20 / 20 Tournament

Gents,
Our Saturday morning game against the Embassy started with us batting, having been invited to do so by Steve Hollins the Embassy captain. The morning dew meant that earlier shots which would normally have gone for four runs were confined to twos; but inspite of this the score, after the allotted 20 overs, was 194 for a loss of six wickets, just short of 10 runs per over - a very good score to bowl at.
Phil Gay scored over 50 and Big Jon Riches scored a quick 60 runs hitting a few big sixes - as usual!

The Embassy lost two quick wickets but Marc Moodley and Steve Hollins put on a partnership of almost 100 runs and had brought the run rate to such a level that victory was in their sights; but once the off-break bowling of Ian Hellawell and Jon Riches came on the run rate fell, together with another three wickets and at the end of the 20 overs the Embassy's score was 170 for 7 wickets down.
The match was followed by an excellent lunch in the marquee - although the Blacksmith deplored the lack of gravy on his shepherd's pie and solved the problem
by pouring red wine on it!

Ian HELLAWELL

SAC played Juveniles in the final of the 20/20 competition by Les CLack

JCC batted first, their openers looking very much like a couple of Standard players. Andy Mac's first over went for 10 and things looked ominous, but he then settled into his rythm, picking up the first wicket. Chairman Clack at the other end also had JCC in all sorts of trouble, missing the bat (and the stumps of course) more often than not.  After the first 8 overs JCC were well behind a decent run rate. SAC, it must be said, fielded out of their skins. There were three terrific run-outs, two from brilliant bits of
fielding by James Grant in the covers (pity he doesn't play more often) and one from a terrific pick up and throw from the boundary by Jon Riches. Titian haired Brett Meredith, although handicapped around the area of his box, kept wicket brilliantly and took several stumpings, some of which were given out. We held all our catches except one (I won't mention off whose bowling, I might start crying again). Blacksmith pouched two skyers and skipper Hellers took the catch of the match, if not the
season, running round the boundary and taking it one handed. Orgasms of self-congratulation (What a catch! What a catch!) were heard as far as 'Uddersfield. But it was a good'un.

Juveniles picked up the rate at the end and finished with a modest 127.

Sac's batsmen had little real trouble in making the score, Julian, Phil, James, Nigel ,Jon all pushing it along. Julian came in at 3 and batted through. Jon hit his biggest six ever over the trees and into Velizy, and Ratha finished it off with another down to the tennis courts.

Dusty umpired.

20/20 Champions 2011 SAC. Well done everyone!

Les