WSBA
league champions (Oct 2nd 2005)
W.S.B.A cricket club followed the 2004 SriLankan team in winning this seasons all island cricket league with a nail biting victory against Lions CC from Nicosia by just 2 wkts on Sunday.
The Lions entered the game knowing they had to win and gain maximum points and stop W.S.B.A. from gaining any points to still be in with a shout of winning the league. Unfortunately for them they met a very determined W.S.B.A team who were in no mood to give up their top spot in the league.
The game began in disastrous fashion for the visitors as Rob Buckley claimed 3 quick wickets. 1 caught by Dave Woodhouse at first slip and the other 2 clean bowled, the second of which was the "fantastically disguised slower ball" leaving the Lions on 8 for 3.
W.S.B.A skipper, Richie Williams then joined the party by dismissing Nalin, caught by Graham Chipperfield leaving Lions on 12 for 4. This then brought the Lions 2 best batsmen to the crease, the destructive Manju, who still remains the only player in the league to score a century in a league match all season, and hard hitting captain Dias.
They staged something of a recovery scoring freely and at will, with Manju racing onto 29 in no time at all, until Williams produced a short pitched, quicker delivery that Manju did well to evade but only succeeded in top edging the ball to Chipperfield once more, who took a smart diving catch. The Lions innings reached the halfway 15 over mark on 68 for 5.
The target for the Lions was to get to at least 120 for the batting point and prevent the W.S.B.A from bowling them all out. Again, the W.S.B.A bowling attack hadnt read the script, as wickets began to fall at regular intervals with all the other W.S.B.A bowlers getting in on the act.
The Lions innings closed on 116 all out. Thus meaning whatever the outcome of the match, W.S.B.A were now impossible to catch with Lions missing out on a batting point and W.S.B.A gaining a bowling point for getting Lions all out. Bowling figures for the W.S.B.A read : Buckley 6-1-30-3, Williams 6-1-17-2, John Conway 6-0-33-2, Ian Cuthbert 4-1-10-1 and Rashan 3.3-0-21-2.
Daz Winfield and Conway opened the W.S.B.A innings,
but Conway got something of a shooter that stayed low dismissing him for just 2 with the score on 10 for 1.
Unfortunately, only 2 overs later Winfield was also dismissed for 12 when looking in decent touch to a ball he tried to leave outside the off stump, but deceived him by swinging in and clean bowling him to leave the W.S.B.A struggling on 21 for 2.
This brought the ‘engine behind the W.S.B.A innings to the crease, full RAF UK cap Williams and he didnt disappoint as he started to dominate the Lions bowling attack. Cuthbert was next to fall for 7, but he and Williams had steadied the innings taking it along to 55 for 3. Andy Mulkern joined Williams at the wicket and took the score along to 77 for 3 at the 15 over drinks break.
These 2 went on to produce a match winning partnership of 44 to take the score to 99 before Williams was caught at mid off attempting 1 big hit too many for 57, including 3 x 6's and 2 x 4's.
Only 17 now needed for victory, 10.4 overs remaining and 6 wickets in hand, surely a comfortable victory for the W.S.B.A? Ask the Lions players that, as they responded magnificently with some superb bowling and fielding that had the W.S.B.A middle and lower order all at sea, as wickets began to fall at an alarming rate.
First Roshan bowled for 0, score 103 for 5; next Chipperfield caught for 4, score 107 for 6; Mulkern for 11, score 107 for 7; Buckley for 0, score 115 for 8. But all the time Woodhouse was batting calmly at the other end as all about him were seemingly losing their heads. Until, Speedy Ollathorn came out to bat at number 10 and smashed the winning runs through the leg side field to produce a roller coaster of a victory for the W.S.B.A team. Only player not to bat for the W.S.B.A was Gaz Derbyshire.
Bowling figures for the Lions read : Manju 6-0-14-2, Sampath 5.3-1-27-1, Presana 6-0-32-3, Sanjiv 6-3-25-0 and Sugath 5-0-22-2.
SEPT 4TH
Lions fail to mount Himalayans
At Happy Valley on Sunday second place Lions faced third place Himalayans in a vital match for both teams. Lions won the toss and chose to bat first.
