Game Report - May 24, 2008
MCC social match verses HPCC/OSU
Teams from:
Zafar Khan (c)
Neil Day
Pratik Sawana
Brett Windsor
Lokesh Popli
Paul Sherwood
George Mukalel
Veerinder S. Chawla
Cam Thomas
Nish Parikh
Chris Jones
Steve Rodeman
Match Details
A day that dawned cloudy and damp turned into what many described as the perfect day's cricket last Saturday. A smattering of MCC stalwarts turned up early to join our friends from the HP club in Corvallis and a few NWCC members in a social game of cricket. Zafar and Jana were deputized as captains and selected mixed teams as fortune had resulted in the magic number of 22 players assembling that morning.
Zafar's team (Team Z) were asked to field first in a match scheduled to go 40 overs. Jana sent his opening batsman out (including MCC's own Nish) as the clouds started to part and a pleasant glow spread over the ground. Team J's innings proceeded steadily and productively as the opening pair settled in and dispatched any loose deliveries to all parts of the grounds. Finally, the breakthrough came and Team Z had some hope of actually seeing some other batsmen come out from under the pleasant shade at the side of the field. Wickets proceeded to fall at a regular though not accelerated pace due to some remarkable accomplishments, including Chris taking a brilliant diving catch (after several practice dives where no ball was actually touched in the effort) and Brett bowling out one batter by delivering a "flipper" that, in his words, "actually landed on the square for the first time in my life." Further highlights included Neil taking a wicket first ball (we won't mention what his second ball looked like) and an honor guard for Paul Sherwood as the #11 strode out for Team J's final push to score 216 all out.
At the innings break, a special presentation was made to Ellen of a gift of New Zealand "All Blacks" gear as we all know that's one of her loves (we hope that Oregon cricket is somewhere close on that list).
Team Z's innings began much more precariously, mostly because the captain had the generous but fool-hardy notion to bat me (Steve Rodeman) one down. Although I played a delicate inside edge just past leg stump (a strategic ploy no one could have expected, especially me), I was soon out of the way so the real innings could progress. Paul ripped through Team Z's top order with four wickets until Zafar finally stopped the carnage by inserting himself into the batting order at #8 and getting another bucket full of runs. He and Chris (who would have carried his bat through the Team Z innings had he not retired 55 not out to allow the last batsman to have a go) shared an unbeaten stand of 137 seeing the needed runs off and closed out the innings in style.
Afterwards, a select few retired to Edgefield's patio to reflect on the beauty that abounds in a day of cricket over a soft May afternoon in Oregon.
MCC social match verses HPCC/OSU
Teams from:
Zafar Khan (c)
Neil Day
Pratik Sawana
Brett Windsor
Lokesh Popli
Paul Sherwood
George Mukalel
Veerinder S. Chawla
Cam Thomas
Nish Parikh
Chris Jones
Steve Rodeman
Match Details
A day that dawned cloudy and damp turned into what many described as the perfect day's cricket last Saturday. A smattering of MCC stalwarts turned up early to join our friends from the HP club in Corvallis and a few NWCC members in a social game of cricket. Zafar and Jana were deputized as captains and selected mixed teams as fortune had resulted in the magic number of 22 players assembling that morning.
Zafar's team (Team Z) were asked to field first in a match scheduled to go 40 overs. Jana sent his opening batsman out (including MCC's own Nish) as the clouds started to part and a pleasant glow spread over the ground. Team J's innings proceeded steadily and productively as the opening pair settled in and dispatched any loose deliveries to all parts of the grounds. Finally, the breakthrough came and Team Z had some hope of actually seeing some other batsmen come out from under the pleasant shade at the side of the field. Wickets proceeded to fall at a regular though not accelerated pace due to some remarkable accomplishments, including Chris taking a brilliant diving catch (after several practice dives where no ball was actually touched in the effort) and Brett bowling out one batter by delivering a "flipper" that, in his words, "actually landed on the square for the first time in my life." Further highlights included Neil taking a wicket first ball (we won't mention what his second ball looked like) and an honor guard for Paul Sherwood as the #11 strode out for Team J's final push to score 216 all out.
At the innings break, a special presentation was made to Ellen of a gift of New Zealand "All Blacks" gear as we all know that's one of her loves (we hope that Oregon cricket is somewhere close on that list).
Team Z's innings began much more precariously, mostly because the captain had the generous but fool-hardy notion to bat me (Steve Rodeman) one down. Although I played a delicate inside edge just past leg stump (a strategic ploy no one could have expected, especially me), I was soon out of the way so the real innings could progress. Paul ripped through Team Z's top order with four wickets until Zafar finally stopped the carnage by inserting himself into the batting order at #8 and getting another bucket full of runs. He and Chris (who would have carried his bat through the Team Z innings had he not retired 55 not out to allow the last batsman to have a go) shared an unbeaten stand of 137 seeing the needed runs off and closed out the innings in style.
Afterwards, a select few retired to Edgefield's patio to reflect on the beauty that abounds in a day of cricket over a soft May afternoon in Oregon.