Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Tri-City of Albany
Saturday 11 July 2009

Tri-City made the 3-hr trip North to The Candy Fields for a return match against a Pirate side determined to make amends for going down in a tightly fought encounter in Schenectady.

After losing the toss (again! gah!), Tri-City sent the Pirates into bat with overcast skies favouring swing. The wind was producing the best blow job I have had in a while. [Erm, steady on… Might be your last if your missus sees this – Ed.]

The visitors struck early with the ball, claiming the prized scalp of Bell for 0 in the 2nd over. The ball pitched on middle and off, swung out late, bounced ludicrously and ballooned off the handle to gulley. There was nothing the batsman could have done.

The dismissal brought debutant Senyo Nyakutse to the crease. The Zimbawean opened his innings with two of the best shots played this summer, pulling over midwicket and then driving through the covers for four in quick succession. The 2nd wicket fell on 38 when Nyakutse skied a short pitched delivery to square leg. The Pirates were in real trouble, losing two form batsman.

Rich Horne came to the crease and was welcomed with fire, the ball whizzing around his chest, aided by extra bounce off the pitch. He batted with tenacity and courage after being struck with a ball that popped off a good length. He started to find his feet, timing shots into gaps and keeping the singles ticking over. After a rocky start, running between the wickets proved to be the key element of the partnership, as trans-tasman rivals Horne and Bullivant took on the fielders.

Horne’s wicket fell with the score on 91 after a crucial 50-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Next to go was Bullivant after a fine half century. His innings included 7 fours and a monster six over square leg. Attempting to push a ball through gulley, he managed a thin edge to the keeper. His patient 63, against some of the best bowling seen this year, in soggy conditions, was the highlight of his season to date.

Guyanese Welshman Robert Davis holed out on 3, attempting to clear the mid off fence. Tezza Milot was unlucky to get one that fizzed through between bat and pad, taking his off stump. Savage and Hoolahan went in quick succession leaving the Pirates on the ropes. Wisden was run out taking on a second in the final overs. Little Nick Wigley pushed for everything. His calling between the wickets has to be reviewed because he keeps yelling “Yis!” when a run is on. Although he did spank a 6 out the park.

Wigley flayed 16 in quick time with some elegant dancing down the wicket. Andy Myron, slipping on the canvas, helped take the total to 147 off the final ball – a total that looked unlikely when 38 for 2 in the 7th over. The Pirates had fought back well with the bat against the best attack this year.

Tri-City’s innings started in fiery fashion with West Indian paceman Davis bowling a bouncer that was still rising into the keeper’s gloves. At the other end Hoolahan started with two of his best balls all year – unfotunately they were dispatched for consecutive sixes by big-hitting Hussain.

After two overs, with lightning flashing all around and the heavens opening, play was abandoned. The Pirates huddled for warmth under their beer tent, watching the field turn into a boating pond.

Pirates of the St Lawrence versus Tri-City of Albany
Saturday 11 July 2009
The Candy Fields, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Weather conditions: Sunglasses on or sunglasses off? Followed by a flood of biblical proportions.
Toss won by: Tri-City
Result: Match abandoned

Pirates of the St Lawrence Innings

Darren Bullivant (c) ct Kiran b John 63
Angus Bell ct Maurice b Mike 0
Senyo Nyakutse ct Anil b Sunny 16
Richard Horne (wk) b Shazad 24
Robert Davis ct Sunny b Anil 3
Thiery Milot b Anil 0
Robert Savage lbw Maurice 2
Nic Hoolahan lbw Shazad 0
Tom Wisden run out (Steve) 2
Nick Wigley not out 16
Andrew Myron run out (Anil) 1

Extras 20
Total 147 all out in 35 overs

2nd Innings Tri-City
Kiran not out 2
G. Hussain not out 16

Extras 0
Total 18 for 0 in 2 overs

Bowling

Robert Davis 1 over, 0 wickets, 1 run
Nic Hoolahan 1 over, 0 wickets, 17 runs