Himalayans' opening bowlers, Sunil & Chakra were bang on target from the first ball. Sunil struck in the very first over dismissing the dangerous Manju for a duck. Lions fought back, taking the score on to 40 before Paritosh struck. Now 2 down but with opener Sampath still at the crease, Raja was brought into the attack. This was his first bowl for the Himalayans and he soon justified his selection.Bowling a teasing line with good pace he took the stuffing out of the Lion's batting, finishing with figures of 4 wickets for 17 runs. Bowling at the other end Sunil ( 3 for 25) and Paritosh ( 2 for 20) made their contribution.
At 80 for 8 Lions were on the wrack. But a 9th wicket partnership held firm to deny Himalayans their bowling point and lift Lionsup to a score 127/9.
Himalayans started the run chase in a steady fashion, facing Lions opening bowlers Manju & Sampath who were bowling a quick and disciplined line. After 5 overs Paritosh lost his patience and took on Sampath hitting him for two big sixes over long on. Kapil was the first Himalayan wicket to fall was which brought Amit to join Paritosh in the middle. Both continued to take singles and hit the odd boundaries as Himalayans seemed to be taking control. But with the loss of Paritosh for 23, followed by two more quick wickets, Lions were back in the game. Although wickets were falling at the other end, Amit continued to milk the bowling, supported by partnerships with Bhaskar ( 14 ) and Vijay Khandelwal.
At the start of 27th over, Himalayans needed 12 runs from 3 overs. A six over mid wicket by Amit and elegant cover drive by Vijay were the final nails in the Lions' coffin. Himalayan won the game in 27th over, with Vijay (5) and Amit ( 58 ) unbeaten, defeating the Lions by 5 wickets.
The day belonged to the Himalayan bowlers and fielders who restricted the usually explosive Lions to a modest total and madeset up the run chase for their batsmen.
ESBA falls short
On the first cricket game played in Cyprus threatened to be stopped by rain, ESBA played Fellows at AyNic. Victory over Fellows in the first half of the league was ESBAıs one success of the season and Fellows did not want to suffer the same ignominy.
Put into bat Fellows were soon under pressure with Niroshan caught off Hatton trying to keep pace with the prolific Assam who had found the boundary with the first ball. On 26 Assam tried his hand one too many times as the ball fell short of the very wide AyNic boundary into the hands of midoff. That was to be Fellows highest score. A tight line from the bowlers supported by disciplined, energetic fielding put an end to one aspiring innings after another. With 26 from Usman, 22 from Tipu, and a tail end cameo of 15 from Vishnu Fellows managed to wrack their score up to 125 before their last wicket fell in the 24th over. ESBA captain Martin Frangleton took the lions share of the wickets with figures of 4 for 32.
ESBA openers Frangleton and Hoyle faced a barrage of bouncers from Niroshan and several bruises later were both back in the pavilion with only one run in the board. Gollings and Beane suffered the same battering but managed to hold on despite some painful blows. It must have been with some relief that they found themselves facing the slow leg spin of Pani Markides, but then with some regret as he managed to winkle out one batsman after another in his match winning performance of 3 for 18. The off spin of Vishnu finished off ESBAıa aspirations taking three wickets himself for 15. Gollings (19) resisted to the end, batting in the now sheeting rain, thunder and lightning, until he fell to a straight ball from Pradeep. ESBA were all out for 86 in the 23rd over.
AUG 28th
Himalayans put brakes on WSBA.
WSBA, the fancied team to win the championships, had an unexpected upset on Sunday at Happy Valley as they went down to the unassumimg Himalayans.
Winning the toss, WSBA captain Robert Buckley put Himalayans in to bat, on the theory that WSBA are a better team chasing a total. On this occasion they saw the total stretch away from them.
Opening batsmen Paritosh (25) and Kapil (30) established a steady partnership, reaching 40 before Paritosh fell. Star bat Anhil came a went for only 2, and it was left once again to the dependable Amit to hold up the innings. Building a partnership first with Kapil and then no 5 Avinash (15) he was able to craft a match winning innings of 72. The lower order played their part to give the Himalayans an impressive total of 175 for 7 after 30 overs. Roshan was the best of the WSBA bowlers taking 2 wickets.
WSBA , disconsolate, convinced they had Amit early on in his innings, failed to make a fist of theirs. Opener John Conway (55) with his usual combination of stubborn defense and brutal attack held the innings together but no one was able to stay with him. Inexorably the run rate got away from WSBA and forced to go onto the attack Conway was caught after batting for 20 overs. No one was able to take up the gauntlet and after 30 overs WSBA had reached a total of only 142 for 8. Paritosh bowled exceptionally for the Himalayans, taking 5 wickets for 25 runs.
