Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Surbiton Imperials, Sunday, 10 May 2009

Ground: King's House Sports Ground
Captain: Andrew Wingfield
Match type: 40 overs
Toss: Exiles elected to bat
Weather: Sunny, dry pitch
Opposition: Surbiton Imperials scored: 173 for 8 (36.1 overs)
Exiles Score: 172 for 9 (40 overs)
Result: Lost by 2 wickets
Man of the match: Naren Patel 4 for 18

The Exiles arrived at Chiswick pleasantly surprised to be making a rare appearance on pitch C, which had many old members reminsciencing about past glories on which is by far the best pitch at Chiswick. Always hard and dry, it offers encouragement to both the bowler who is prepared to bend their back and batsman who likes the ball coming onto them. Skipper Wingco once again won the toss and took the only sensible decision on a hot and sunny day, which was to bat.

Having acquired a member of the opposition to play for us, (I think Pete was his name, more about him later), the skipper sent in the 'Million Dollar Man' and Wil to open the batting. Facing a hostile spell from their bully of a fast bowler Ashley they put on a decent opening stand of 56 until the Imperials turned to their wise old head Eric to twirl his aging arm. Almost immediately he broke through bowling Jasper who, in his only error of judgement, played back to the wily old codger. Sri came in and a promising stand was cut prematurely short when he, overly enthusiastically, (forgetting who his partner was) called for an ill-advised two. Wil was run out by a country mile (2nd time this season) after being sent back and he wandered off muttering expletives and telling anyone who cared to listen, that he was on for a 50.

The innings stagnated slightly with Sri (crestfallen at running out Wil when he was on for a 50) and Mike falling relatively cheaply. David Stiffell played his characteristic swashbuckling innings until deceived by 70 plus genius Eric. The skipper bludgeoned an impressive 35 and in his first of hopefully many appearances for the Exiles, Andy Pope batted bravely against Ashley when he was brought back at the end of the innings. The Exiles ended up on a familiar sounding 172.

After an expensive tea, (the treasurer boring everyone by expressing his bemusement on how it could of gone up so much when inflation is practically nil), the Exiles' opening bowlers Naren and Andy tore into the Surbiton openers quickly taking wickets and reducing the opposition to 32 for 4. In came the big bully Ashley who merrily smited all and sundry (despite Wil reminding him frequently that he was playing ugly shots, and had yet to middle any of his huge sixes), and a remarkable partnership of 128 ensued. With the game rapidly getting away from the exiles, Andy brought himself and had Ashley caught down leg side. It was a charitable decision from the umpire and Exiles were back in it.

Wickets began to tumble as Jasper came to life taking two quick scalps and the Imperials seemed to be stumbling toward victory. Eric's wicket was seen as vital, and after a disgraceful piece of sledging (mainly referring to his age and questioning his right to still be alive) from Pete, normally a team mate, Eric charged down the wicket in anger and was bowled. This brought in their captain (the man with one of the most extraordinary bat grips, I marvelled at his ability to even hit the ball) and he batted very sensibly to get the required runs.

Man of the Match goes to Naren Patel for his excellent 4 wickets.

Report By: Wil Scott

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