HEYTESBURY
Heytesbury v Fellows/Moufflons
Heytesbury, the second of the UK touring sides arrived at Happy Valley for their first game, well stocked with provisions and eager to go. They had brought 17 players with them on their tour and the assumption was that this was going to be a strong side.
Fel/Mou batted first in a thirty over game. At drinks after 15 overs they were already 116 without loss, Salim in the eighties and Usman supporting in the thirties. After the break Salim glided past his century to retire on 110, an innings of 8 sixes and 11 fours. Niroshan took his place and hit a quick 30 to be replaced by Mike Kyriacou who hit an even quicker 41 with three successive sixes in the penultimate over. After 30 overs Fel/Mou were 262 for 4, Usman 38 and Kabir 18. The single consolation for Heytesbury was Stowes bowling figures, 3 for 28.
Heytesbury batted with determination but without too much expectation playing for an honourable draw, were an honourable draw available. But wickets fell despite their efforts with a middle order collapse as Mike Kyriacou claimed a hat trick and a stunning one handed catch by Peter Bond at midwicket, not bad at all for a veteran. With Christian Brian highest scorer on 16, Heytesburys innings drew to a close after 23 overs all out for 66.
Salim 110 no
Heytesbury v Lions
Heytesbury had played a weaker side against Fel/Mou to give all their squad a game. Now the gloves were off and their full Saturday team was on the park. Unfortunately they were facing Lions, the sixes champions, and more unfortunately they were facing an in form Manju. He came in one wicket down, as Lions batted first, and went on to hit the highest total seen in Cyprus cricket. He gave up many chances but much to Heytesburys chagrin none were taken. When he was finally out he had scored 202, an innings of 13 sixes and 14 fours. At the other end Malpu batted on to a more sedate 64. After 35 overs Lions had scored 316 for 5. Alan Smith (1 for 36 from 7) and Justin Wagstaffe (1 for 48 off 7) were the best of Heytesbury bowlers, bowling in the teeth of Manju’s onslaught.
Now even more depressed than the day before Heytesbury had to battle on for honour. Once again they put up a stalwart defense to thwart Lions hopes of a quick victory. Battling on to the 34th over, they were all out for 67. Lions slow left arm bowler Kapilla took three wickets for 21 runs in 7 overs.
Manju took the match ball home, signed by each one of the Heytesbury team. There is some claim to posterity in that.
Manju 202
Heytesbury v WSBA
By now a wary Hetytesbury team turned out for their last match of the tour. Their experience from their two previous matches had been salutary, but as with the pattern of previous touring sides, it takes a couple of games to acclimatise to the Cyprus conditions. This time Heytesbury were ready. Batting first they more than tripled their previous highest total. Justin Wagstaffe scored a century retiring on 103, ably supported by James Brown on 29 and Olly Stevens on 21. Batsmen had learned to adapt to the bouncy pitch and following Salim and Manjus example reaped the rewards of taking on the bowlers and going for their shots. They completed their innings on 197 for the loss of only two wickets. WSBA bowlers were taken to task, but Marcus Holden 1 for 28 and Andy Mulkern 1 for 32, held their own.
Justin Wagstaffe 103 no
WSBA fell inexorably behind the run rate in their reply and despite their best efforts never managed to catch up. Han was the best of their batsmen making 61, but in the end WSBA were forced into the same position that had been Heytesbuiys up to this match, playing for a phyric draw. They did manage not loose all their wickets finishing on 124 for 9. Heytesburys bowlers found their form at last, JustinWagstaff taking 4 for only 27 from 5 overs runs and Richard Stevens 3 for 17 from only 3 overs.
So Heytesbury return to England with honour restored.
CUBLINGTON
Cublington v Moufflons/Fellows
On a mild sunny Sat morning at Happy Valley Cublington went out to bat against a good Moufflon/ Fellows side that boasted four national players, a couple of aspiring under fifteens and the occasional ample waistline that singles out the English ex pats. Last years centurion Steve George opened with Alex Northcott, but lost his wicket for only 10 runs after the first bowling change. There followed a succession of wickets for not too many runs as Mou/Fel rotated their bowlers not allowing the batsmen to settle. Tim Taylor (75 against WSBA last year) was the highest scorer with 21 scored in a flourish of boundaries; and fifteen year old Liam was the longest lasting, batting for an hour for his 14 runs. Cublington finished with a not too impressive total of 130 after 29 overs, but perhaps more than seemed likely earlier as their middle orders wickets were tumbling.
