Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Agricola, Sunday, 20 May 2018

Ground: Dundonald Rec Ground
Captain: Chris Plume
Match type: 40 overs
Toss: Agricola elected to bat
Weather: Sunny
Opposition: Agricola scored: 120 all out (38.4 overs)
Exiles Score: 123 for 8 (33.3 overs)
Result: Won by 2 wickets
Man of the match: Jibran Ahmed 46 not out

Sunday, saw a rollercoaster ride of a game as the Exiles took on Agricola at Dundonald Rec. Much to the chagrin of the entire team, the toss was once again lost, and Exiles took the field. To say the outcome or just how dramatically the game progressed was predictable at the outset would have be a gross overstatement. What followed over the next five hours would be some of the finest Exiles bowling and fielding that would have stifled any any opposition, and the aforementioned rollercoaster ride. But more on that later. 

The opening salvos of the game were delivered, at peak temperatures for the day, by Wingfield and Ahmed. Wingfield nursing himself from the festivities the night before, and Ahmed conserving his energies due to holy Ramadan. Not that this was reflected in their bowling as both made early inroads. With Wingfield removing Gladwin, thanks in part to a diving catch by Iqbal; and Ahmed removing Almond, clean bowled. Ahmed bowled through his allocation of overs and Wingfield was replaced by Patel N after five overs. 

Patel bowled both tight lines and lengths during his spell of five overs for a miserly 13 runs. Santimon, having replaced Ahmed, took up the fast deteriorating new ball and set to work on the Agricola batsmen. A mix of out swingers, in seamers and the Dundonald variable bounce saw Norledge dropped at keeper and first slip, but Thody pouched by Leuvennink at gully. Santimon finished with just the one wicket and an economical 16 runs for his eight overs. 

Patel was replaced Exiles swing/fast off-spinner for the day Ling. Having come off of an early morning long haul flight from Far East, just for the game, Ling quickly removed both Farrell (bowled) and Farnham (caught behind). This made way for and aggressive Lamprecht, who realising the run rate was declining decided to take the attack to the bowlers. Having been reprieved thanks to a dropped skier off of Ling by keeper Plume, Lamprecht looked to squeeze runs wherever he could. First by piercing the infield and then taking the arial route. This would be his undoing, as he soon launched one from Ling towards cow. 

Kruger having fully recovered from a newly operated thumb had been be patrolling the cow area for quite some time now. Needless to say his eyes lit up as soon as Lamprecht launched it in his direction. At first all others Exiles had gasped thinking Kruger had misjudged the catch. However what followed was a catch of otherworldly quality. Which saw Kruger having to backtrack upon himself, judge himself inside the boundary rope and then dive full length and take a catch coming over his right shoulder. Safe to say a catch of this quality may never be seen in person. Not at this level of the game. 

This was what would prove to be the moment that really broke the back of the Agricola batting attack. What followed was a ram raid by Iqbal and Wingfield. With both bowlers taking two wickets each in final the moments of the game, which included two in two balls from Iqbal. Wingfield finished off the innings removing Dugdale, who was vocally egging him on to bowl faster. Wingfield giving it everything he had, removed Dugdale - feathering the leg stump and having the bail drop. 

What had at once stage looked set to become a difficult and imposing score went from 108-4 to 120-10. You could be forgiven for thinking the hard work was done now. The bowlers had done their part and all that was left is now a chase at 3 runs an over. After a quick spot of tea, the Exiles batsmen set to work. 

The Exiles reply was opened by Iqbal and Quereshi. Unfortunately, the innings started much the same way the Agricola innings finished. The first over saw Farrell remove both Iqbal and Kruger off of consecutive deliveries. Both of which were on a fourth stump line, eliciting the faintest of edges. Exiles finished the first over at the loss of two wickets for no runs. 

The first over from Marshall, saw Leuvennink push at one just outside off, to once again be caught behind. Exiles had now lost three wickets for three runs in less than two overs. Replacing Leuvennink, was Patel A, whose only objective at the time was to steady the ship. Having not played in half a decade, this was perhaps not the most opportune timing for a bat. 

Whilst Patel settled himself in, Quereshi was caught in the covers off of the bowling of Marshall. In came Plume, who was in a purple patch of his own, having scored 96 runs across the preceding two games. No sooner had Plume settled in, Patel was caught off of the bowling of Farrell. The score at this stage had progressed to a somber 17-5. 

In came Wingfield to replace Patel, but he too was swiftly removed by Farrell. Wingfield being caught behind, having not troubled the scorers during his four ball stay. Exiles are now 17-6. 

What follows now, is what can only be described as a monumental heist. Though, by now, thoughts have already turned to more existential questions such as: How many runs is too few to be bowled out for? Will the tenner for tea be refunded? How will I explain this to my loved ones? 

To right the ship came in Santimon. Batting at 8, but experiencing the giddy highs of facing the Agricola opening bowlers. Santimon and Plume both set about building a platform. Picking off singles, twos and boundaries, the pair put on 41 runs together in less than nine overs. Plume scoring 18 and Santimon scoring 17, all before Santimon decided he had had enough and jumped off the ship - getting bowled by a straight one, having tried to play his traditional swipe to the undermanned legside boundary. Exiles had now practically accelerated to 58-7, with 63 needed off of 21 overs. 

Cometh the hour, cometh the Ahmed. Plume and Ahmed, together built the biggest Exiles partnership of the day, putting on 47 together. With both batsmen now picking off singles and boundaries at will. However proceedings had to come to a momentary halt as Plume, having been nailed twice on the right foot whilst keeping could no longer run. In came Santimon to aid as runner and Plume picked up where he had left off, and pushed the score to 105-8 before being caught off the bowling of Marshall. 

Ling, replacing Plume, had absolutely no intention of getting himself out, nor of rotating the strike unnecessarily - having realised only 16 were needed off of some 10 overs. Ling stayed not out over the course of nine balls, even wearing one flush on the left buttock, all in the course of getting the team over the line. 

With both batsmen now making physical sacrifices; Ahmed, over the course of the next 4.2 overs scored 17 more runs to see the Exiles over the line. 

What looked at the start of the chase as a walk on the park, had soon deteriorated into what could have easily become a crushing defeat. The Exiles lower order, Ahmed especially, showed that on a pitch riddled with variable bounce, that given patience and application, runs were still very much available. The climax of the match saw the Exiles dig themselves out of a hole, which they had dug themselves into. Many positives can be taken for the day, such as the tight bowling, the excellent ground fielding and fight shown by he lower order batsmen. 

Report By: Ashik Santimon

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