Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Gujarat CC
Saturday 28 September 2013
By Norts Porridge

On a gorgeous, late-September day under the resplendent Mont-Saint-Hilaire in its magnificently changing colours of reds and yellows, it was orange that stood out most.

The ever-friendly Gujarat CC took it to the Pirates with efficient bowling and even better batting, and this on a day where our swashbucklers were fielding one of their strongest squads ever.

The Pirate innings started superbly, with openers “Professor” Xavier Clements and Sudeep “Supersmash Plus” Badugu manning the fort, as Badugu plundered 33 runs in 44 balls, including sixes over midwicket and cover. The score raced to 72 for 1 in 11 overs.

But in cricket, as in life, troubles come in battalions, and the middle order was swept away in the tides of war.

Cap’n “Go Down With The Ship” Bell fared well enough with 17 runs, but the normally-great-with-the-bat Sujith “Sergeant Slaughter” Varma, Pratik “Jost Joshin'” Joshi, and Julie “Go-Get-‘Em” Gauthier all fell for less-than-ten, as the home team succumbed to mean seam and spin. Daniel “Robber-Of-Hearts” Robinson, making his triumphant return after a month-long training camp in homeland Australia, was greeted with a pugnacious turning off-spinner by the deadly Ajay. Suddenly 71 for 1 became 96 for 7.

“Mighty” Max Newman did his part to maintain a respectable total, belting out 38 runs, as he and Stephen “Bois-Tout” Woodall (14) contributed a 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Reza “Far-Side” Farishta, Adam “Three-Names” Kelly Morton and Sabrina “Artsy” Arciero could not manage a sustained attack, climbing to a mere 169 in 44 overs.

Nilesh “Niles” Patel and his opening partner Milan “The Model” Patel were practically indomitable, racking up 46 and 29 respectively in a whirlwind opening stand. At 100 for 1, with a swift and bruising conclusion looming, there was a danger of Pirate morale dropping.

But the Bucks did put up a fight, as the spinners got the ball to grip and the fielders developed sticky fingers in the deep. Bell bagged 4 for 31, Woodall 3 for 28, and Badugu 2 for 25, as 9 Gujarat wickets crashed for 69 runs. Clements made two great catches and the threesome of Bell, Robinson and Kelly Morton pouched one apiece. Woodall, hurling himself on the cow corner fence like Harry Potter possessed, was a revelation.

As the sun began to set opposite the great mountain, all three results were still possible. With 2 runs or 2 wickets needed and 8 balls to go, Dinesh top edged Clements to squareleg. The catch went down, the batsmen scampered the win, but it was the end of a beauteous day that surely made Lord Autumn himself proud.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Gujarat CC
Saturday 28 September 2013
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 45 overs per side (12 wickets)
Weather conditions: Best of the year
Result: Gujarat won by 2 wickets

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 31 (Byes 10, Leg Byes 2, No Balls 4, Wides 17)
Total 169 for 12 in 45 overs

FoW (1-29, 2-72, 3-82, 4-82, 5-85, 6-87, 7-96, 8-146, 9-151, 10-165, 11-169, 12-169)

Gujarat CC Innings

Extras 11 (Byes 3, Leg Byes 0, No Balls 0, Wides 8)
Total 171 for 10 in 43.5 overs

FoW (1-72, 2-100, 3-105, 4-123, 5-131, 6-139, 7-140, 8-150, 9-159, 10-169)