Energy Exiles Cricket Club

Match Summary: vs. Agricola, Sunday, 14 Aug 2022

Ground: Haydons Road
Captain: Bernard Leuvennink
Match type: 35 overs
Toss: Exiles elected to bat
Weather: Hot, mainly sunny, cloudy later
Opposition: Agricola scored: 212 for 9 (35 overs)
Exiles Score: 218 for 8 (35 overs)
Result: Won by 6 runs
Man of the match: Bernard Leuvennink 4 for 37

Exiles reduced the gap in the series to 18-14 with a hard fought 6 run win against Agricola at a sweltering Haydon's Road on Sunday.

Skipper Bernard won a critical toss and Exiles were batting first in the heat, with clouds expected to accumulate later. Shahid came flying out of the blocks with a rip-roaring 41 off just 24 balls, smashing two early sixes and dominating a first wicket partnership of 54 with Keith before playing one shot too many and being stumped off Adam Norledge.

Ansar, fresh from his club record 150no, was in at 3 and joined Keith in a more steady stand of 65 in 13 overs before holing out for 40. From 119 for 1 in 19 overs, Exiles didn't quite make the best of this very solid platform and lost wickets frequently for the rest of the innings as most batsmen made starts but didn't go on -  Keith was caught at point, Bernard in the covers and Andy at short cover.

A late flourish from Siyar and a 'shot of the day' boundary from Evan ensured momentum wasn't completely lost as the Exiles finished on an about par score of 218 for 8 from 35 overs.

Almond and Lamprecht compiled a predictably excellent opening partnership for Agricola and threatened to put their side in the ascendancy. But the Exiles bowlers kept plugging away and eventually tempted Justin into one shot too many and he holed out to Andy at long-on with the score on 87.

Golden-arm Bernard continued his fantastic season with the ball by bowling Almond for 48 not long after with a ball that cut in considerably on the sandy track. And Bernard, assisted by Ansar, Evan and Naren, continued taking wickets reducing Agricola to 147 for 7.

But Nadeem and Farrell for Agricola kept chipping away and both struck a few boundaries to keep the game alive before 2 further wickets for the Exiles skipper looked to have made the game safe. Bernard finishing with a fine 4 for 37 - with all 4 of his wickets bowled - bizzarely no other wicket in the match saw the stumps rattled.

With 13 required off the final over, a fine effort from Ansar ensured only 6 runs were scored - including 4 overthrows from the bowler himself off the final ball. Luckily this wasn't crucial and Exiles were winners by 6 runs.

This was ultimately a win that was slightly more comfortable than the final score suggests - Exiles were always slightly ahead, though Agricola never gave up the chase. It was also notable that this game had well over 400 runs and no-one got to 50 individually - with 2 from both sides getting into the forties - suggesting a bit more in the pitch than first met the eye.

A satisfying win for the Exiles in a fine contest. On to Unabombers next week at the same venue, by when hopefully a bit of rain will have fallen.

Report By: Andrew Wingfield

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