Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Dodgers, Wednesday, 27 Aug 2008

Ground: King's House Sports Ground
Captain: Andrew Wingfield
Match type: 40 overs
Toss: Dodgers elected to field
Weather: Cloudy, hard pitch
Opposition: Dodgers scored: 172 for 6 (40 overs)
Exiles Score: 241 all out (37.5 overs)
Result: Won by 69 runs
Man of the match: Dan Gauntlett 106 runs

For a rare midweek fixture it was inevitable that some members of the Exiles would have to find their most creative licence to excuse themselves from the workplace. Phrases including 'working from home' spring to mind, though in some cases an honourable half days leave were taken to participate in the contest with the Dodgers.

With only 6 Exiles members available, the services of Rob Peters and Dan Gauntlett from Agricola were again called upon to bolster numbers, plus Martin's friend and namesake Martin Kerrison. On an overcast day the Exiles unusually lost the toss and were sent into bat.

With Mike P and Martin Kerrison opening, the line up did not have the familiar feel about it and quickly disaster struck as Mike P was bowled first making a mere 5 off 5; Martin quickly followed being bowled for 3 off 17. Up next was the welcome sight of Mr. Tither to steady the ship and with only his 2nd appearance of the season he was clearly keen to chalk up a big score. At this juncture Martin T was sent into umpire and soon after huge controversy sparked as he gave John out 'caught' behind for 3 runs. Despite some on the sidelines claiming they heard a nick John was adamant that it brushed his pads and was left perplexed at his luck...and Martin..

With the Exiles wobbling precariously on 18-3 it was time for Rob to be joined by Dan at the crease. With a reputation for big hitting it was therefore surprising that something like Rob's first 7 balls were dot balls - though it wasn't for the want of trying. Any fears however of a batting collapse were quickly allayed as he got stuck into the bowling alongside Agricola team mate Dan. With Rob hitting an impressive quick fire 53 off 39 balls - before eventually getting caught - it was time for the Skip to join Dan who had now moved on to about 30;

After seeing Rob depart, Dan took centre stage and started flaying the ball to the boundary with regularity and brought up his 50 and then continued on; not wanting to be outdone the Skip studiously had reached 48 (his highest ever Exiles score) when not for the first time in the innings controversy again reared its ugly head. Playing a ball that had bounced at least 2 times (possibly even 3) the Skip perceived it as a 'no ball' and played a casual shot - skying it to short cover where he was caught and controversially given out. Despite frantic checks of the 'rules' on the back pages of the score book no one was any wiser as to whether the correct decision had been made - answers on a postcard please.

Martin T departed as well shortly afterwards, leaving Phil to join Dan; By now Dan had entered the nervous nineties and found 99 a particularly nervous score - with 3 successive swings and misses before finally skewing one just over mid-on to bring up his century - only the 5th ever 100+ score in Exiles history and culminating in an eventual score of 106 - the 3rd highest of all time.

After a couple of late swipes from Phil and Naren, the Exiles innings ended up on an impressive 241 all out, the 9 man Exiles had side had done a great job and notched up one of the highest scores in club history - despite being all out with over 2 overs to spare.

Faced with a mountainous run chase the Dodgers were immediately in trouble as Andy struck with 2 impressive early wickets and from there on in, there was no looking back. With further wickets being shared between Dan, John and Phil there was time for every Exile to have a bowl and notable highlights including tidy spells from John with his off-spin and Naren. The Dodgers knew the game was up well before the end, but batted steadily through their 40 overs - with McBarron hitting a composed 76 not out; they were eventually restricted to 172 for 6, ensuring an emphatic 69 run victory for the Exiles.

So the record breaking run continued with an eighth consecutive win for the Exiles, heading into a tough fixture with Morden Corinthians. Particular congratulations to Dan who was the indisputable MOM with his 85 ball century and apparently his first since playing for Woolworths in the late 80's!!

Report By: Mike Phillips

Interview with Man of the Match: Dan Gauntlett

Dan, well done on your century; it might well surprise a few people as you are perhaps more well known as a bowler; so did it come as a surprise to you?

I was very surprised. It was over 15 years since my last one, and that was playing for Woolworths half way up a mountain. And I haven't even looked like hitting a fifty for the past few seasons. I really didn't expect to be batting in the game, let alone going in at number five. I was grateful for the chance.

Things were looking a bit dicey at 18 for 3, so I guess you were grateful that Rob Peters - your regular Agricola teammate - started to show that there were plenty of runs for the taking with his quick-fire 50?

You never have to worry about the run rate when Rob's at the other end. You just have to resist the urge to try to keep up. I was happy just to stay out there and watch.

When Rob got out, and seeing Andy coming in, you seemed to suddenly accelerate! Was this a conscious decision?

I'd got my eye in by that stage, and to be honest the bowling wasn't up to much. I was just making sure we punished the bad balls and there seemed to be a lot of them.

It must have been reassuring to see the Exiles skip playing sensibly at the other end to allow you to attack the bowling at the other, even if he was robbed, controversially, of his own half-century?

I'd seen Andy help guide the Exiles home in the earlier game against the Dodgers, so I had complete confidence in him. And he wasn't exactly scoring slowly himself. I felt really sorry for him, getting out in that way. It would have only taken either of us to sound more confident about the rules and he would have got a much bigger score. He never looked like getting out.

Was there any particular shot you hit that you particularly enjoyed?

I always like hitting straight drives, and there must have been one that I kept on the ground.

The only moment when you looked like you might get out was on 99 - where you had 2 or 3 swings before finally shovelling a shot over midwicket. Were you aware what your score was and were you feeling nervous?

I'd guessed I was there or thereabouts, but I wasn't actually worried about getting out at the time. I was just trying to hit everything. Looking back, I would have been very annoyed to be out on 99. Still, you always need a bit of luck.

The Agricola team is known for its strong line up anyway....will you be perhaps pushing for a place up the order next season on the back of this knock?

Well, I've retired from the Agricola Captaincy now, so someone else will get to make that decision next year. I won't be pushing for it against the Exiles. Especially if Simon Gundry is playing.

Interviewed By: Naren Patel

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