Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 33 (Byes 1, Leg Byes 1, No Balls 5, Wides 26)
Total 105 for 11 in 33.4 overs

FoW (1-18, 2-30, 3-47, 4-48, 5-65, 6-65, 7-66, 8-69, 9-83, 10-96, 11-105)

Brossard Warriors Innings

Extras 32 (Byes 3, Leg Byes 1, No Balls 2, Wides 26)
Total 106 for 3 in 15.4 overs

FoW (1-25, 2-69, 3-100)

A comprehensive 7-wicket win for Bengal United set their cricket season in the right tone despite losing closely to Pirates last Sunday. With a disciplined bowling effort, especially from Mahfuz who took 5-16, and astute bowling changes aided by the weather, the Pirates were restricted to a cheap 117 from their 35 overs. And in response to the paltry total, Rakib and Shazad chased it comfortably with brisk 40s.

As the day started, it was definitely not a perfect scene for cricket, with dark clouds looming, drizzle and chill in the air. By 11 am the rain-Gods went for a sleep and the sky started to clear. The Pirates were asked to bat first by the Bengal skipper, who was hoping to take advantage of conditions conducive to seam bowling.

Steady Eddie and Joshi walked into open the innings for Pirates. Mahfuz looked in superb rhythm, bowling line-length with ferocious pace. He set up the first wicket for United as he rushed Palmer into a short-pitch delivery which hit his gloves and ballooned into Main’s hands at second slip. It was touch-and-go for Pirates from the outset as three more wickets fell in quick succession to Main and Mahfuz in the form of Curtis and du Cilliers – both making their debuts – and Bharmauria. The Pirates soon found themselves 10-4.

Marie Aime’e – former wicketkeeper of Kenya Women, now of Canada – walked into bat and as a partnership seemed to flourish between her and Joshi, the latter lost his cool and heaved one straight off Rajib into the hands of long-on. Reduced to 28-5, a Pirate slaughtering didn’t seem distant at this stage.

But Pirate stand-in skipper Varma walked into bat with a different plan and, together with the immovable Aime’e, steadied the sinking-Pirate-ship. Varma stroked a well-composed 37 including five boundaries.

Just as it looked like the Pirates would reach a competitive score around 150-160, Mahfuz returned to rip through the tail-end, bagging five scalps in 7 overs. Aime’e finished her hard-fought innings of 15 after facing 90 balls, and a late-innings cameo from Shah ensured the Pirates posted 117.

By now the skies had cleared, the outfield had dried and conditions were batting friendly. Munawar and Shah opened up the bowling attack for the Pirates. Everything seemed to go United’s way until Dibarkar mishit a full toss off Munawar right into Shah at short fine leg. But the Pirates had spilled three decent catching opportunities by then.

Bowling changes were rung as the Pirates looked for wickets, but nothing seemed to work. Runs continued to flow with missed opportunities for the home side. Then came the man with the golden arm (du Cilliers), playing his first match for Pirates, as Shazad, on 41, sliced one to Palmer at point. Rakib was then run-out by a Barret / du Cilliers combination. Victory was just a few steps away for the Bengals, but to salvage some pride, Varma opened up Rajid as he tried a back foot cover drive and the ball rattled the stumps.

In the end, the Dhaka boys chased a comfortable victory with 7 wickets to spare. Despite their loss to the Tigers, the fighting spirit the Pirates showed augurs well for upcoming games. And after all, it is just the beginning of the season.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Bengal United
Sunday 12 May 2013
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 35 overs per side (11 wickets)
Weather conditions: A test of the tent frame
Result: Bengal United won by 7 wickets

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 31 (Byes 4, Leg Byes 5, No Balls 0, Wides 22)
Total 117 for 10 in 35 overs

FoW (1-2, 2-4, 3-4, 4-10, 5-28, 6-28, 7-93, 8-99, 9-117, 10-117)

Bengal United Innings

Extras 11 (Byes 2, Leg Byes 0, No Balls 1, Wides 8)
Total 118 for 4 in 17.3 overs

