Dodgers v Carib Beer XI 27.06.11

Wray's Crescent, Finsbury Park
T20
6pm
Weather: Cloudy and hot but with none of the promised rain

Dodgers 120 for 8 (Dollin 35no, Radcliffe 26 retd, McBarron 21no) beat Carib Beer XI 119 for 8 (Cousins 4 overs 3 for 8, Hilary 4 overs 1 for 19, Wilkinson 2 overs 1 for 16) by 1 run

Match report by Phil McBarron

Low standard fare but an exciting finish on an artificial wicket as Dodgers edged home by the minimum margin.

Captained by the OBE, Dodgers batted first and got off to a good start with momentum provided by Dollin supported by Qureshi.

The innings rapidly decelerated after the retirement of Mike with just 11 runs coming off overs 8-12 as the middle order axis of Smith, Sergei and Wilkinson struggled somewhat with the slow loopy bounce of the synthetic wicket.

After 14 overs the score had reached 71 but some useful late blows from Radcliffe, McBarron and the returning Dollin pushed this up to 120 by the close (this was felt to be about 20 below par).

It was important to take early wickets and Cousins and Hilary duly obliged with fine opening spells (the former particularly impressive with 3 clean bowled victims). After 8 overs with only 32 runs on the board and 4 batters back in the hutch Dodgers were firmly in control.

The OBE then opted to bowl occasional bowlers Smith and Wilkinson in tandem and with 41 runs scored Carib were back in pole position with 73 banked after 12 overs. Fox and McBarron then regained the initiative with economical starts and with 3 overs left and 35 runs needed the game seemed in the bag. Unfortunately, a wayward penultimate over from McB with 5 wides went for 10 and, even worse, Fox's final over was despatched for 18 due to good batting rather than poor bowling.

With 8 needed to win (7 to tie) off the last and 2 well set batsmen the momentum was with the Caribs. A mixture of dot balls and 2s of the first 5 balls of the final over bowled by McB meant 4 were needed of the last ball. With the all the fielders on the boundary, McB held his nerve and an accurate final ball was squirted into the covers for a couple to leave the home side tantalisingly short.

Man of the Match was deservedly Cousins but the Carib batsman who scored a 15 ball duck deserves an honourable mention!

Alternative match report by Guy Westhead

Superb bowling from Cousins (as usual), with spot-on last over from McBarron (went for 5 only) allied to earlier quick scoring 35 not out from Dollin (returning retiree), 25 not out (retired) from Radcliffe, 21 not out from McBarron and useful 17 from Qureshi were just enough to beat Carib despite a generally poor fielding display from Dodgers and although the Dodgers managed 3 run outs. Most fielders were guilty of at least one lapse in the field.

Dodgers began well with a good opening partnership between Qureshi, starting slowly but accelerating well and Dollin who hit several boundaries. Dodgers stalledin mid-innings with Smith hit in the groin area, retiring but returning to still register 0, Westhead having lost early season form bowled for 1 and Wilkinson with a fairly (lets not over egg this) painstaking 8. Radcliffe was not on song but was dropped twice and still managed his 25 not out and brought that up with a beautiful 6 (just as in his last game).

McBarron scored quickly and together with a returning Dollin ensured Dodgers had something to bowl at.

When Dodgers took the field Cousins was immediately on song and his 3 dismissals were all bowled – apparently there was a lot of swing in the heavy atmosphere. The acceleration came in the mid 4 overs when Wilkinson and Smith, more occasional bowlers needed on this occasion, took up the mantle. But they were no disasters. A few unfortunate lapses in the field followed (those guilty will remain nameless) and this was counterbalanced with 3 run outs.

40 needed off last 4 overs – Dodgers marginally ahead. 25 in 2. Sadly Fox's last over went for 18 and suddenly Carib were favourites before some great block hole (I think) bowling from McBarron.

Captain: G Westhead and also writer of this brief report.

Carib XI match report

Scorecard

Dodgers innings

Dollin      not out               35
Qureshi     ct ?      b Hague     17
Smith             c & b Willis     0
Westhead              b Willis     1
Radcliffe   retired not out       25
Wilkinson   ct ?      b Hague      8
McBarron    not out               21
Hilary                b Rogerson   5
Fox         c Barry   b Rogerson   0
Cousins     c Dan     b Worthy     0
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Sub-total                        112
Extras                             8
Total (7 wkts, 20 overs)         120

DNB: Matthews

Bowling

Rogerson    4-0-24-2
Worthy      4-0-25-1
Willis      4-0-24-2
Hague       4-0-16-2
Cordey      4-0-27-0

Carib Beer XI innings

Hague               b Hilary      12
Moss                b Cousins      1
Tongue              b Cousins      2
Rogerson  not out                 27
Cordey              b Cousins      0
Bowen     run out                  9
Goochie         c & b Wilkinson    0
Gordon    run out                 19
Laurence  run out                  0
Willis    retired not out         25
Worthy    not out                  0
____________________________________
Sub-total                         95
Extras                            24
Total (8 wkts, 20 overs)         119

Dodgers bowling

Cousins     4-1-8-3
Hilary      4-0-19-1
Wilkinson   2-0-20-1
Smith       2-0-16-0
Fox         4-0-23-0
McBarron    4-0-23-0

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