Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Mad Dogs of Connecticut
Sunday 26 July 2009

Sunday heralded an histortic double win over the Mad Dogs of Connecticut, as Pirates of the St Lawrence beat the Americans by 8 wickets a thrilling Twenty20 match.

Three and a half hours of sunshine were promised by groundsman Bell, and it duly arrived after both teams had aquaplaned down the 20. Some swift rag work and syphoning with a dust pan readied the field for play.

Mad Dogs batted first and immediately felt the wrath of “The Anti-Pace” Wisden, whose extraordinary run continues. The tall farmer from Somerset picked up two wickets in his first over, both caught by ball-magnet St-Jean. The first, skied to cover, was spilled by Manu, only to fall into the hands of the hovering St-Jean. St-Jean then held on to a miscued smash at short mid wicket to leave the visitors reeling at 10 for 2.. It was a stark contrast from the 88 for 0 the day before.

Dangerman O’Driscoll looked in menacing form, bowling tight lines outside off stump. He should have had an early wicket, as Blomfield was dropped on 0 at square leg.. There was no mistake second time, as Hugue St-Jean appeared and collected the catch for 18.

Manu bowled schizophrenically, picking up two wickets in an over but conceding a six, a four, and bowling four wides. Bharat Kumar struck with is very first ball, as a leading edge carried to Bell at mid on. Philippe MacLeod and Manas Gupta bowled economically in their four overs.

The wickets and wides continued to be shared around. Colonel Sanders struck in his first over, bowling Trappler for an agricultural 15. St-Jean picked up Farricker for 3, the ball sneaking through the batsman’s legs.

Dan Thomassin joined the party and duly rose to the top of the bowling averages with his dismissal of Corkin for 0, popped to Bell at mid on.

Bell then finished the innings with 2 for 0 in four deliveries. The Mad Dogs total of 105 for 11, largely aided by 33 extras, looked a stiff target on a damp outfield.

Colonel Sanders and St-Jean opened the reply account for the Pirates. Sanders slashed his fourth ball over point for four, only to be bowled swinging to leg next ball.

St-Jean went baseballing, line driving his first ball for two. The next ball would have been a foul – unfortunately the game was cricket and the keeper took a top edge, barreling backwards. The Pirates were looking in mortal danger at 6 for 2.

Steady Eddie Palmer and Bell then set about rescuing the innings. They worked the gaps and scampered 2s, taking advantage of the opposition’s fragile stomachs.

They were both given second lives. Bell pulled a low full toss to deep square leg, who dived and spilled the catch. Palmer was put down at short cover. But the pair made the Mad Dogs pay, and kept up with the required 5 runs per over.

Some well-placed fours by Palmer towards the end of the innings relieved the pressure. Victory came in the final over with a pull by Palmer to long leg for four. He finished on 44 not out from 57 deliveries, including 5 fours, while Bell finished on 41 not out from 51.

It capped a hugely successful weekend for the Pirates, whose meteoric rise now has the whole Eastern Seaboard quaking.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Mad Dogs of Connecticut
Sunday 26 July 2009
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: Twenty20
Weather conditions: Sweaty as Singapore
Result: Pirates of the St Lawrence won by 8 wickets

Mad Dogs of Connecticut Innings

Howden ct St-Jean b Wisden 3
Kimberley ct St-Jean b Wisden 2
Blomfield ct St-Jean b O’Driscoll 18
Bush b Manu 8
Moore (c) ct Bell b Kumar 0
Lanham ct Palmer b Manu 0
Parag b Bell 23
Farricker (wk) b St-Jean 0
Trappler b Sanders 15
Corkin ct Bell b Thomassin 0
Tom Schmidt not out 0
Arash b Bell 0

Extras 33
Total 105 for 11 in 17.4 overs

Bowling

Tony O’Driscoll 3 overs, 1 wicket, 12 runs
Tom Wisden 2 overs, 2 wickets, 14 runs
Manu 1 over, 2 wickets, 14 runs
Bharat Kumar 2 overs, 1 wicket, 5 runs
Hugue St-Jean 2 overs, 1 wicket, 11 runs
Philippe MacLeod 2 overs, 0 wickets, 10 runs
Manas Gupta 2 overs, 0 wickets, 13 runs
Mark Sanders 2 overs, 1 wicket, 10 runs
Dan Thomassin 1 over, 1 wicket, 4 runs
Angus Bell 0.4 overs, 2 wickets, 0 runs

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Mark Sanders b Blomfield 4
Hugue St-Jean ct Farricker b Bush 2
Ed Palmer (wk) not out 44
Angus Bell (c) not out 41
Tony O’Driscoll DNB
Bharat Kumar DNB
Dan Thomassin DNB
Philippe MacLeod DNB
Tom Wisden DNB
Manas Gupta DNB
Manu DNB

Extras 17
Total 108 for 2 in 19.2 overs

Bowling

Blomfield 4 overs, 1 wicket, 25 runs
Bush 3 overs, 1 wicket, 22 runs
Howden 4 overs, 1 maiden, 0 wickets, 16 runs
Moore 4 overs, 0 wickets, 15 runs
Parag 2 overs, 0 wickets, 13 runs
Kimberley 2.2 overs, 0 wickets, 15 runs