Despite this hiccup, WSBA still sit proud at the top of the league, a good distance from the chasing pack.
AUG 21st
Lions tail up as Fellows lick their wounds
Lions and Fellows met at Happy Valley on another breezeless humid Sunday morning.
Lions batted first. An imposing partnership of 90 between openers Susil (38) and Nalinda (52) gave Fellows a bad feeling of déjà vu. In their previous encounter in the first round Lions had comprehensively beaten Fellows by over 70 runs.
Fellows added to their own woes by repeatedly dropping the chances generously offered by the batsmen. Run outs seemed the only way Fellows were to get wickets, four of the Lions batsmen aiding the fielders by calling for uncertain runs.
Fellows did not bowl badly, but with no reward in wickets, they were worn down by the succession of more than able Lions batsmen. At 15 overs Lions were 107 and Fellows might take some small comfort in containing them to 199 after 30 overs.
Fellows innings started badly with Assam run out after only scoring 5. Once again having to construct an innings without their star bat, Usman once again stepped forward, scoring 45, with some big sixes in an otherwise contained innings. When he was out just before the 15 overs it was left to Andy (44 not out) to play out the rest of the innings. Badly let down by the tail who together could accumulate only 8 runs, he managed to keep most of the strike and in the final overs hit some powerful boundaries.
In the end Fellows were batting only for pride, trying to reach 120 which would give them a bonus batting point. Lions were determined to bowl Fellows out to gain their bowling bonus point. After the last ball Fellows were 119, one run short, and Lions had taken nine wickets, one wicket short. In the larger game Lions had won, once again, by 80 runs, Lions Nalinda taking 3 for 21with the ball after scoring 52 with the bat.
AUG 14TH
Fellows find form
On a breezeless morning at Happy Valley with no relief from the heat Fellows took on Himalayans in the second round of the Cyprus cricket league. Earlier in the season the Himalayans had Fellows well beaten in a high scoring game at Potamia and with a most of their best players available this time they surely anticipated another victory.
Putting Fellows into bat, the early wicket of Assam for 4 must have boosted Himalayans expectations even further. Fellows rely on Assam for their runs and his form usually decides the outcome of the game. But this time opening bat Bazeeg now joined by the promising but so far untried Usman formed a partnership that stood firm. A slow but steady accumulation of runs forced the Himalayans to chop and change their bowling attack in an attempt to get the wicket. It wasnt until the 20th over that Usman, on 44, misjudged a Raja delivery to give up a catch. Bazeeg, continued to score, supported by the middle order batsmen, until he too was caught on 62. With just three overs left to go a late flourish bought a few quick runs to take Fellows total up to 145 for 7 after their 30 overs. Sunil was the best of Himalayans bowlers with figures of 3 for 23.
Himalayans now faced Bazeeeg with the ball in his hand, his steady line denying them any opportunity to score. Opening bowling partner Chris Markides took Kapils wicket caught behind with his fourth delivery, and the steady line held by both bowlers kept even the prolific no 3 bat Anhil under control. A disastrous call for a second run saw the end of Paritosh for 24, run out from a bullet throw from the boundary from Bazeeg.
Now Himalayans two best batsmen were at the crease, Anhil and Amit, and they slowly took a grip of the game. Steady bowling was making run getting difficult but nevertheless the two batsmen were getting runs. After a lucky escape after misjudging leg spinner Pani Markides, which left him stranded out of his crease, Anhil eventually fell to Assams first ball, caught in the covers for 44. Assam continued on the same tight line shown by the other Fellow bowlers, but while Amit was still at the crease Himalayans remained favourite. Another bad call led to another run out, this time Amit on 38, once again taking on Bazeegs arm and loosing. With six overs to go and needing 30 runs Chakra chanced his arm on a big six to find none other than Bazeeg on the long off boundary, taking a diving catch over his head. Chris Markides came back into the attack and took wickets in his first two overs stalling the Himalayan run chase. With three overs and fifteen runs needed Chris together with Assam squeezed the life out of the Himalayan innings, leaving them just 4 runs short after their 30 overs on 141 for 8. Chris Markides 3 for 26, Assam 2 for 16.
