Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Sukhdeo’s Select: A Guyanese XI
Saturday 6 September 2014
by Murphy’s Law

With precipitation pouring from the heavens at a speed and regularity not seen since Noah fashioned a floating animal shelter from discarded popsicle sticks (your humble narrator accepts no liability for historical inaccuracies contained henceforth), Sukhdeo’s Select rolled into town with camera crew in tow.

After a tough negotiation with the opposition, skipper Angus ‘Alexander Graham’ Bell decided to bat first in an attempt to make hay while the sun shone, the flaw in his reasoning being that there was no sun to be seen.

Joshi and Julius opened the batting and formed a solid partnership before Julius was adjudged LBW for an industrious 20. Bell arrived at the crease and so did the rain, forcing the players back into the smartly erected tent for an early Guyanese buffet, a decision which proved popular among players and spectators alike, including the latest Pirate recruit – India’s fielding coach Trevor Penney.

After a break in play, but not weather, the players resumed hostilities where Joshi continued his good form and compiled another electrifying half century, before departing trying to increase the run rate for a well made run-a-ball 67.

Bell and Murphy continued the resistance for the Pirates before first mate Murphy was run out for 20 after the ball was found frolicking in a pond next to the bowler.

The second half of the all-Darren middle order, Bullivant, joined Bell out at the centre and added 8 before deciding to go back for seconds at the lunch table.

The finishing role was left to a free-wheeling Pariat and the set batsman in Bell, who by the stage had quietly and chancelessly notched up another half century.

A flurry of quick singles rounded out the innings with Pariat finishing on 7 and Bell remaining unbeaten on 53. The Pirates finishing on a defendable 5/188 off their allotted 40 overs.

With lunch already taken care of earlier in the day, Sukhdeo’s Select promptly began their batting innings as the sun broke through the ominous clouds for the first time in the day.

Willy Singh liked what he saw from the Pirates openers, and was swinging, dare I say, ‘willy nilly’ before he attempted one too many big shots and departed for an entertaining 49.

Wickets fell consistently throughout the Select innings, with Joshi, Carter, Bell and Murphy all chipping in for the home team, not allowing the batting innings to gain momentum. That was before Saddick and Bobby combined for a final wicket partnership which threatened to snatch the game away from the Pirates.

Needing a mere 8 runs for victory off the best part of 4 overs, Joshi finished the game how he started it, in grand fashion, by bowling a ball that rose off a good length, forcing Bobby to pop the ball into the leg side where Bell, diving full stretch from short mid-wicket, took the catch. A fitting way to finish the game just as the eerily beautiful light descended on The Candy Fields.

On a day where rain threatened to spoil the party, the Pirates once again proved that they’re at home in the water capturing a gutsy 7-run victory.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Sukhdeo’s Select: A Guyanese XI
Saturday 6 September 2014
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 40 overs per side (11 wickets)
Weather conditions: Pouring with rain first innings, drier second
Result: Pirates of the St Lawrence won by 7 runs

Pirates of St Lawrence Innings

Extras 13 (Byes 3, Leg Byes 2, No Balls 0, Wides 8)
Total 188 for 5 in 40 overs

FoW (1-39, 2-124, 3-159, 4-172, 5-188)

Sukhdeo’s Select Innings

Extras 13 (Byes 3, Leg Byes 2, No Balls 1, Wides 7)
Total 181 for 10 in 36.3overs