Usman was the best of the bowlers with 2 wickets for 14 runs.
Mou/Fel opening pair Sampath and Usman threw away any advantage by trying to score too quickly both offering difficult but catchable balls to mid on. No 3 bat 15 year old Kabir knuckled down t o watchful innings, but his partners did not match his determination and five wickets fell in quick succession for only 16 runs. By this time Cublington sensed victory. Unnerved a little by a late stand between Jez and Christo, they eventually got Mou/Fel all out for 99 after 24 overs. Eight of the wickets were to catches. Kabir batted bravely for over an hour for his 19 runs, while Will Lovatt s figures benefited from bowling at the tail, 4 for 25.
Moufflon/Fellows were undone by an accurate medium pace attack and an overestimation of their own abilities.
Cublington v Himalayans
Amit Singh writes
Cublington’s fresh from Saturdays win went into their second game of the tour against the Himalayans. What better chance to avenge their defeat by Himalayans last year.
Cublington won the toss and Steve George, Cublingtons captain, choose to bat first. The day was bright and sunny but there was nice breeze across the valley. This breeze helped the Himalayan bowlers to swing the ball both ways, causing a lot of trouble for the opening Cublington batsman. The ball missed the outside edges countless times. In the third over Sunil got the break through inducing a nick held by a diving Avinash. In the very next over Nagendra sent the No –1 bat back to pavilion.
For the remainder of their innings Cublington batsman struggled against the Himalayan s precise bowling and agile fielding loosing their last wicket in the 23 over for only 77. The only Cublington batsman who showed some aggression was Steve George, who hit 16 runs in a single over with 2 sixes and a four over covers. Vijay came out with best bowling figures with 3 wickets and Vipul with 2 wickets.
Himalayan were confident, perhaps over confident over of reaching the target. Their opening pair took to the crease as the sun reached its peak and the gentle morning breeze began to strengthen. Himalayans opened with Avinash and Manish, Manish playing his first game. Things were going fine, until Manish was caught brilliantly by Salim on the third man boundary, timing his jump to perfection to take a single handed splendid catch. This was the first of the three brilliant catches, which Salim took in the game. Anil still nursing his knee injury walked in as one down batsman with a by runner. Anil started well, defending good balls as well as showing his usual flare, hitting a four and six. But he was out caught for 12 to a rash stroke. Amit walked in as a replacement who with Avinash tried to stabilise the innings by taking singles. Cubligtons bowling attack was immensely helped by the inclusion of Shoaib, Salim and Riyaz. Shoaib and Riyaz came on first change. Both the bowlers were bowling a very teasing line. Assisted by the strong breeze the ball was moving both ways. Run scoring became more and more difficult and Avinash and Amit become over cautious. They attempted to break out of the stranglehold, with Avimnash hitting 2 fours to Shoaib and Amit 1 to Shoaib. But this didnt last long as Amit was out caught in the slips, to the diving Salim. With only 45 on the board, Himalayans found themselves short of batsman a fact confirmed by the return of the next 3 batsmen to pavilion with out troubling the scorers. Steve was increasing the pressure, with more close fielders. The biggest blow for the Himalayans came when Avinash, who had settled, was also bowled out for 12. Rest of the Himalayan wickets fell very quickly. Some late resistance from Kultar who took the attack back to the bowlers was not enough. Himalayans were bowled out for 57 loosing by 20 runs.
This is a game Himalayans were confident of winning, but they lost. Credit must go goes to Cublingtons excellent fielding and bowling which proved the difference between the teams.
Cublington v WSBA
Now on a roll, Cublington must have gone into their game against WSBA with some confidence. Despite being bowled out forever lower totals they had found enough in their bowling and fielding to win their games.
Batting first Cublington posted their by now usual low total, this time 70 for 8 wickets. WSBA s Roshan, Han and Nick Lewis did the damage with the ball each taking two wickets for single figures. Cublington’s prolific batsman Steve George was injured going into the game and was out in the opening overs. With Shaun Walls top scoring with 20, a middle order rally gave their innings respectability, even credibility, given their track record of turning losing games into victories
But this time the opposition batting was not prepared to roll over. This was the WSBA side that has won the league with a batting order famous for holding on to its wickets.. By the 15th over the game was over. Han top scored with 24 supported by Guy Lendon with 21.
Although the games did not match the tension of the close finishes of last year Cublington leave with two wins and a loss, and a reputation for turning defeats into victories.
