled well - apart from me; Naren was in particularly metronomic form, and he and Phil Humphreys did a superb job running into a strong breeze; thing is, if they hadn't bowled so well into the wind, they might have a shout at bowling with favourable conditions one day - but I rather think they like the challenge! Phil Ling was also extremely impressive - I thought he bowled his best spell for the club so far - he has natural in-swing and his ability to control that seems to be improving every game. It was also good to see Simon back in action - grumbling as ever - but bowling more quickly than I expected following 6 weeks out of action with a side strain.

on Q's knock and the importance of a solid opening partnership chasing a low total:

The Exiles are quite good at imploding sometimes, so much so that it is often the case that the no. 11 may as well get padded up as soon as the first wicket falls! So it was reassuring that the openers knocked off 88 of the required runs before the fall of the first wicket. Q was in typically brutal form - it's lovely to watch him 'disrespecting' the bowlers! I thought it was also a very useful innings for both Keith and Amil - both a bit out of form this summer so far - but to get 34no and 25no respectively should help confidence. Keith knows his importance to our batting, so I was more than happy for him to take his time on this occasion, taking 576 balls to get off the mark (or whatever it was), to find his form....

on the improved fielding performance:

The ground fielding, chasing and throwing in was very good - but the catching still has room for improvement - I can think of at least 5 dropped chances that immediately spring to mind - with Naren's fine catch at mid-off the notable example to buck the trend. The only mitigating factor was the strong wind. If we ever get organised in time, we should do some pre-match practise.

on David Stiffell's exercise routines between overs:

He is an example to us all. It is no coincidence that David has one of the strongest arms in the field, is one of the quickest chasers in the outfield and when batting can hit the ball further than anyone else; I expect everyone else in the side to demonstrate their incorporation of similar exercise routines in the next few matches...

Interviewed By: Jasper Searle

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