Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Adastrians
Sunday 12 October 2008

Pirates of the St Lawrence came within 6 runs of toppling Montreal champions Adastrians, as the final match of the season was played out in full fall colours at The Candy Fields on Sunday.

The match began in farcical circumstances, more than 2 hours late, as 10 Pirates took to the field against 5 Adastrians. The Pirates plucked 70-year-old former Minor Counties pro Roger Norman from his picnic on the boundary, handing him his first cap in 30 years.

After a stirring speech by stand-in skipper Rob Savage, Amrit Sanger and Darren Bullivant bowled with venom in their opening spells. Sanger shattered Babu Mandal’s pegs with an inswinging yorker in the 4th over. His celebration could be heard on top the neighbouring volcano. The second wicket came next over after a direct-hit run out from Bell at cover.

Adastrians’ batsmen began to build quickly. Some lusty leg-side blows by Qasim threatened to take the game away from the Pirates, while premier-grade opener Rajesh, batting like Tendulkar, rocked quickly onto the backfoot, smacking fours square of the wicket.

Ben McGovern, posing as a spinner, bowled with searing pace, terrifying the batsmen and gloveman Ian Gunther. The introduction of Shaun Loubser further curbed the run flow.

At 117-2 with 10 overs to go, the game looked in danger of slipping away. The breakthrough came when Loubser outsmarted Qasim, teasing him into smash down Rob Savage’s throat at long-on.

Spin put Adastrians’ middle order in a tangle. Bell grabbed 2 wickets in an over, the first a flash-like stumping from Gunther, the second a fast inswinger that rapped the pads. Mark Sanders struck in his second over, enticing a spoon to Thiery Milot in the covers, and Rob Savage beat the bat repeatedly in his over.

Bullivant and Sanger returned for the closing overs, grabbing a wicket each. The Pirates bowled their last 10 overs for 29 runs, and took 6 wickets. Adastrians finished with 146 for 8 in their 25 overs.

Light conditions worsened for the Pirates’ innnings. Left-arm opener Ravji, slinging the ball from off the mat, posed considerable problems. Ian Gunther was bowled in the first over for a good-looking 2. Mark Sanders played a crisp cut before nicking to the keeper next over.

Thiery Milot tried to see out dangerman Ravji, before hammering a drive to extra cover. Shaun Loubser was given out lbw and then recalled by umpire Bell, who decided the ball may have pitched outside leg stump. It was an astonishing piece of luck for the left-hander, and umpire Bell hopes the favour will be returned next season.

When Loubser was unluckily bowled around his legs by legspinner Ramesh, the Pirates were teetering on 16 for 4.

Darren Bullivant, who has averaged more than 30 all season, started patiently. Waiting for any width, he rocked onto the back foot and drilled the spinners over cover. Amrit Sanger battled at the other end, giving good support, before being stumped.

Bell was gunned out leg before for 6, attempting a pull, to a delivery that may have been going over the stumps. (He has a black mark on his thigh this morning). Rob Savage was caught in the covers as the required run rate began to spiral.

Wides kept the Pirates in the chase, and the tail began to wag. Ben McGovern clubbed a four and a straight six, and Darren Bullivant continued to belt boundaries at the other end. The pair were then bowled for 15 and 38 respectively.

Tony O’Driscoll scampered for everything, as leg side wides continued. The Pirates, to their surprise. found themselves scoring at the required 10 runs per over. Bell was allowed to join O’Driscoll at the crease again as last man.

Needing 11 runs off the final over, the Pirates were awarded another wide, before O’Driscoll creamed opener Ravji through midwicket for 4 in one of the shots of the match. It looked like the Pirates could pull of a sensational upset. Then Ravji, who had been homing in on leg stump all innings, managed to bend a ball away from the bat, and a thin edge ended the Pirates hopes.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Adastrians
Sunday 12 October 2008
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 25 overs per side
Weather conditions: Cold and sunny
Result: Adastrians won by 5 runs

1st Innings Adastrians

Rajesh b Sanger 65 (12×4)
Babu b Sanger 2
Navid run out (Bell) 2
Qasiui ct Savage b Loubser 32 (3×4, 2×6)
Dipak st Gunther b Bell 8 (1×4)
Ravi lbw Bell 2
Ramesh not out 7
Deo ct Milot b Sanders 2
Babul not out 1
Ravji b Bullivant 1
Tarum did not bat

Extras 24 (Byes 0, Leg byes 0, No balls 0, Wides 24)
Total 146 for 8 in 25 overs

Bowling Figures

Darren Bullivant 4 overs, 1 wicket, 25 runs, Econ. 6.25, 24.00
Amrit Sanger 5 overs, 2 wickets, 37 runs, Econ. 7.40, 15.00
Ben McGovern 5 overs, 0 wickets, 25 runs, Econ. 5,00, SR –
Shaun Loubser 3 overs, 1 wicket, 18 runs, Econ. 6.00 SR 18.00
Tony O’Driscoll 2 overs, 0 wickets, 18 runs, Econ. 9.00, SR –
Angus Bell 3 overs, 2 wickets, 14 runs, Econ. 4.67, SR 9.00
Mark Sanders 2 overs, 1 wicket, 8 runs, Econ. 4.00, SR 12.00
Rob Savage 1 over, 0 wickets, 1 run, Econ. 1,00, SR –

2nd Innings Pirates of the St Lawrence

Ian Gunther (wk) b Ravji 2
Mark Sanders ct (keeper) b Ravi 2
Thiery Milot c Ravi b Ravji 2
Amrit Sanger st (keeper) b Deo 2
Shaun Loubser b Ramesh 4
Darren Bullivant b Ravi 38 (4×4, 1×6)
Angus Bell lbw Babu 6
Robert Savage (c) ct Ravi b Ramash 1
Ben McGovern b Babu 15 (1×4, 1×6)
Tony O’Driscoll ct (keeper) b Ravji 9 (1×4)
Angus Bell not out 14 (1×4)

Extras 46 (Byes 11, Leg byes 4, No balls 2, Wides 29)
Total 141 all out in 24.3 overs

Bowling Figures

Ravji 3.3 overs, 3 wickets, 13 runs, Econ. 3.71, SR 7.00
Ravi 4 overs, 2 wickets, 16 runs, Econ. 4.00, SR 12.00
Dupak 1 over, 0 wickets, 7 runs, Econ. 7.00, SR –
Ramesh 4 overs, 2 wickets, 31 runs, Econ. 7.75, SR 12.00
Rajesh 5 overs, 1 maiden, 0 wickets, 15 runs, Econ. 3.00, SR –
Deo 1 over, 1 wicket, 10 runs, Econ. 10.00, SR 6.00
Babu 5 overs, 2 wickets, 24 runs, Econ. 4.80, SR 15.00
Tarum 1 over, 0 wicket, 10 runs, Econ. 10.00, SR –