Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Old Merchant Taylors, Sunday, 20 Sep 2009

Ground: Dundonald Rec Ground
Captain: Amil Patel
Match type: 35 overs
Toss: Exiles elected to bat
Weather: Sunny, patchy pitch
Opposition: Old Merchant Taylors scored: 125 all out (27.3 overs)
Exiles Score: 160 for 7 (35 overs)
Result: Won by 35 runs
Man of the match: Simon Gundry 4 for 27

Exiles vs Old Merchant Taylors - As it happened – 20 September 2009

1100 – Its finally here! After so much conjecture and hearsay it will be a relief to many when the game finally gets under way.

Adam Uttley and Andy Wingfield are facing their regular Saturday cricket team-mates, and according to the press have been subjected to plenty of headline grabbing verbals in the pre-game build-up, such as "This game is too important…", "…it's basically an opportunity to top up your end of season batting average", "Smutts, Wingers, don't bother taking any singles to me, because I will run you out, no question", "I need some late season runs, so this sounds like the perfect opportunity".

1200 - Most bookmakers have OMT slight favourites at a general 4/5, with the Exiles coming in at even money, but with 4 OMT 1s players rumoured to have been drafted into the OMT squad late on and with Wingfield hampered by a hamstring injury for the Exiles, OMT can now only be bought at best price 2/5 pre-match, with the Exiles a distant 8/5.

1230 – Team news is in:
Exiles – K Roberts, Q Davies, J Tither, W Scott, D Killaly, A Patel (c & w), S Gundry, A Wingfield, A Uttley, N Patel, G Thomas.
OMT – S Shah, A Shelley, A Bruce (w), S Modi, M Winkle, G Edwards, J Mayer, D McCabe, M Sanghvi, A Akthar, D Shah (c).

So Andy Wingfield passes a fitness test for the Exiles and will play, but doubts remain about his ability to complete his allotment of overs. OMT are strengthened by the late availabilities of Al Shelley, Sohan Modi and Dave McCabe.
1250 – Exiles skipper Amil Patel wins the toss an elects to bat.
"It'll be difficult to bat second in the dark" he says. Weather is set fair, though the Dundonald Rec. pitch looks a little under-prepared – as usual.

0.5 overs – WICKET – Roberts b Modi (Exiles 0-1)
And with the Exiles winning the toss and, perhaps surprisingly, opting to bat, Sohan Modi's first over to Keith Roberts has the bookmakers sitting comfortably; first ball Roberts just about gets a last minute inside-edge to, and following 3 uneventful balls, the 5th ball of the over sees his off stump vigorously tickled by a very sharp in-swinger, cart-wheeling as it was knocked over.

First blood to OMT and don't they know it. Volume, orchestrated as ever by wicket-keeper Andy Bruce, has increased ten-fold to greet Exiles number 3 John Tither.

1st over – 0-1 Tither survives the final ball of the over. Great start for Sohan. Exiles batsmen look nervously on. Keith Roberts doesn't help – "he's way quicker than (Nomads player) Ajmal".

2nd over Ammar Akthar opens for OMT at the other end. Wow! He makes a similarly spectacular impact with his first delivery – as a beamer soars some 20 feet over the batsman's head and loops safely into Bruce's hands.

Tither and the other Exiles opener Quentin Davies haven't quite settled,
but some powerful hitting and some erratic bouncing of the ball leading to several occurrences of 4-byes have allowed a 50 partnership to quickly build.

9th over – WICKET – Davies c Mayer b McCabe 25 (Exiles 50-2)

However some accurate bowling by left-armer Dave McCabe ends a promising partnership as Davies cuts to point, where Mayer takes the catch. And there's a typically eccentric reaction from the fielder, who celebrates taking the catch by shouting “Come on, Mayer!”

12th over – WICKET – Tither c Bruce b Shah D 20 (Exiles 60-3)
Off-spinner Dhiraj Shah continues McCabe's good work in strangling the Exiles, as Tither skies an attempted slog and wicket-keeper Bruce holds the catch well.

13th over – WICKET – W Scott c Bruce b McCabe 0 (Exiles 64-4)
And another one! McCabe keeps up the good length and Wil Scott obliges by knicking a straightforward catch through to the keeper. Exiles are in some trouble now and need a big contribution from their Aussie import Daniel Killaly.

15th over – 68-4 Rare poor ball from Shah gets the treatment from Killaly and is dispatched through mid-wicket for 4. Exiles are still under pressure though.

16th over – WICKET – Killaly lbw Shah D 4 (Exiles 70-5)

That's a shocker! Killaly is triggered lbw by OMT umpire Andy Wilson Chris White, despite snicko clearly showing 2 noises. And he's not happy. Rumours that White is umpiring and taking photos at the same time abound in the Exiles camp. Exiles also question why the umpires finger is raised before the OMT fielders had even had a chance to appeal.

19th over – 79-5 Shot! Patel Jnr – scratchy so far – as usual – suddenly get hold of a McCabe half-volley and creams it through the covers for 4. Shot of the day so far and a morale-booster for Patel and the rest of the Exiles camp. Touch of Martin Thomas about that. Real Class.