ESBA still struggling
In a friendly game played at Agios Nicolaus, ESBA took on Corfu Tavern. Both teams had been knocked out in the first round of the Twenty/Twenty competition and had a something to prove if only to themselves.
In the event Corfu Tavern made the point with a decisive victory, bowling ESBA out for only forty runs and then making the total in only six overs in a welcome return of form with the bat for their opening batsmen Amer and Schwabi.
AUG 7TH
W.S.B.A. C.C. beat Fellows C.C. by 9 wickets.
W.S.B.A. Cricket Club continued their run of recent success in the all island Cyprus cricket league at Happy Valley on Sunday 7th August by defeating Fellows, having lost the previous league meeting between these two teams by the margin of 10 wickets.
As ever, WSBA CC could not field the same side two weeks running, with Lukins and Lambert missing from the previous week. Fellows won the toss and elected to bat and, with the same opening batsmen who had knocked off 102 without loss in only 14 overs to comprehensively win the first meeting bewteen these two teams, a potential run fest was on the cards. This seemed to be confirmed when Assam, who had scored 68 not out in the first meeting, crashed consecutive boundaries off opening bowler Rob Buckleys' first two balls. However, Buckley held his nerve and his line to have Assam caught behind off the very next ball. John Conway took a wicket in his second over following a Buckley maiden, and things were starting to look good for the WSBA attack. Buckley found a rich vein of line and length, taking another two wickets in a very impressive opening spell, without at least 4 dropped catches between wicket keeper and the slips, he could have finished with even better figures than his final effort of 6-2-18-3. Castro and Williams bowled tidily until the break without taking any wickets and Fellows were wobbling at 47 for 4 off 15 overs. WSBA sensed an early finish but, due to some resolute batting by several of the remaining Fellows batsmen, most notably Richard Steenhuis, who top-scored with 33, Fellows batted out their overs for the loss of only four more wickets. Williams took one of those wickets, clean bowling opener Bazeegh for 23, Degg chipped in with the wicket of Vishnu, also cleaned bowled for 10 and Mulkern weighed in with two wickets in a rare opportunity for him to bowl. No other Fellows batsman managed to break into double figures and dropped catches continued to figure in the second half of the innings, allowing Fellows to close on 84 for 8 off their 30 overs.
With the bowling bonus point gone begging due to their inability to clean up the tail, WSBA were looking to knock off the required runs within 21 overs to win the game, secure the bonus batting point and maintain their grip at the top of the table. Fellows started with a couple of maidens in the first few overs and, although the batsmen rarely looked troubled, runs were hard to come by and WSBA only had 7 runs on the board after the first six overs. Both WSBA openers then started to find their feet and also the boundary. After hitting Bazeegh for 4, Conway followed up next over with two cleanly hit sixes and Ian Cuthbert supported his opening partner with a steady accumulation of runs. After Conway was caught for 22, Richie Williams, Captain of the WSBA team, came to the crease and together with Cuthbert, saw off the remaining couple of overs until the drinks break. Although the acceleration had started, WSBA actually went into the break two runs short of the Fellows total at the same stage of their innings. If WSBA were going to ensure they received the bonus batting point, they now needed to find another 40 runs off the next six overs at a run-rate of over six-an-over. WSBA need not have worried, 15 runs came off the first over after the break with Williams hitting a six and a four off consecutive balls. This was followed with 7 runs off the next over and 8 off the one after, with both Cuthbert and Williams finding the boundary. Thirteen runs were scored off the 19th, and last over, with Williams finishing the match in style with a straight six off the last ball. 43 runs were scored off the last 4 overs and the game was in the bag, as was the batting point, with 2 overs to spare. Cuthbert finished the game on 28 not out, Williams was 34 not out and WSBA remain on top of the league with some breathing space between themselves and the chasing pack. As two of only four teams capable of winning the league, the match between WSBA CC and Lions CC this Sunday has now taken on extra importance, particulary as the Lions have only lost one game so far this season.
JULY 31st
W.S.B.A Cricket club top of the league
W.S.B.A C.C played there 6th game of the season v/s 20/20 champions Springbok C.C to end their first half of this seasons Cyprus all island cricket league fixtures at the weekend, and what a match it was to prove to be. Played between the teams lieing 1st and 2nd in the league, it promised to be an epic encounter between 2 contrasting sides. The prolific, free scoring, Springbok batsmen; v/s the tight, accurate, bowling and fielding of the W.S.B.A team.
