Dodgers v BOC

Tuesday, 2 July 1996
Dodgers v BOC
20 over game
Regent's Park

MATCH STATISTICS

Dodgers won the toss (at last!) and elected to field

BOC: 72 all out (P. Brown 41, McBarron 5-15, Adey 2-5, Sharif 1-8)
DODGERS: 73-5 (Doyle 14, Harry 13, Gibson 1-5)

DODGERS WON BY 5 WICKETS

DODGERS MAN OF THE MATCH - PHIL McBARRON

Although the margin of victory was less than last week, the win was no less impressive - and we have now won half our games this year ("veteran" Dodgers players will need to pinch themselves at this point!). It is also the first time Dodgers have won two consecutive games.

Once again we bowled superbly and the hardest job as captain was trying to justify taking anybody off before they had bowled their full allocation of four overs. The pick of the bowling for the second week running was Phil "just imagine what I could do with a new ball..." McBarron who twice had the opportunity of a hat-trick, but the foundations were laid by a another tight opening eight overs from Lynton Sharp and Henry Hilary. Dave Atkinson will be the first to admit that his bowling was not up to his usual high standard - but that is his own silly fault for setting himself such high standards in the earlier games and he still turned in figures that anyone else would have been proud of. John "it doesn’t matter if not everyone bowls four overs - except me!" Adey also impressed with 2 for 5 and debutante Zulfi Sharif showed a great deal of promise with figures of 2.3-0-8-1, and looks like he will keep the opposition batsmen on their toes on the quicker wickets at Chiswick.

The fielding was generally good but for a couple of dropped catches (Atkinson!) and a couple of miss-fields (McBarron!) - but who cares? We won! Kim Matthews also deserves a mention for his efforts behind the stumps - especially when Zulfi fired off three consecutive wides at what can only be described as a fairly rapid pace!

When it came to our batting BOC made a tactical error in holding back their best two bowlers. This allowed openers John Doyle and Peter Harry to effectively win the game inside 10 minutes by taking 30 off the first 3 overs - our best start this season. Although the middle order did its best to throw it away Gerry Gibson was seen off for the cost of only one wicket (Doyle, your umpiring is shite!!!) and some good batting at the death by Phil McBarron and Kim Mathews saw us home as easy victors for the second week running.

We were once again fortunate with the weather (I'm sure the whole team wishes to send out a big "I told you so!" to Dave Sealy and wish him all the best with his injury - a painful lesson in the need to wear a box!) and although the pitch was not the world’s greatest everyone seemed to enjoy another victory - especially the bowlers!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my three games as captain and would like to thank everyone who has played for their efforts, but it is now time to hand over the reins to John Adey for next Tuesday's game against OSD. The attached committee meeting minutes explain all. I just hope I get to bowl four overs next week... (just kidding John).

We have a team entered in the Sportsday six-a-side and we would be grateful if those who we unfortunately can’t squeeze into the side could come along and take the pi.. sorry, I mean cheer us on - not to mention indulge in one or two halves of shandy afterwards...

NEIL PRIEST

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