Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Cricket Montreal
Saturday 4 July 2009

Pirates of the St Lawrence saw through a tense finish to clinch a historic third victory in row. After the double win against Boston, the Pirates claimed their fourth victory of the season, beating Cricket Montreal by 3 wickets at The Candy Fields on Saturday.

Two large puddles threatened the weekend’s fun but Operation Brain Drain made play possible on time. Pirates agree there’s something very therapeutic about digging holes in a field at 8 on a Saturday morning.

Cricket Montreal batted first, with Senyo Nyakutse in devastating form. Taking full advantage of the fielding restrictions, he blitzed 23 off the opening two overs.

Caribbean quicks Phil Roche and debutant Robert Davis bowled with eye-watering pace, testing little Arman at the other end. The little fella with the big future was gunned out by Steady Eddie Palmer, in what was possibly the slowest single in the history of the game, with a a lawn bowl shy at the stumps.

Roche knocked over Tayeb’s pegs with a brute of a delivery for 7, but at 81 for 2 in the 10th over, with Nyakutse homing in on 50, the Pirates needed a spark.

The turnaround came with the introduction of Colonel Sanders… Smote over midwicket by Nyakutse for four, he returned with a ball like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNIUjI_LINE&feature=PlayList&p=1BD18B1E9C9E0FD7&index=0
Nyakutse couldn’t believe it.

Ball magnet Nic Hoolahan and South Shore Specialist Hugue St-Jean combined to removed the other dangerman, Gohar Ali, who holed out to cow corner for 21. He will think twice about treating St-Jean with such disrespect again.

Thiery Milot and Daz Bullivant joined the party with a brace of comedy run outs, before Tom Wisden, nursing a sore head, produced the spell of his career. Swinging the ball both ways on a length, the big man from Bristol looked like Steve Harmison Ashes 2005. His three overs cost a miserly 2 runs, and did for the experienced Manu.

Daz Bullivant once again proved the partnership breaker, taking a wicket with his first ball, spooned to Chowdhury at extra. Nic Hoolahan sounded the death clunk for Abishma, and Bell outfoxed Arman, back again for another duck, with a googly the snuck through the gate.

Cricket Montreal were dismissed for 119 in 25.3 overs.

Openers Bullivant and Palmer faced a barrage of pace but worked the gaps beautifully. Pumping their little legs, they put on 37 for the first wicket, before Bullivant, looking dangerous on 20, fell victim to one of Arman’s unplayaballs. Nyakutse, on wicketkeeping duty, took the thin edge on the sixth attempt.

The Pirates then made conditions difficult for themselves. Having gifted two subs to the Allstars, Nic Hoolahoop and Colonel Sanders proceeded to take a spate of unbelievable wickets and catches against themselves.

Palmer was caught by the Colonel in the covers for 17. Roche came out guns blazing, spanked 18, before launching a straight drive to Hoolahan in the deep, who took it, cool as you like. St-Jean was unlucky to be run out from a direct hit by keeper Gohar, scrambling back from an aborted second run.

Back with the Pirates, the Colonel looked in swashbuckling form before smashing to cover and Goldcoaster Hoolhan, whose allegiance has been questioned before (is he from Queensland, is he from New South Wales? Nobody knows) fell first ball to a Manu yorker. With the overs and wickets fast running out, it looked like it might be goodnight, Pirates.

Bell rode his luck, surviving a near catch in the groin by cover. He hit 3 fours and a six on the leg side in his 37 not out, further boosting his average and bruised ego.

Erfan Chowdhury, who is developing a reputation as the finisher, saw out a burst of wides and no balls to take the home team over the line.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Cricket Montreal
Saturday 4 July 2009
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Weather conditions: Better than last week
Match type: 30 overs per side
Result: Pirates of the St Lawrence won by 3 wickets

Cricket Montreal Innings

Senyo Nykutse (c/wk) b Sanders 46
Arman run out (Palmer) 0
Tayeb b Roche 7
Gohar Ali ct Hoolahan b St-Jean 21
Faheem run out (Milot) 3
Mohammad run out (Bullivant) 0
Vinu ct Chowdhury b Bullivant 2
Manu ct Milot b Wisden 4
Abishma b Hoolahan 1
Gohar Ali not out 10
Arman b Bell 0

Extras 25
Total 119 all out in 25.3 overs

Bowling

Phil Roche 5 overs, 1 wicket, 32 runs
Robert Davis 5 overs, 0 wickets, 42 runs
Mark Sanders 2 overs, 1 wicket, 12 runs
Hugue St-Jean 2 overs, 1 wicket, 9 runs
Erfan Chowdhury 2 overs, 0 wickets, 9 runs
Tom Wisden 3 overs, 1 maiden, 1 wicket, 2 runs
Thiery Milot 1 over, 0 wickets, 1 run
Darren Bullivant 1 over, 1 wicket, 1 run
Angus Bell 2.3 overs, 1 wicket, 2 runs
Nic Hoolahan 2 overs, 1 wicket, 9 runs

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Darren Bullivant ct Nyakutse b Arman 20
Ed Palmer (wk) ct Sanders (sub) b Hoolahan (sub) 17
Thiery Milot lbw Nyakutse 2
Angus Bell (c) not out 37
Phil Roche ct Hoolahan (sub) b Nyakutse 18
Mark Sanders ct Tayeb b Hoolahan (sub) 6
Hugue St-Jean run out (Ali) 0
Nic Hoolahan b Manu 0
Erfan Chowdhury not out 1
Robert Davis DNB
Tom Wisden DNB

Extras 19
Total 120 for 7 in 29 overs

Bowling

Gohar Ali 5 overs, 1 maiden, 0 wickets, 17 runs
Manu 5 overs, 1 wicket, 19 runs
Tayeb 5 overs, 0 wickets, 22 runs
Arman 5 overs, 1 wicket, 22 runs
Senyo Nyakutse 5 overs, 2 wickets, 18 runs
Nic Hoolahan (sub) 2.5 overs, 2 wickets, 9 runs
Faheem 0.5 overs, 0 wickets, 6 runs
Vinu 1 over, 0 wickets, 11 runs