W.S.B.A skipper Richie Williams again lost the toss and was promptly asked to bat first as the Springboks had only turned up with 10 players. The first wicket fell early as Ian Cuthbert was caught at Mid Off for 0 with the score being 5 for 1 in the 4th over. John Conway and Ryan Castro steadied the ship somewhat taking the score along to 49 for 1 just prior to the drinks interval. Unfortunately, Castro also picked out a fielder next in making 22, just when it seemed he was finding his rhythm.
Wickets then began falling at an alarming rate with the impressive left arm opening pace bowler Mattee and spinner Imran putting in some very decent bowling indeed to decimate the W.S.B.A innings. In fact the score went on from 49 for 1 at one point to 82 all out! Batsmen to fall were : Conway 12; Williams 9; Andy Malkern 3; Gus Lambert 1; George Lukins 7; Martin Downs 0; Tony Degg 0; and Rob Buckley 4, with Graham Chipperfield remaining not out on 3. This brought the W.S.B.A innings to a close on 82, with Imran finishing with figures of 6-0-24-6; Mattee 6-0-22-3 and the other wicket taker for the Springbok was Andrea bowling just 1 ball at the end.
The Springboks, a team from Nicosia, consisting of South Africans and Pakistani players were undoubtedly now overwhelming favourites to win. Leading up to this match, the 3 previous weeks they had scored at least 200 in each innings. Although missing star batsman Zahid, who had previously made 2 centuries in earlier matches, and quick bowler Arif they still had enough in their locker to win the contest. They still had the destructive Rashid to open their innings, fresh from his match winning top score of 74 the previous week to help the Springboks win the 20/20 trophy.
Their innings began disastrously as Buckley and Conway removed 2 quick wickets with the score on only 4. Rashid then clearly made his intentions known by smashing 16 off Buckleyıs 2nd over, including 2 huge 6ıs. But there is a certain something about this W.S.B.A team this season, their never say die attitude, and willingness in the field to work for eachother is clear and evident from the very outset and the Springbok batsmen were going to have to work for every run.
At one point Rashid and Mani looked like taking the game away from the W.S.B.A bowlers as they took the score along to 44 for 2. Only another 39 runs required off 20 overs with 7 wickets in hand surely game over? Ask the W.S.B.A team this, not a chance! The W.S.B.A bowlers came at the Springbok with everything. Conway removed the dangerous Rashid for 22, then Williams held a superb running catch out at deep Mid On to dismiss Mani for 26 off the bowling of Degg and they were now on 55 for 4 off 13.4 overs. Still only 28 to win, 5 wickets in hand, and plenty of overs to go. Springboks still favourites at this point? Probably.
Enter the ŒTony Degg showı! With some outstanding swing bowling, Degg single-handedly took out the tail of the Springbok innings with some superb, full, medium pace swing bowling. Aided by a Castro catch, a Chipperfield catch, a plumb L.B.W decision and a comprehensive clean bowled, Degg mopped up the tail in nearly 3 overs to finish with a ŒPfeiferı. The innings came to a close with ŒChipsı taking the match winning catch to seal the game for the W.S.B.A by just 5 runs! Degg finished with Œman of the matchı figures of 2.4-0-10-5. Other wicket takers for the W.S.B.A were Buckley 4-0-27-1, Conway 6-2-17-2, Williams 2-0-7-1 and Castro 3-1-21-1.
JUNE 26th
ESBA trounced by Sri Lankan CC.
Batting first ESBA managed only 26 runs, all out after 10 overs. Without pausing for breath Sri Lankan CC overtook the total in three overs, got in their cars and drove back home. The only memorable figures in a miserable match for ESBA were Chamara’s bowling figures for the Sri Lankans, 7 wickets for seven runs.
Springbok put Himalayans to the sword
Batting first Springbok recorded an unprecedented total of 245 for 6 on a full sized Happy Valley 1 outfield, this despite some good Himalayan bowling (Nagenbra 3 for 37). Batting honours were shared between Kashif 54, Rajit 60 and Zahid 74.
Faced with a run rate of over 8 an over, it was do or die for each Himalayan batsman as he stepped up to the crease. Unfortunately for the Himalayans on this day all they could do was reach 56 for the loss of all their wickets. Springbok bowlers shared the honours, with Arif tasking 4 wickets, Kasif 3 and Mike 2.
