Match Report: Spirits vs ANZA Social, 26th March 2011

A “weak batting” Spirits side romped to a emphatic 101 victory against a social Spirits side.

Spirits posted 232- 6 off their 30 overs with non-batsmen Duncan and Kalpesh both retiring after reaching their 50’s. Duncan’s straight six off ANZA skipper Jim, which cleared the first carriageway of Ballestier Road was particularly impressive for a non-batsman. Chiro, Spirits’ skipper, also scored 53 in a belligerent innings, with Shubham chipping in a useful 21. ANZA had agreed to let both of them play for the Spirits to help bolster their “weak” batting. John Common once again excelled in the field for ANZA, taking a beautiful running catch over his shoulder and also running out Sumit on a direct throw, he also did his bit with the ball . Unfortunately he fractured his foot the following day and will be out for 3 to 6 months. Haroon and James Hope also looked useful with the ball and ANZA skipper Jim done the decent thing and brought himself on against the “weaker” batting of Duncan and Kalpesh and went for 0-29 in 3 overs.

Chiro 53

Duncan 52 retired

Kalpesh 51 retired

James Hope 3-49

John Common 1-36

Harry Singh 1-42

ANZA got off to a decent start but, Geoff who had phoned the skipper up 1 hour before the match to inform him that he may have broken his toe, then had to retire after a loud click was heard playing an attempted pull shot. Credit to him though he did come out again to bat at the end and turns out that the hospital later confirmed that he had indeed broken a toe and also a rib!(we always told you that the pull shot would be the undoing of you, Geoff! We trust Mrs Geoff was suitably sympathetic) Jodie had a useful innings at the top of the order making 37 and Geoff made a brave 22, but ANZA’s middle order collapsed once Jodie took over the scoring. Collapsing from 97-2 to 97-7, undone by Sumit’s (3-12) wily spin and Graeme’s medium pacers (3-17). ANZA eventually being bowled out for 131 even after the Spirits President came out to bat for ANZA making a lifetime highest score of 6.

Jodie 37

Geoff 22

Jim 16

Sumit 3-12

Graeme 3-17

Kalpesh 2-14

Amar 2-23 (those who got out were suitably fined.)

Wooden Spoon: ANZA’s Captain, Jim, for obvious generosity with his players… he did learn an important lesson that a “weak” batting side consists of only 2 batsmen that can score half-centuries…