Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Clapham Nomads, Sunday, 13 Sep 2009

Ground: Dundonald Rec Ground
Captain: Amil Patel
Match type: 35 overs
Toss: Exiles elected to bat
Weather: Sunny, patchy pitch
Opposition: Clapham Nomads scored: 116 all out (29.1 overs)
Exiles Score: 129 all out (31.5 overs)
Result: Won by 13 runs
Man of the match: Simon Gundry 3 for 17

On a slightly overcast and dreary early September afternoon, the Exiles took on Clapham Nomads for the third time this season. Like the previous encounters it proved to be a hard fought and entertaining encounter against strong opponents. Following some initial confusion over "ownership" of the pitch the game eventually commenced with the Exiles winning the toss and batting.

Keith and Jon Tither opened and faced some excellent, quick bowling on a pitch with variable bounce. Jon played a few excellent forces off the back foot before succumbing to the quick and accurate Hassan. Keith was joined by Wil Scott and the two showed great composure and watchfulness on what was a difficult wicket. With the Nomads struggling to make the breakthrough with their pace attack, their skipper decided to show the rest of his team how it should be done through some wily medium pace bowling using his famous "hop, skip and a jump" bowling technique. He quickly disposed of Wil and turned his sights to his bunny, Keith (aka the Matthew Hayden of SW London friendly cricket). Keith weathered the initial, brutal assault by Emil and pushed the score along nicely with the "sensible" Sam Scott for company. Unfortunately, Keith tried one bully shot too many* against Emil and saw his middle stump uprooted. Stiffel decided not to trouble the scorers by smoting his first ball to Ajmal at mid-on and Sam Scott soon followed for 18. It was good to see Sam on a cricket field again and it would be a welcome sight if he were able to turn out for a few more fixtures next season. The Exiles collapse continued with Amil hitting a full toss straight to Ajmal at mid-on and Gundry being run out by an astonishing direct hit by the same fielder. In fact, the Exiles seemed to have an unerring ability to pick out the Nomad's most competent fielder. Some antics at the end of the innings by M. Thomas and Patel Snr, which are best left without description, eventually took the Exiles to a total of 129 off 31.5 overs. This left the Nomads as slight favourites for the match, particularly as their batting line up seemed to have spent much of the summer posting large totals.

However, the Exiles came out after the tea break determined to complete the clean sweep against the Nomads and Wingfield soon accounted for one of their key "ones to watch", Fewson, who was smartly caught behind by Amil. Vyas swiftly to bring Hassan to the crease - after looking quite nervous against Wingfield, Hassan finally got off the mark for the season against the Exiles. Unfortunately for the Exiles, Wingfield pulled a hamstring leaving the captain to turn to his second string bowler, Simon "I'm getting on a bit" Gundry. Hassan quickly found out that the Exiles first change bowler is actually their quickest and saw his stumps yet again flattened in Gundry's second over. However, Amin at the other end was taking a few chances and hitting the ball very cleanly. In fact, the Nomads were still handily placed at 78 for 4. The Exiles turned the screw to dispose of Amin, Lefevre (attempting to hit to his preferred leg-side), Ajmal and Reeve in quick succession leaving the Nomads needing a near miracle to win the game. Enter Todorov. This giant of the game single headedly repelled the threat of the Thomas twins while brutally scything anything remotely off line to take the Nomads to 111 for 8. Patel jnr brought back Patel snr to tighten things up a bit and the wily bowler soon "shattered" Gopi's stumps using his time honoured method of bowling straight. Todorov was joined at the wicket by Crossland and despite the former's instructions Crossland proceeded to pad up to a straight ball by M. Thomas to see the Nomads dismissed for 116**.

Exiles 3, Nomads 0. A great season's effort against a well balanced and strong opponent. All three games against the Nomads were closely fought contests with the Exiles experience in tight matches probably being the difference between the sides.

* More accurately, it was his only attempted bully shot. The bully shot in its original Hilsonian sense is best described as a "stretch shot mow" across the line in the direction of cow corner. The recently invented Roberts variant is a swing across the line to a straight ball with the aim of depositing it over mid-wicket. While aesthetically more pleasing than the original Hilson shot the MCC has recently classified the Roberts variant as "unbecoming of a gentleman cricketer". Interestingly, a recent study by the Bradshaw College of Cricket traces the origins of the bully shot to R.J. Priestland of Merton whose "mow" to midwicket was innovated upon by Hilson in the late 1990s.

** Todorov's immediate concern after the match was to maximise verify his own score. For such a sterling effort 20 runs was not deemed sufficient reward so Nick was instructed to add on a two to his score. Nick did point out that Emil did not run a two so two singles were deemed more appropriate. By the time Emil had finished adjusting his own score it became apparent that the margin of victory could have been anything between 13 and 1 run.

Report By: Amil Patel

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