Fellows mauled by Lions
Batting first Lion reached a total of 202 for 8 after 30 overs, Asork reaching a half-century and Manju 49 in strong batting performance. Despite the high total there was some good bowling from the Fellows, Bazeeg recording his best figures for the season with 4 for 12.
A fierce 48 from Fellows opener Asam, and a well-forged 41 from Quaseer, was not enough to challenge the Lions. Fellows tail crumpled leaving Quaseer high and dry when he was set to give the Lions a run for their money. Fellows all out for 130 in the nineteenth over. Following his near half centuy with the bat, Lions Manju took 4 wickets for 29, Denusha 3 for 26.
JUNE 19TH
W.S.B.A. Cricket club played their 5th league fixture of the season in the all island Cyprus cricket league, at Happy Valley on Sunday 19th June. This match saw the league leaders, WSBA CC, play Lions CC, who had a 100% record going into this fixture. The fixture had all the makings of an exciting game and it did not disappoint.
WSBA CC were again short of their best XI with Vice Captain Richie Williams still not back from representing the RAF and both Guy Lendon and opening bowler Rob Buckley were missing. WSBA CC won the toss and elected to field and, in addition to the known absences, WSBA CC had to start the match with only 10 players with one player failing to turn up. Both of the WSBA opening bowlers had a wayward start, bowling a number of wides and no-balls, whilst the Lions opening batsmen rode their luck; any good balls bowled were either carved, sliced or edged to the boundary. John Rice had the opening Lions batsman, Susini, out LBW for a very quick-fire 20 that included 4 boundaries. The very next ball Rice bowled a beautiful out-swinging delivery that beat the new batsman, Sampath, all ends up, taking a thin edge through to the wicket-keeper. Unfortunately the ball dipped late and the unfortunate Graham Chipperfield spilled the chance, spoiling an otherwise steady performance behind the 'sticks'. This missed catch was to prove very expensive as Sampath went on to top score for the Lions with a fine 68. The loose early bowling and fortunate Lions batting led to the Lions going into the first water break having scored exactly 60 off the first 10 overs.
WSBA CC needed to find some control and put a halt on the free-scoring Lions Batsmen. Ryan Castro started the recovery with a miserly spell, bowling unchanged throughout to finish with 2 for 14 off 6 overs. John Conway switched ends and assisted in slowing the run-rate but finished wicket-less. Tony Degg then took up the mantle and also bowled a tidy spell, having all of the lions batsman in trouble with swinging deliveries of good line and length to finish with 2 for 21 off 6 overs. The WSBA eleventh player eventually arrived in the middle of the innings and due to some much tighter bowling, only 34 runs came off the second ten overs. With so many bowlers missing, WSBA CC turned to part-time bowlers Cuthbert, Ollathorn and Craig to find the extra 6 overs required, 'Speedy' Ollathorn getting his first wicket of the season. Rice and Degg bowled the final 4 overs to see out the innings and the Lions finished on 152-7 off their 30 overs, leaving WSBA CC feeling quite pleased to have got off the hook after such a poor start to the game.
With more depth to their batting than had been available in the bowling department, WSBA CC felt that a score of around 5-an-over was definitely 'on'. However, with all of the first 3 Lions bowlers bowling very economically, WSBA CC stuttered to a very sluggish 30 for 1 off the first 10 overs. Daz Winfield was the only casualty having been comprehensively bowled for 11, playing across the line. The second 10 overs appeared to be following in the same vein as the first ten overs, with WSBA limping to 64 for 4 off 18 overs; all of the batsmen to fall had made good starts only to get out just as they were starting to look good, Cuthbert having been dropped twice on the way to 21. Having only found the boundary 3 times in the first 18 overs, and with another 89 runs still to find from the last 12 overs at over 7-an-over, WSBA CC needed someone to find the boundary more often. Ryan Castro duly obliged, smashing 2 fours and 2 sixes in the next 2 overs to leave WSBA CC going into the second water break on 86 and feeling that the tide was starting to turn in their favour.