20-25th over – 118-5 With that, a double bowling change is made and further spinners are introduced in the form of Mihir Sanghvi and Matt Winkle. New man in Simon Gundry and Patel play sensibly and respectfully, taking runs when they're available and hoping to avoid knicking the occasional ripper from leg-spinner Sanghvi.

23rd over – WICKET – or is it? No – he's changed his mind! Gundry is beaten and wrapped on the pads, the appeal goes up – mutedly - and White gives it. But there was very clearly bat on it – again - and the OMT fielders don't really seem too upset when the umpire retracts his decision. Gundry survives, but what will that drama have done to his psyche and concentration?

26th over – WICKET – A Patel c Modi b Winkle 32 (Exiles 119-6)
Just as the partnership was blossoming, Patel hits straight to Modi and a stand of 49 is broken.
Andy Wingfield comes in to bat and is greeted with a predictable barrage of verbals. But this experienced all-rounder has heard it all before and comfortably plays out the rest of Winkle's over, without responding to Bruce's constant chirp, much to Bruce's and Shripal Shah's disappointment.

28thth over – 123-6 DROPPED – Al Shelley is brought into the attack. Luckily for the Exiles batters, he's bowling off-spin today. But that's a drop from Bruce. Wingfield goes for the sweep, gets a top-edge and the ball loops through Bruce's gloves and the batsmen scamper a quick single.

"Bruce should concentrate more on his cricket than his chirping" says Sharon from Essex via text.

29th over – 130-6 The let-off seems to have spurred on Wingfield who has started to play with more freedom and greets the introduction of the OMT sides player-of-the-year Mayer into the attack by disdainfully taking several strides down the track and depositing the first ball he faces from him high over mid-wicket for 4. Agricultural, but effective. Irked, Mayer then bangs the next ball in short, but it was too wide and Wingfield cuts for more runs.

31st over – WICKET – Gundry c Bruce b Mayer 26 (Exiles 140-7)
However Mayer, blood up, produces an excellent next over to Gundry, pushing the Exiles all-rounder back in his crease, culminating in the Exiles player looping a straightforward catch into Bruce's grateful hands. A big blow for the Exiles as Gundry is a dangerous hitter in the late overs.

Hmm, this is getting interesting – next man in is Adam Uttley, the other OMT rebel in the Exiles line-up. Predictably, the decibels are raised further as Uttley, resplendent in his Exiles cap and shirt, strides to the crease.

32-34th over – 152-7 Mayer steams in, but Uttley plays him well and straight, and with Wingfield continuing to annoy the bowlers further by striding down the pitch and mowing a couple of leg-side boundaries – to such an extent that Shelley is even motivated to switching to seam-up for his last couple of overs, the runs continue to tick along nicely for the Exiles.

“How OMT have set their field is astonishing. Wingfield's only really got one shot – a mow through mid-wicket, yet OMT are leaving this area vacant. It beggars belief!” says an anonymous OMT supporter via text. He's got a point.

35th over – 160-7 (end of innings) DROPPED! The final over brings one more piece of drama. Uttley scoops a delivery from Mayer straight to mid-on, but Akthar, inexplicably, drops the catch. The look on Mayer's face is priceless. I'd steer clear of Mayer for a while if I was Akthar.

So with a couple more late hits, there's a certain amount of poetry for Wingfield and Uttley as they both walk off undefeated at the end of the Exiles innings, having taken the score to 160.

The bookmakers still have OMT as favourites at tea, but the Exiles have given themselves a fighting chance with some good middle-order batting. Will OMT pay for not giving longer spells to their most effective bowlers?

Bob Willis is apparently going nuts on Sky "the standard of umpiring in this game is unbelievable. What is White doing taking photos at the same time as umpiring? How could he not see that Killaly and Gundry both clearly got bat on ball". Harsh words indeed, but you kind of sense that winding up the Exiles' two quickest bowlers might not be the best tactic for OMT to incorporate …

Here come the players, suitably refreshed, following tea. This is going to be interesting from the start – it looks like Uttley and Gundry are going to open for the Exiles, adding further to the debate about Wingfield's fitness. He looked a bit uncomfortable when batting certainly. This will be the first time he's not opened for the Exiles on a Sunday for over 2 years. Here we go. It's Uttley steaming in …

1st over – 8-0 Poor start from Uttley as Shripal Shah cashes in with 2 opening over boundaries.
And Bruce is letting Uttley know about it from the sidelines – "ONE over EIGHT runs NO wickets" … Indeed.

2nd over – 13-0 Equally dodgy start from Gundry at the other end as two leg-side full-tosses are easily dispatched for runs by Al Shelley. Things already look ominous for the Exiles.

2nd over – WICKET - S Shah c Tither b Gundry 8 (OMT 16-1)

But that's got him! Shah was probably a bit over-confident there as he tried to hook Gundry, but the ball was too quick for him and he could only spoon it to mid-on where Tither showed good concentration to hold the catch – with several players in close proximity.

