Pirates of the St Lawrence versus West Island Whackers
Saturday 31 July 2010

Round 3. No Mr. T. Instead, Messrs Bell and Barker advance to the wicket serenaded by an Appalachian banjo hoedown from Milot. Only at the Candy Fields. Your correspondent wishes he was still in bed, or perhaps nursing another bottle of wine… maybe that would clear the haze… maybe that would distract from rapidly reddening cheeks and the glare of direct sunlight without the tent.

Sixteen overs pass as these issues are pondered and the score accumulates past 50. Excitement is created by frantic appealing and a request from our leader to keep the shouting down during balls… obviously never batted at Lord’s after lunch… or tea… or at the MCG…

Mr. Barker returns, bowled, swiftly followed by Kiwi gloveman Horne, pushing one back to steam-train Kumar. El Presidente accumulates with a sunny disposish. Krishnan goes golfing. The score rattles past 100, dogs doze under chairs.

Seven overs left, the accumulators return in quick succession, foundations laid. A whirl of dreadlocks arrives at the wicket, wielding a barely legal two-piece cudgel. Silence from Milot’s banjo – running is required. IPL-tastic. The innings closes at a shade under 200.

Now the drama quickens. Rehydrated and energised by jerk chicken, the Pirates let loose a middle-aged display of virtuoso medium pace bowling. False shots are induced, batsmen are lured from their crease, stumps are torn asunder… 4 wickets down, 10 overs bowled, only 20-odd runs on the board.

Quebecois muscle replaces the craft of traditional nations. A further wicket falls. Foot off the gas. Clear dismissals are not given. The Whackers now run riot, finding the boundary every ball. Drinks are taken.

The visitors are back in the hunt, with less than 100 needed. Foot back on the gas. Pakistan swing machine Syed returns, partnered by Bell, and three more are down. Somnolence across The Candy Fields. No more press-ups in the outfield from Rockwell. A trickle of runs. Ludicrous wides are called. Detailed explanations of what is and what isn’t wide take place. The umpires call wide again.

The Whackers’ captain charges Bell and is stumped down the leg side by Horne. Claims he wasn’t ready and continues. Roche will not have it, so stops all the runs from the Wood End.

Last over, last wicket, far too many to get. Tezza gets his 1-for, and Horne, his 5-for. Victory for the Pirates. The beer flows. The tent is repaired. Half the side camp out for the night. ‘’What goes on at The Candy Fields, stays at The Candy Fields,’’ says Bell.

If you want the gritty details, look at the scorecard below. Great batting from Bell, Krishnan and Roche. Great bowling from Wisden and Syed. Outstanding glovework from Horne. Fourth time lucky for the Whackers?

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus West Island Whackers
Saturday 31 July 2010
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 40 overs per side
Weather conditions: More sunni than shi’ite
Toss won by: Pirates of the St Lawrence
Result: Pirates of the St Lawrence won by 24 runs

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Angus Bell (c) lbw Sahil 70 (6×4)
Daniel Barker b Kumar 7
Richard Horne (wk) c&b Kumar 0
Sundat Krishnan ct Kumar b Vicky 38 (2×4)
Thiery Milot not out 9
Phil Roche not out 38 (3×4, 1×6)
Farooq Syed DNB
John Carter DNB
Matthew Legault DNB
William Rockwell DNB
Tom Wisden DNB

Extras 33 (Byes 10, Leg Byes 3, No Balls 1, Wides 19)
Total 195 for 4 in 40 overs

Fow (1-54, 2-63, 3-139, 4-143)

Bowling

Sandeep 7 overs, 2 maidens, 0 wickets, 36 runs
Sahil 5 overs, 1 wicket, 21 runs
TJ 5 overs, 0 wickets, 24 runs
Vicky 8 overs, 2 maidens, 1 wicket, 25 runs
Gorpal 6 overs, 1 maiden, 0 wickets, 30 runs
Kumar 7 overs, 1 maiden, 2 wickets, 34 runs
Naresh 2 overs, 0 wickets, 12 runs

West Island Whackers Innings

Sandeep ct Bell b Syed 13 (2×4)
Kumar ct Horne b Wisden 2
Rana st Horne b Wisden 0
Rajan ct Horne b Syed 27 (3×4, 1×6)
Sahil b Wisden 4 (1×4)
Hasan ct Krishnan b Legault 3
TJ ct Horne b Roche 59 (7×4)
Naresh ct Roche b Bell 0
Rajesh b Bell 0
Vicky st Horne b Milot 22 (2×4)
Gorpal not out 1

Extras 40 (Byes 5, Leg Byes 1, No Balls 0, Wides 34)
Total 171 for 10 in 40 overs

FoW (1-7, 2-8, 5-48, 6-101, 7-102, 8-105, 9-168, 10-171)

Bowling

Farooq Syed 8 overs, 1 maiden, 2 wickets, 18 runs
Tom Wisden 5 overs, 3 wickets, 20 runs
William Rockwell 3 overs, 0 wickets, 14 runs
Matthew Legault 5 overs, 1 wicket, 33 runs
John Carter 2 overs, 0 wickets, 20 runs
Angus Bell 8 overs, 2 wickets, 26 runs
Daniel Barker 3 overs, 0 wickets, 16 runs
Phil Roche 4 overs, 2 maidens, 1 wicket, 8 runs
Thiery Milot 2 overs, 1 wicket, 15 runs