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Friday 1st May. Bishops Cannings. |
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The beautiful ground in Coate of Bishops Cannings was the beginning of the 2015 tour on an
overcast, cold but dry evening. We played a rather confusing rule where we bowled two overs from the same end before swapping ends to save time,
although i'm not sure it did that. Anyway the match began in stunning fashion with Alok taking three wickets in the opening over of tour and
then calmed down to a more usual tour pattern. By the end of the innings Superstars had used 7 bowlers and Bishops Cannings had made 144-8 in
their 20 overs. The innings will be best remembered for Alok breaking the Superstars Bowling record for the 2nd tour match in a
row with stunning figures of 3-0-15-6 while Jason and Matt also picked up wickets. Today it was Paul G who deliberately dropped a catch of Mike T's bowling
simply to annoy him. |
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In what is typical for a tour match Superstars were always slightly behind in the chase but never outclassed.
Paul G and Will both made 26 retired, while Matt should have retired but an oversight by Jason meant he was out for 25. A collapse including 3 goldens (Messers
Plahe, Marchant and Aranha) meant that Paul G had to return for the last over needing 16 runs but the 1XI bowler in the dark was too good and we lost by 11 runs
despite Alok's amazing performance. We left for a excellent selection of food at the local pub before heading back for beers and fun near the hotel. |
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Saturday 2nd May. Christian Malford. |
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In this game the hunter turned into the hunted as Mike Taylor (and a late notice Steve Meyler) turned out
for his new home club and today's opponents. After a delay for the changing rooms to be opened CM batted. In a very different
innings all the bowlers chipped in with a wicket or two with Mike K leading the way with two. Phil McBarron was the unfortunate
bowler to recieve a thrashing at the hands of their captain - 29 in one over. The end of the innings saw Mike T ordering around a 10 year old so
they reached a testing 153-7 in their 30 overs. |
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After an excellent tea Superstars emerged and, made steady progress. Will made his second retirement of tour (this time 50)
while Conway, Gundry, Gaught and Priest chipped in. We were ahead of the rate for much of the innings but regular wickets meant Harish's winning 4 (from his first ball)
was well recieved as nerves were just beginning to appear. Superstars won by 4 wickets. |
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Sunday 3rd May. Potterne. |
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We arrived at Potterne's small and pretty ground fearing the worst. Rain interuptted the game but
credit to the opposition we managed to get a game in on the artificial wicket. There was the odd spectacular fall but well worth the match that
followed. We batted first and Will made his third retirement of tour (52) while his opening partner Steve also retired, but unfirtunately this was
due to injury (13) after a spectacular slip and fall. Our innings of 181-4 from 25 overs also witnessed a beautiful 53 retired from tour favourite
Jim Owen (a Superstars HS) and useful late innings hitting from Gundry (27no). |
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After another cracking tea Superstars took wickets, with Jason (4-29) and Simon (3-36) leading the way.
Jason also took a good catch, Simon a direct hit run out and Ian took a great catch despite Alok running into him. However some lusty late order batting
put Potterne in a strong position with two overs to go. Vijay then bowled a fine penultimate over for only 4 runs and although his figures were
not like Friday Alok finished the innings with a perfect yorker so Superstars won by 4 runs. |
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A great game and some amusing fines for us, including one for Mike K for impersonating one of their players. The evening was unfortunately was punctured by some idiots leaving the hotel and setting off the fire alarm at 11.30pm. Idiots. |
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Monday 4th May. Star Wars Day. Marlborough. |
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After Steve Meyler did his best to do an ALan Partridge impression Superstars arrived at Marlborough
for the final, injured ravaged, game of tour. Because of the expected rain we played a 30 over game with their 1XI captain and U11s captain opening
the batting. Vijay bowled the ball of the tour to dismiss the 1XI captain early and we kept the hosts relatively in check. The fielding was
surprisingly good with 3 run outs, including one fantastic assist by Jim, a sharp stumping from Barry and a top drawer c&b from Jim (it's almost as
if Jim isn't totally hapless as fielding). All the bowlers played their part with Jim taking 2-13, Vijay 2-16, Roy 1-31 and Jason 1-32 as Marlborough
made a 166-9 total that seemed about par. |
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After yet another fantastic tea Matt C and Diwakar opened up and got off to a fast start. However after
Matt (24) and Diwakar (20) were dismissed in quick succession Marlborough were able to turn the screw. Although Neil P made a fine 50 and the in-form
Jim 31 the pace slowed. Despite Vijay's last over heroics of two sixes (and 17no overall) we ended up on 159-4, and a loss by 7 runs in another close finish. |
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A really enjoyable tour. We almost managed the rare feat of a winning tour but a 2-2 result was probably just.
Most importantly fun was had, 4 close games of cricket were enjoyed and friends in the West were made. |
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Tour Party |
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Playing:
Barry Gigg (c),
Paul Gaught,
Matthew Conway,
Richard Abigail,
Vijay Anand,
Simon Gundry,
Jason Marchant,
Phil McBarron,
Steve Meyler,
Jim Owen,
Alok Singh,
Neil Priest,
Mike Taylor,
Mike Kamellard,
Ian Moxon,
Roy Varghese,
Harish Kumar, Merv Aranha, Gary Plahe, Diwakar Patwal,
Will Walker.
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Loyal Fans and junior side: Mary, Penny, Oliver, Mitra, Aru, Sian, Anna, Elina, Franca, Sarah, Joleon, Benedict, Poppy, Henry and Inigo. |
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Player of the Tour: To be announced |
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