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus South Star
Saturday 11 May 2013
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 45 overs per side (11 wickets)
Weather conditions: Poseidon Adventure
Result: Pirates of the St Lawrence won by 5 wickets

South Star Innings

Extras 23 (Byes 2, Leg Byes 2, No Balls 0, Wides 19)
Total 115 for 11 in 38.3 overs

FoW (1-14, 2-32, 3-43, 4-43, 5-64, 6-65, 7-69, 8-89, 9-102, 10-103, 11-115)

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 33 (Byes 5, Leg Byes 0, No Balls 0, Wides 28)
Total 116 for 6 in 33 overs

FoW (1-13, 2-39, 3-40, 4-70, 5-83, 6-101)

A thrilling one-wicket win by the Pirates over Bengal United announced the arrival of a new phenomenon — the competitive social cricket match. Definitive steps were taken in this direction by Pirates’ skipper Robinson, whose tactical nous and attacking instincts helped restrict a beleaguered Bengal team to a modest total of 155 all out in 34.2 overs. The intensity shown by both sides ensured that only two batsmen — one from either side — managed to cross 30 in the match. This honour went to Pirate Joshi and Bengal opener Raiyan.

While the Pirates had previously dominated opposition teams through shrewd choking tactics, they proved on this occasion that they now had the depth and ability to go on the offensive.

Right from the beginning, the determined expressions on the faces of the Pirates were gritty and indicative of a will to make the opposition scrap for runs. An attacking field, brilliantly engineered and executed by Robinson, further enhanced this state of siege that was building up in the minds of the Bengalis. To cap it off, stellar debut performances by Bharmauria and Vadnerkar (two wickets apiece) left the visitors nonplussed. Having sent a sharp, young team of hard-hitters, they were clearly expecting to be able to slog their way through the match.

While stalwart Bhawalkar struggled through his overs, often straying the ball uncontrollably, Bharmauria ensured that the Bengalis didn’t have any space to free their arms. Each ball was perfectly pitched and served to frustrate the visitors. Announcing his presence with the early wicket of Shishir, he indicated that he was going to be a force to contend with.

Equally, Vadnerkar’s left arm chinamen caught the Bengal batsmen unaware and left them floundering.

When the Bengalis took the field, it was evident that they weren’t going to surrender without a fight. Their young pace attack was on fire and was ably resisted only by Joshi who built his team’s foundations with an elegant and gutsy 39.

Mahfuz, Sagor and Sudd shared the bowling honours with 2 wickets each. Mahfuz, bowling with pace and fire, easily rivalled the heat that was causing a great deal of sweat and discomfort to both teams.

Eventually it took the calm demeanour of Montreal legend Bhajooram Sukhdeo to drive the home team to their victory. Joined at the crease, with 11 runs remaining, by diffident number 11 Bhawalkar, the veteran Guyanese batsman seemed to have all the time in the world while facing this exhibition of fire. His partner, on the other hand, did everything he could to make Courtney Walsh look like an opening batsman. Eventually, Suk ended the suspense by effortlessly opening the face of the bat and sending the ball past slip for a match-winning boundary.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Bengal United
Sunday 5 May 2013
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 35 overs per side
Weather conditions: Alarmingly dry
Result: Pirates of the St Lawrence won by 1 wicket

Bengal United Innings

Extras 23 (Byes 5, Leg Byes 4, No Balls 1, Wides 13)
Total 155 for 10 in 34.2 overs

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 54 (Byes 1, Leg Byes 5, No Balls 13, Wides 35)
Total 158 for 9 in 32.1 overs

FoW (1-2, 2-15, 3-38, 4-46, 5-111, 6-111, 7-111, 8-131, 9-145)

For a first game of the season, The Candy Fields offered the perfect setting: spring foliage, sunshine, friendly faces, cold beers and Trinidadian accents. Some cracking groundwork ensured net practice, shade and a rock solid pitch to get the season under way. Gone, too, was the swarm of bees on the wicket that had threatened play for much of the previous week.

