Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Sanderstead, Sunday, 28 Sep 2008

Ground: Old Saw Mill
Captain: Andrew Wingfield
Match type: 40 overs
Toss: Exiles elected to bat
Weather: Sunny, hard pitch
Opposition: Sanderstead scored: 117 all out (30 overs)
Exiles Score: 225 for 7 (40 overs)
Result: Won by 108 runs
Man of the match: Jasper Searle 72 runs

Another gloriously sunny September day beckoned the ten-man Exiles to Sanderstead's wonderful ground in South London. Skipper Wingers elected to bat on what he claimed was a 'flat track', much to the horror of Simon, who was looking forward to having a bowl after what he said was one of his few 'hangover free' nights… Jasper then proceeded to prove the skipper right, in a carefully paced innings. The author, who was playing only his second ever 'proper' match for the Exiles, was stunned to hear that Jasper normally got himself out early, as he proceeded to unveil some quite glorious cover drives and cuts off the opening bowlers.

At the other end, Phil Steers, recruited by his neighbour and Exiles stalwart Mr Ling, was finding the going a bit more difficult, as he struggled with the accurate line, eventually succumbing trying to force the pace. Jon then came to the wicket, and looked at ease in the sunshine, working the ones and twos, and had just began to tuck into the occasional off-spin when he pulled up mid stride after hitting a four. Unfortunately, he had to retire hurt having injured his calf, and hobbled off the pitch to be replaced by Richard, who was soon back in the pavilion after trying to hit that innocuous spinner through the covers and was bowled [maybe not so innocuous after all?] Simon then marched to the wicket, and did his usual Superman effort, smacking the bowling around the park, and marshaling Jasper to his maiden fifty, an outstanding result, particularly given that he never looked like getting out. Simon raced to 34, and then a quick flurry of wickets as first Gundry, then White and finally Jasper fell trying to push the score on against some part time bowling after the very healthy start. Jasper ended up on a quite brilliant 72, which was easily the difference between the sides. Wingers provided some humpty towards the end, though only after negotiating a horrible run-out with Martin. Phil chipped in with some runs, and then acted as a runner once he fell for Jon's return. The Exiles finished on a very healthy 225-7 off 40 overs.

The tea was good, and there was plenty of it. The chocolate Swiss roll was particularly tasty…

We ambled out for the restart and Wingers and Naren opened up. Wingers immediately struck gold, bowling the opener early on with a full straight yorker. The number three then looked to hit out, favouring a leg side attack against Naren, but the Exiles stuck to their plans, and a quite unbelievable passage of play the ensued. Naren had the attacking number three extremely well caught by Richard at point, Wingers then bowled the numbers four and five, and Naren had the next batsman caught out too. Four wickets fell with the score on 20, and Sanderstead were now 20-5! Simon then came steaming in and kept the pressure on, but the lower order were made of sterner stuff, with the odd ball flying to the boundary. Simon eventually got the youngster out with a fine quick and straight ball, and was replaced by Phil, who bowled in tandem with Martin. Phil bowled an excellent line, and had two quick wickets, one a plumb lbw, the other caught, and should have had a third if White hadn't spilled a simple chance at mid-on. For some reason, the skipper rewarded White with a bowl for dropping the catch, and he generated some turn and bounce to bowl the last man out.

All in all, a fantastic win for the Exiles by 108 runs. Wingers batted and bowled well, as did Naren and Phil, and Simon provided his usual batting cameo in the middle. However, man of the match must surely go to Jasper for his maiden fifty, finishing with a fine 72 off 89 balls, with seven fours and a six. A fine way to end the season.

Report By: Chris White

Interview with Man of the Match: Jasper Searle

Hey Jasp, well done yesterday, I thought I'd turn the tables and ask you a few questions for a change!!

Jasper, Congratulations on your maiden Exiles fifty yesterday! You must be delighted with the way you played?

I was happy with that innings, it has to be said, unexpected as it was, because I just went out and played. I was happy also that I didn't give any chances until after the 50 had been reached, and that I managed to keep scoring at a reasonable rate throughout the innings.

Whilst we were aware that it was your first fifty for the Exiles, have you made many others in adult cricket?

I have made a couple before yes. But not for a long time!

After finding such form following a self-enforced absence from cricket for a few weeks, will you now be regularly taking a mid-season sabatical?

Well a combination of the dreadful weather in August and a couple of other distractions meant I have had time to completely forget about some of my struggles at the crease on the damp wickets so I guess it has helped. I had completely switched off from cricket to be honest for this season so really wasn't expecting too much when I answered Naren's plea for help.

Your innings showed excellent attacking intent from the off. Was this a deliberate ploy?

One of the advantages of opening the batting is that it can take the bowlers a few overs to get warmed up, and the new ball can come onto the bat well without too much deviation in bounce or direction, especially on a day like Sunday, so I had some fairly loose deliveries that I could really throw my arms at. Also it is important to get the scoreboard ticking over from the off, you cant have the later batsmen throwing their wickets away trying to increase the run rate due to a slow start, which certainly from watching some Exiles games in previous seasons, has been a problem.

You seem to look most comfortable as an opening batsman. Is this your favourite role?

I think I've probably been in every place in the order between 1 to 8 in the 3 years, and I'd probably say yes, 1 or 2 is my favoured role. I'm a terrible watcher on the sidelines so it can be torture being padded up waiting for 30 overs to get a chance. I also think I've had the attitude when coming in at say 4 or 5 of just trying to make a contribution, say a quick 20 to 30, rather than taking time to compose a decent score, because I dont want to hold up the arrival of one of the big hitters like Simon who can accelarate in the last 5 or so overs at a better rate than I might be able to.

One of your off-drives had Simon skipping round the boundary in delight! He even claimed it was as good a shot as he had seen all season - do you agree that it was the best shot of your innings?

I did enjoy that shot, in particular as they had a fielder out there and before he had moved it had gone past him. But I did also enjoy the six, as only 2 balls earlier Si had hit his obligatory one, so when I hit mine and it went further I had a chance to say to him in the middle something along the lines of "anything you can do…"

I bet you must feel a touch frustrated that the season has now ended! Surely this has now raised your expectations for next season?

Well if next season is anything like the last 2, it will start with green, damp pitches with long grass on the outfields, then just as the pitches start to dry, the rubbish weather appears and the pudding pitches return, making batting hard hard work. Hopefully I've created a little headache for the skipper next season, as even I expect that Keith and Q will open when available, with JPJ at 3, Amil at 4, so I'll just have to take my opportunity when I get it… and maybe try and take more wickets next season too … and improve my wicket keeping… ok I'm getting a bit carried away now! One thing at a time.

Interviewed By: Andy Wingfield

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