Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Royal Ascot, Sunday, 09 May 2010

Ground: King's House Sports Ground
Captain: Amil Patel
Match type: 40 overs
Toss: Royal Ascot elected to bat
Weather: Cloudy
Opposition: Royal Ascot scored: 134 for 8 (30.5 overs)
Exiles Score: 133 for 7 (40 overs)
Result: Lost by 2 wickets
Man of the match: Andrew Wingfield 22no & 4 for 33

The Exiles opened their season at Chiswick on a bitterly cold May day. The gloomy conditions made the Chiswick grounds look even more ramshackle and unwelcoming than ever before, especially with the bar out of action. For our visitors, more used to the splendid settings of the Ascot racecourse, it must have been a bit of a comedown. Things cheered up seeing our old rivals, and next week's opponents Agricola turn up, although they too were rather miffed to be missing out on their obligatory pre match refreshments from the bar. It has since been determined that they have taken to holding their pre match "team briefings" in a pub in Barnes, so Chiswick's loss will most definitely be Barnes' gain.

With most players wearing 3 or 4 layers, and grateful that their school cricket jumper of 20 years ago still proving a (tight) fit, it was not clear whether running around fielding first or shivering for 40 overs while 2 team mates batted was a better option. As it happens, the decision was taken out of our hands, as we were put into bat. The Exiles have traditionally proved to be notoriously slow starters when it comes to scoring runs in the early season matches, and so it was to prove again. Scoring was solid, but not spectacular, as after a few loose deliveries, the tight Ascot bowling proved difficult to get at. The highlight was former skipper Andy hitting 20 in one over, as the Exiles limped to 133 for 7 of their 40 overs. On arguably the fairest pitch at Chiswick, this didn't look like it would be enough, with the widely held belief that the score was about 20 runs short at this stage of the season of being competitive.

After a tea break, the Ascot batsmen set about the Exiles bowling like the rampant Chelsea forward line a few miles down the road at Stamford Bridge were doing to the hapless Wigan back four. After 10 overs Ascot were half way there and cruising. A shell shocked Exiles were perhaps grateful that their day out in the ever murkier and colder climes would soon be coming to an end. Simon, who initially had ruled himself out of bowling, decided to keep his Exiles team mates on their toes by spreading increasingly silly rumours of red cards and misbehaviour at Stamford Bridge. Even judging by all the shenanigans that happened their this season, his match updates were very much from the Daily Sport's sports desk of being economical with the truth.

However, just as the week before, wickets fell suddenly with a flurry, as batsmen lost their senses and played reckless shots. One return catch in particular by Andy showed impressive athleticism, and there was a real sense that the Exiles could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Simon, having run out of elaborate stories to tell of events at Stamford Bridge, and like everyone else perhaps wise that the best way to keep warm to run about a bit, decided to chance his arm and bowl. Facing his bowling is difficult at the best of times, but in the Chiswick gloom, it was going to be difficult for batsmen, and unfortunately the wicketkeeper Amil as well, who managed to damage his finger, which will keep him out for a few weeks. Despite the fine efforts of Andy in particular, well supported by Simon and JP-J, Ascot sneaked home with 2 wickets to spare, as their batsmen finally started to play with some composure.

Report By: Jasper Searle

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