Remnants vs. Academicals

18:00, Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Fitzwilliam College

Academicals (136/7 in 20 6-ball overs)
defeated
Remnants (132/5 in 20 6-ball overs)
by 4 runs.

Report by Paul Jordan:

This game is usually an intriguing encounter. Apart from recognising some familiar Romsey/Remnants players there are always some mystery players; today was no exception.

People playing cricket.

We decided to bowl first and the familiar sight of Cameron Petrie emerged, partnered by tonight's first mystery player. Olly Rex (0/20) and Naveen Chouksey (0/27) opened the proceedings and were unlucky not to get a wicket, Naveen bowled particularly well. The Academicals were scoring freely at this point and after 4 (six-ball) overs had achieved a healthy score.

Andy Owen stands up.

Ferdi Rex and Joe White brought some changes in fortune, and in Ferdi's case a three wicket haul of 3/25. His spell of off spin with variety in pace and flight was the undoing of Cameron. Joe was rewarded for his consistency with a haul of 2/25. Faruk Kara, always a handy bowler to call upon offers subtlety in line and length and he too turned in great figures of 1/15 off his 4 overs. The other surprise package in batting turns was an Academical batsman who possessed the same sartorial elegance as Hugh Grant, particularly in his cricketing attire. From being rooted to the spot or crease and looking like an easy wicket transformed into a stylish driver of the ball.

The closing overs saw Joe and Paul Jordan (1/17 ) lose a little of our earlier momentum but a total of 136/7 meant a reasonable target to chase down.

Our opening partnership of Andy Bell (7 off 6 balls) and Ferdi Rex got us off to a steady start and once Andy had perished brought Josh Nall to the crease. It was at this point that our fortunes changed. A combination of some tight bowling and low scoring had put the brakes on our progress. By the time Josh had left the field of play (10 off 29 balls) our required rate had rocketed to 10+ an over. None-the-less, with Olly (36 off 27 balls) and Ferdi (56 off 45 balls) in the middle we were always within a shout. As the game neared the close both were out to fine catches in the deep and the last over chase was in the hands of the experienced Andy Owen (0* off 0 balls) and Tom Serby (16 off 15 balls).

Tom Serby, Matt Hughes, Andys Owen and Bell, and Faruk Kara watch the chase proceed.

Sadly, on this occasion the big sixes or consecutive fours needed to bring a grand stand finale eluded us. It was close but not close enough. Congratulations to Richard and his team and my thanks to some tireless fielding from Matt Hughes and the efforts of the Rex brothers.

Dave Norman and Joe White discuss the latter's, er, "front foot no balls".