3rd over – WICKET – Shelley c Roberts b Uttley 5 (OMT 16-2)

And another! And it's a big one for the Exiles and particularly Uttley – as Shelley goes for a lofted-off drive and skies it to Keith Roberts – who takes a steepler at mid-off. Game on!

Poor taste from Uttley though as he kisses the Exiles badge on his shirt in celebrating the wicket. We're not playing football.
Andy Bruce comes in. Exiles find their voices in recompense for Bruce's earlier efforts. Bruce remains surprisingly quiet. Not so funny now, is it?

3rd over - WICKET – Bruce c Gundry b Uttley (OMT 16-3)

Bruce is gone as well! 2nd ball - beaten by the pitch really as his forward prod loops to Gundry at point, who holds easily.

3rd over – DROPPED! Uttley nearly gets a third in the over there as a thick outside edge from new man Modi goes low to Gundry's left. The big man gets a good hand on it but can't hold on. Tough chance, but the Exiles might regret that.

What an over though from Uttley. "TWO overs, EIGHT runs, TWO wickets" is his emphatic and predictable response to Bruce.

8th over – WICKET – Modi c A Patel b Gundry 12 (OMT 33-4)

But Gundry soon makes amends as Modi's edge is found and the catch is well-taken by Amil Patel.

10th over - WICKET – M Winkle c A Patel b Gundry 5 (OMT 36-5)

And that's Winkle's wicket as well. An inspired piece of captaincy (possibly suggested to him by his slip fielder) – as Winkle was playing Gundry straight and well – and defensively – and so cover point was brought right in to silly mid-off, Winkle immediately responds with an offside slash and edges through to the keeper.

10th over 38-5 Raucous chirp greets Jeremy Mayer to the crease. "He looks very nervous" mentions Uttley, whilst Wingfield, from slip, tells Gundry – loudly - that Mayer is afraid of him. First ball, he backs away, but plays a good shot for 2 towards the cover boundary. He survives the rest of the over. Gundry completes an excellent 5 over spell.

12th over – 45-5 With the news that its Killaly replacing Gundry, Wingfield chirps in with "he's considerably quicker than Gundry" to the OMT batsmen. Edwards and Mayer greet this news with mock confidence and authority. Killaly doesn't quite hit his straps though and is worked for a few runs.

14th over – WICKET – Mayer c Gundry b Uttley 15 (OMT 66-6)

But that's the end of Mayer's hyper-active stay at the crease as – following a quick-fire 15 – he hits straight to cover point where Gundry takes the catch to give a jubilant Uttley his 3rd wicket and probably the one he wanted most!

16th over - 75-6 Naren Patel replaces Uttley and starts a typically metronomic spell. Edwards and McCabe play respectfully.

18th over - 84-6 Altercation between Killaly and umpire White. A couple of choice words look to have been exchanged following a declined lbw appeal. Safest to say they're not on best terms those two today.

20th over – 93-6 Gwyn Thomas is introduced to the attack. Interesting phase of the game this – and probably a good move – as Edwards has played the pace of Killaly well, but isn't known for his slogging of slow bowlers. The scoreboard ticks over quietly.

22nd over – WICKET – Edwards c Roberts b G Thomas 20 (OMT 96-7)

Got him! And what a catch by Keith Roberts! Excellent control of flight by Thomas as his consistency eventually tempts Edwards into an uncharacteristic slog and the leading edge loops gently over Roberts' shoulders at mid-off, but running back, he takes an excellent juggling catch.

24th over – WICKET – McCabe c A Patel b G Thomas 9 (OMT 101-8)

Start the car!! Dangerman McCabe can't get hold of Gwyn Thomas's bowling and gloves one straight to Amil Patel. Surely it's all over now?

Now all the dangermen batsmen have been dismissed, it looks like a half-fit Wingfield fancies a go… what a hero….
25th over – WICKET – Akthar b Wingfield 0 (OMT 112-9)  

After a couple of leg-side looseners, Wingfield gets one to swing in from Akthar's pads and knock back his leg stump. First time in the OMT innings that a wicket has not been caught.

Dhiraj Shah pops in for a bat. Just 49 needed for the win. Shah is off the mark second ball with a thick outside edge down to third man.

27th over – 125-9 Three good shots in the over from Sanghvi as Wingfield struggles with his radar. Sanghvi becomes the top-scorer in the OMT innings with 22 not out. Just 36 now needed.

And here's the return of Gundry. Shah to hit him back over his head for six anyone?

28th over – WICKET – D Shah b Gundry 2 (OMT 125 all out)

Er no. Game over & Exiles win by 35 runs! Fast and straight from Gundry and that's the end of that.

So an inspired bowling performance, led by Simon Gundry (4 for 27) and Adam Uttley (3 for 27), enabled the Energy Exiles to complete the 2009 double over OMT in a keenly fought contest on a typically lively Dundonald Rec. strip.

Energy Exiles 160-7 (35 overs) beat OMT 125 (27.3 overs) by 35 runs.

Footage of this match is available on youtube: ExilesvOMT

Report By: Andy Wingfield

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