The Pirates elected to field and saw the first ball of 2013 sail over long off for six. Kam provided a fine innings of 40 for the visitors in an explosive opening stand which gave the Cosmos a healthy start, only to be pegged back by flawless catching and fielding. Captain Bell’s dance moves and leg breaks led the charge with an excellent 4-24, supported by debutant Xavier Clements, who took 2-11 in his first ever game of cricket. Dan Robinson took two catches – including one sizzler at deep midwicket – and Ramy Sharma gobbled a skier at long-on to ensure the Cosmos were reduced to 213 all out.

A couple of erratic shots gave left-arm seamer Lendel two scalps to leave the Pirates struggling shortly into their innings, only to see Bell leading the front yet again, accompanied by remaining opener Joshi. Some fluent strokes took Joshi to 25 before being bowled around his legs.

Hope was rebuilding in Pirates’ camp as a partnership of 56 between Bell (36) and Robinson (24) took the Pirates to 118-3.

But Kam followed up his strong batting with three wickets, as he and Mithun claimed 5 wickets for 7 runs in a devastating collapse.

Despite some late resistance from Ramy and the Flying Doctor Hess, the Pirate ship sank for 155, 58 runs short of their target.

Warm words from the captains and photos ended what was, in the words of Geoffrey Boycott, “a wonderful day’s cricket”, with many positive signs for the season ahead.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Cosmopolitans: A Trinidadian XI
Saturday 4 May 2013
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 42 overs per side (11 wickets)
Weather conditions: August in May
Result: Cosmopolitans won by 58 runs

Cosmopolitans Innings

Extras 43 (Byes 20, Leg Byes 8, No Balls 1, Wides 14)
Total 213 for 10 in 41 overs

FoW (21, 2-64, 5-120, 6-143, 11-213)

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 38 (Byes 10, Leg Byes 5, No Balls 1, Wides 22)
Total 155 for 11 in 38.3 overs

FoW (1-8, 2-29, 3-62, 4-118, 5-124, 6-124, 7-124, 8-125, 9-142, 10-152, 11-155)

The African Alliance overcame conditions completely alien to their natural climate to secure a thrilling victory over Australia-New Zealand in the sixth edition of the ‘unofficial’ Snow Cricket World Cup in Montreal.

Despite having to endure the full range of Quebec’s renowned winter weather – including snow, hail stones, freezing rain, lightning and 80 km/hour winds – the Africans held their nerve to beat their over-confident opponents 3-1 in a bowl-out at McGill University’s MacTavish Reservoir field after a tie in the final match.

Both teams reached the final after finishing unbeaten in their pool games, but it was the Africans who claimed victory.

“We’re used to playing in plus 27 degrees, not the minus 27 it felt like today,” said the African Alliance’s delighted skipper Ian Gunther.

“It was a bizarre experience for those who had never before had to bat and bowl in such conditions, with snow blowing sideways and a wicket that resembled an ice rink.”

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

Montreal has a pre-eminent cricket guy, and his name is Angus Bell. The Scottish expat, who moved here in 2003 to pursue a Québécoise he was smitten with, has done his best since arriving to educate us bad Commonwealthers on his other true love. For the last six years, he and his squad, the Pirates of the St. Lawrence, have hosted the Snow Cricket World Cup.

Because it swaps a nice, finely manicured wicket/pitch with a snowy one, the snow cricket format is actually the best way for curious non-cricket players to introduce themselves to the sport. Bell, of course, has become quite adept at making cricket seem like the easiest thing in the world to get into.

“You can break it down to see ball, hit ball,” he says. “The most important thing with snow cricket is you have to dress like a ninja on the Scottish ski slopes — warm and all over — so that restricts your movements. We also use tennis balls instead of hard leather balls.”

They currently have about 60 players and six teams (Canada, England, Australia/New Zealand, Asian Bloc, African Alliance and the Celts, equal parts born-and-bred Montrealers and expats) signed up to compete in the World Cup this Sunday, although the rules are pretty loose and anyone who shows up in warm attire will be allowed to play. Visibility and accessibility are key in promoting the sport in Montreal, says Bell, who in the early days assembled a small group of cricket players by practicing on Mount Royal (next to tam-tams) and collecting email addresses from strangers who approached him.

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.