The game entered the final stage with WSBA needing 67 off the final ten overs and with Jon Craig providing steady support to the explosive Castro. Unfortunately for WSBA CC, less than a dozen balls after the restart, Castro was bowled for 27, heaving across the line in an attempt to keep up with the steadily increasing run-rate. Slow bowler Ashoka took the first of his 2 wickets after having been taken for 11 off his first over. Further wickets fell as a succession of big hitters came and went without really finding the boundaries that their team mates were hoping for. The runs dried up for the WSBA and the game appeared to be lost in the 27th over as WSBA lost their 7th wicket with the score on 119. WSBA CC now needed an improbable 34 to win off three overs at a little over 11-an-over. However, the twists and turns in fortune that had continually punctuated the match were not yet complete. Rob Haynes smashed his first ball for 4 and Jon Craig, previously playing an anchor role also, started to open his shoulders hitting a powerful flat pull shot for 6. The Lions fielders started to feel under pressure as the WSBA batsman took quick singles in between the boundaries in an effort to maintain the impetus. One of these singles from Rob Haynes appeared to be suicidal but the fielder fumbled the ball and the subsequent wayward shy at the stumps allowed the batsmen to cross for a second run. The fielding madness was not complete as the Lions fielder backing-up also had a wild shy at the stumps and the WSBA batsmen crossed for a third run where there should have been none. Clearly rattled, the Lions bowler bowled a high 'beamer' delivery next ball that was called a no-ball by the square-leg umpire, it evaded the wicketkeeper and resulted in another 3 give-away runs and a further precious delivery to be bowled. By the end of the over, the WSBA batsmen had taken 17 off the 28th over leaving 17 required from the final 12 deliveries. The game was now well poised and could have gone either way, but the WSBA batsmen continued to pick up 2's and singles with the odd 4 thrown in for good measure.
Midway through the penultimate over came the final straw that was to eventually break the Lions back. Rob Haynes, hitting the ball cleanly throughout his short innings, smashed a delivery straight to the fielder at long on and had already turned for a second run as the ball passed him on its way back towards the wicketkeeper. Unfortunately for the otherwise excellent and agile Lions 'Keeper, after having demolished all three stumps, he found that he had not taken the ball in the process and sportingly owned up to the error, reprieving the relieved WSBA batsman and again turning the single into a bonus 2 runs. WSBA CC required 7 runs going into the final over, and although the Lions Captain tried to set a field to deny the batsmen scoring opportunities, he could not prevent the WSBA batsmen scoring at will. Rob Haynes deservedly hit the winning runs with one ball of the WSBA innings remaining, thus snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with one of the most exciting finishes to a cricket match that I have witnessed in a long time. Great credit must go to the Lions team who played the match in a most sporting fashion and who were gracious enough in defeat to return 'en masse' to the WSBA Clubhouse to discuss the amazing turn-around in the last few overs of the game. Jon Craig top-scored with 38 not out for WSBA CC, Ryan Castro contributed 27 off 16 balls, Ian Cuthbert made 21 and Rob Haynes' quickfire 15 off only 8 deliveries helped to win the match. Lions best bowling performances were Sampath 2 for 12 off 6 overs, Sugath 2 for 33 off 6 and Pubudu 1 for 22 from his 6 overs. WSBA CC gained a bonus batting point and will remain top of the league this week.
JUNE 12
Springbok give Fellows a rude awakening.
Still basking in the after glow of their unlikely win over Sri Lankan CC last week, Fellows were awoken with a jolt by a bruising defeat inflicted by Sprinbok.
Electing to bat first, Fellows were in trouble from the outset with the loss of their prolific opening bat Assam for only 1. Bowled by a shin height ball from Kashif he was not the only victim of the vagaries of the flicx pitch at Potamia, but for the inconsolable Fellows there was no way back once Assam was out. Bazeeg boldy soldiered on without his partner, but with a highest individual score of 12 this was not to be Fellows day, their innings over after only 22 overs, all out for a total of 63 runs.
The only creditable figures came from Springbokıs bowlers with Zahib taking 3 wickets for 4 runs and off spinner Sidiq 2 for 4.
Springbok strong batting line up was taken a little aback by the determination of the Fellows opening bowlers Bazeeg and Chris Markides. Their top scorer Rashid (81 against ESBA) was bowleed by Bazeeeg for only 10. Wickets fell at regular intervals but not regular enough for Fellows. Springbok overtook their total in the 14th over with the loss of 4 wickets. Credit to Fellows bowlers who battled despite the inevitability of the outcome. Sprinbok 69 for 4 after 14.4 overs
WSBA CC beat ESBA CC by 10 wickets
W.S.B.A. Cricket club played their 4th league fixture of the season in the all island Cyprus cricket league, at Ayios Nikolaos on Sunday 12th June. This was the big one for all military players on the island, E.S.B.A versus W.S.B.A.
