Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Brossard Warriors
Saturday 6 July 2013
By Neville Cardus (channelling through Prashant Bhawalkar)
Photos by Amit Malhotra

The heatwave of Montreal plagued yet another match at The Candy Fields. Unable to resist its onslaught, the bowlers meekly surrendered all sense of direction and space and bowled a record 100 wides. Fifty-nine of these were delivered by the visiting Brossard Warriors, while the home team managed to maintain some semblance of dignity sending down a mere 41. In the end, the Pirates won the game with a little less than two overs to spare.

There were no signs of the chaos that was to ensue as opening bowlers Farishta and Legault troubled the Brossard batsmen with their movement. Legault, in particular, showed a return to the form that made him the third-highest wicket-taker last season. Two yorkers, delivered on target, ensured that he ended with figures of 2/26 in 6 overs. Swing specialist Tidy, back from the palladium mines, continued the good work with a spell that suited his last name. In 9 overs, he took 2/22, one of the most economical and dangerous spells at The Candy Fields.

Youngster Bousfield then went on to reveal his promise with 2/26 off 3 overs.

The 41 wides conceded by the Pirates bowlers – caused, in part, by the return of the Free Montreal doctor and sweaty conditions which made gripping the ball difficult – looked bad on paper, but worse was to come.

The Brossard bowlers managed pace, bounce, and movement, troubling openers Bousfield and Hasan as the Pirates began their chase. For 20 overs, barely a run came off the bat, but with the ball spraying either side of the mat three times and over, the Pirates remained in the hunt.

The key partnership of the day came as Varma joined Captain Bell at the crease. Driving the opposition bananas with their field placings, the left-hand-right-hand combination amassed 89 in 15 overs. For a while it was like watching Gower and Gooch. Varma employed the hook and late cut on his way to 5 boundaries, while Bell was ruthless on the pull and sweep, notching 9 fours.

When Varma fell on 34 with 30 still needed in 8 overs, the Warriors smelled their chance. Tidy was castled first nut, playing back to a ball that kept low. Couch-surfer Morton, drafted in after inquiring where to watch the Ashes in Montreal at 11 pm the previous evening, offered crucial support as Bell cut loose, bringing up his third fifty of the season. Morton then crashed, Botham-style, into his wickets.

Wides reached 50 for the innings, and shortly after, 100 for the game, bringing cheers and applause around the ground.

With 3 runs needed and 11 balls remaining, Bell launched Ravish over extra cover to finish a thrilling game.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Brossard Warriors
Saturday 6 July 2013
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Match type: 45 overs per side (11 wickets)
Weather conditions: Return of the Free Montreal Doctor
Result: Pirates won by 6 wickets

Brossard Warriors Innings

Extras 43 (Byes 0, Leg Byes 0, No Balls 2, Wides 41)
Total 175 for 11 in 40.5 overs

FoW (1-40, 2-48, 3-68, 4-68, 5-111, 6-141, 7-148, 8-161, 9-165, 10-171, 11-175)

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Extras 65 (Byes 3, Leg Byes 1, No Balls 2, Wides 59)
Total 177 for 5 in 43.2 overs

FoW (1-29, 2-58, 3-147, 4-152, 5-170)