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SURELY NOT ANOTHER TIE |
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DODGERS 105-4 (Singh 2-13) TIED WITH |
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SUPERSTARS 105-3 (Gaught 62no, Anand 24) |
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The day had arrived. The forecast was bad but as both sides arrived it looked like we'd got away with it.
It looked a much changed Dodgers line up with legends like McBarron, Carr, Priest, Cooper, Hilary and Fox all missing. Inevitably Paul lost the toss
and Dodgers elected to bat first. |
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Superstars opened the bowling with in-form Jeremy Keates and legend Merv Aranha - with dangerman Dollin
opening the batting for Dodgers. Both kept the openers quiet with Jez picking up the key wicket of Dollin - LBW for 15. In a number 3 for Dodgers was
the even more dangerous Hattea however he couldn't match a wonderful ball from Alok (now into the attack) while Harish had opener Law stumped. Alok
bowled beautifully (4-0-12-2) and had the dangerous looking Mendleson bowled. Captain for the day Taylor joined Quereshi and Taylor showed that he has
flowing strokes as well as his usual opening batsman grit and determination with a flowing 32 not out taken off Mountain, Varghese and Vijay who
completed the innings. Dodgers had made 105 for 4 in their 20 overs, which seemed a very good effort by Superstars. The bowling was very good and even the fielding
seemed less hapless than usual. |
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Right at the end of the Dodgers innings there had been a shower that continued into the break, but by the time
Gaught and Spencer strode out the rain had stopped but the cloud remained. Things looked good when Gaught took 11 runs (4 2s and 1 3 - he looked more
knackered than after the Marathon!) off the 2nd over but Kashya was bowling handy right arm round seamers. With the score on 30 Adam was bowled (for 5) by
newly introduced Mendleson, and when the same bowler dismissed Will Walker LBW for zero Superstars were rocking. Vijay Anand entered the arena and struggled
initally and unfortunately this coincided with Gaught's fluency being interupted. The required rate was rising. Unfortunately there was also conduct we
don't expect in a friendly Ken Block Trophy match when a LBW decision was quite rightly turned down. With 7 overs left Superstars required 57. At this point
fluency improved but unfortunately the light didn't. It was nip and tuck. The penultimate over seemed key. Superstars required 14 and Vijay skied one to long off
where it was impressively caught in the gathering gloom. Only four runs were gathered as Rick joined Paul. Each ball now seemed key and Dodgers certainly gave
that impression as every ball seemed to take an age in the dark with discussion and field changes. As the balls counted down Superstars seemed to be getting
slight underdogs, struggling to see the ball was a real problem, we reached yet another amazing climax...... |
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Superstars required 4 to win off the last ball. Gaught facing having passed 50. Famous multi-clubbed NJ to bowl. The
field spread. The ball was smeared to deep cover and two runs were easily made. Sasha, the keeper held the ball so Gaught remained in the crease. Meanwhile Rick
was completing his 3rd run. After he did Gaught ran his 3rd run while Sasha threw down the stumps at the striker's end where at least 1 batsman had always been 'safe'.
Gaught then completed his 3rd run after a relay type situation. A bizarre and ridiculous end to the game but after conjecture it seemed three runs had been scored and
another tie in this famous fixture was the result. |
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Another famous, or even infamous, match between these two great clubs. A tie seemed a fitting result not only as the game was nip-and-tuck
throughout but both teams seemed disappointed not too win! And yet again Gaught saved his best (62 not out) for our friendly rivals after a wonderful effort from our bowlers, with
Jez and Alok starring. |
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Superstars Line Up: |
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Gaught (capt), Spencer, Walker, Anand, Smith, Mountain, Keates, Aranha, Singh, Kumar, Varghese. |
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