Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Bengal United
Saturday 12 May 2012
by Neville Cardus (channelling through Prashant Bhawalkar)
Photo by Kat Roche

The second encounter of the Pirates season lived up to its billing as one of the most eagerly-awaited clashes in Montreal cricket. Considering that the teams pitted against each other were an experienced Bengal United XI and a talented Pirates side, the game’s thrilling finish shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

Batting first, the Pirates made 145 for 10 in their allocated 45 overs, a score that doesn’t do justice to the Highlander-esque bravado of Captain Bell, and a tail that wagged with sufficient gusto and fury to humble a pack of amorous bloodhounds in mating season.

Making nearly half the score (72), the skipper was ably supported by a pugnacious Savage and Blechynden, whose single figure scores do not do their exploits justice. Against a pace attack that comprised the ever-threatening chin music of Mahfuz, and a wave of other seamers of similar caliber, the doughty doctor and the curry King of Kalgoorlie held on long enough to take the score from a dire 52 for 6 to 90 for 8.

Bell’s finest came during the last 5 overs when, in the company of the enigmatic Bhawalkar, he plastered the hapless Bengal bowlers for 42. The two shared a last-wicket partnership of 55, a Pirate record. As always, the Bengal bowlers were full and on target, with Sud grabbing three wickets and Main nipping out two.

Mahfuz’s one wicket does not do his menacing spell justice. Consistently generating pace and bounce, he troubled all and sundry.

The Bengal United batting began with a peach of a delivery by Legault, who castled the dangerous Shah with an inswinger for 3. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, thanks to the efforts of super-sub Melaram and debutant Tidy, who took three each. They were well supported by Sakrani, Bell, and Blechynden, who celebrated his first ever wicket and promptly propitiated the Gods in a gesture of gratitude.

Blechynden’s victim, Sajib, was also the mainstay of the Bengal batting. Scoring 52 off 69 balls, he held the innings together and built the platform from which his team could engineer a thrilling one-wicket victory.

The intensity of the game did not, in any way, hamper the spirit in which it was played, with both teams displaying impeccable sportsmanship and camaraderie on and off the field.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Bengal United
Saturday 12 May 2012
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match Type: 45 overs per side
Weather conditions: Swinging like a banana
Toss won by: Pirates of the St Lawrence
Result: Bengal United won by 1 wicket

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 26 (Byes 8, Leg Byes 3, No Balls 4, Wides 11)
Total 145 for 10 in 45 overs

FoW (1-6, 2-22, 3-23, 4-37, 5-46, 6-52, 7-70, 8-90, 9-90, 10-145)

Bengal United Innings

Extras 22 (Byes 1, Leg Byes 1, No Balls 3, Wides 17)
Total 146 for 10 in 40.3 overs

FoW (1-10, 2-51, 3-55, 4-70, 5-85, 6-114, 7-128, 8-134, 9-143, 10-145)