With E.S.B.A struggling to raise 11 players for the fixture, W.S.B.A skipper Major Jon Craig elected to field first, giving the home side time to amass a team. With both teams severely weakened with several notable absentees – E.S.B.A missing some key batsmen from Dhekelia, Capt Simon Jesney who hit 95 in their first match, and Cyprus cricket legend and Army captain S/Sgt Roger Thompson; and the W.S.B.A missing their 2 star performers, Wg Cdr John Conway who was top of the W.S.B.A batting and bowling averages, and full RAF UK cap SAC Richie Williams, things were going to be very interesting.
It was clear from the start how much ‘hungrier’ the W.S.B.A bowlers were up for it than their counterparts, the E.S.B.A batsmen. Cpl Rob Buckley and Mr Jonathan Rice took the new ball and tore into the home sides innings taking wickets at will. Unfortunately, E.S.B.A skipper W02 Martin Frangleton set the tone for the E.S.B.A batting being bowled 4th ball for 0. Playing totally across the line he attempted to play a hook shot from off stump, to the leg side, and only succeeded in missing the ball and see his stumps shattered with the score still on 0!
E.S.B.A batsmen came in and went out just as quickly as the two opening bowlers accounted for the first 6 wickets for only 6 runs! The other E.S.B.A opener Sgt Carl Hoyle, was particularly unlucky when in top edging a Rice delivery the ball seem to be heading to the boundary at a rate of knots with the wicket-keeper Flt Lt Graham ‘the cat’ Chipperfield being sent the wrong way, until somehow, he miraculously threw himself in the opposite direction, stuck out a big right hand, and caught a quite outstanding catch to dismiss Hoyle for 6. In fact ‘the cat’ was having a very successful day behind the sticks as only 2 overs before he managed to hold on to an absolute peach of a ball from Rice with Mr Will Beane being the unfortunate batsmen this time to get the ‘ball of the day’ from Rice. Pace, swing, bounce and movement were all just too good for Beane who only managed to get a nick into the cat’s safe hands once more.
Cpl Craig Hatton and Chf Tech Ian Richardson put up some resistance for the 7th wicket with a partnership of 21, before Hatton became one of Sqn Ldr Guy Lendon’s 4 tail end scalps, and Sgt Eddie Mackie and Richardson also put up stubborn resistance at the end of the innings, with a partnership of 19 for the last wicket, before Mackie became another one of Lendon’s victims.
The innings slowly ground to a halt with the score on a sorry 48 all out off 19.2 overs, Richardson top scoring for the E.S.B.A with 13 not out. Some pretty impressive bowling figures were obviously going to be produced with such a meagre total, and so it proved with the W.S.B.A bowling ending like this : Buckley 6-2-4-3, Rice 6-1-20-3 and Lendon 3.2-0-15-4.
With only 49 runs to win, and needing to ensure the batsmen knock off the runs at an average of 4 runs per over to gain a further batting bonus point, both W.S.B.A openers W01 Daz Winfield and Sgt Ian Cuthbert only had 12 overs to play with. Obviously the win comes first and worry about the bonus points after, but both openers looked at ease and comfortable with the ball coming onto the bat so much, that the result was a mere formality. A couple of early scares didn’t dampen their enthusiasm to stick to the task in hand in completing the victory. Their determination was such that even the strangest of sights ever witnessed at a W.S.B.A cricket match was witnessed, Cuthbert actually running a 3! Quite incredible and still very hard to believe! With both players dropped in the opening overs, credit must go to the E.S.B.A team as they never once let their heads drop and kept on trying to the very final ball, which came after only 8.2 overs with the score having been taken along to 49 for 0. Winfield ending up on 23 not out and Cuthbert 19 not out.
This win, with 4 points gained, (2 for the win, 1 for bowling the opposition all out and 1 for getting the total at over 4 runs per over) takes W.S.B.A Cricket club to the top of the all island Cyprus cricket league, and unfortunately for the E.S.B.A confines them to the bottom, but I’m assured by Martin Frangleton only temporarily!