With the worst of the heatwave having passed, Two Counties Veterans assembled at Elmstead Cricket Club for their Annual Presidents Day contest. Patel’s Pirates taking on Meakins’ Marauders, and after 80 overs of fiercely contested action the match reached a dramatic conclusion with the Pirates losing their final wicket to the final delivery of the 80 overs for the Marauders to force a tied match. Probably the most agreeable of all outcomes to this, the most friendliest of all friendlies.
The Marauders won the toss for the 40 over match, with slightly amended playing conditions whereby a batsman scoring 50 will retire, but can return once all the other players have batted. The Marauders’ Stephen Henderson became the first to retire, while Fraser Eadie and Simon Sargeant both came close but were dismissed for 43 and 48 respectively. Steve Isaac closed on 23 not out, as the Marauders’ 40 overs ended with 230-5 on the board. Tony Oram with his eight overs only costing 24 runs was the most economic of the Pirates bowling line up.
One of the advantages of batting first is knowing what we have to defend, but this is counter-balanced by the stiffness that sets in during the quick turn round between innings. The early part of the Pirates reply saw them remain fairly equal to their opponents scoring rate. Sudi Trevidi eventually reached retirement, but as the Pirates looked to be getting closer and closer to victory, they were losing wickets. One key turning point could have been the run out of Kevin Ross for 20. Dan Luxford kept the Pirates in the hunt, but in the 37th over, he was caught and bowled by Sargeant for 45. It was now 217-9 and Trevidi was on his way back to the middle. The Marauders tactics were to try and keep Tony Oram on strike. Six runs were required but Tony managed to scoop a four over the infield and down to the boundary behind the wicket. Simon Sargeant then bowled a wide which levelled the scores, so it ll came down to the final ball, with Tony Oram needing a single to win it. The run never came as he lobbed the ball to mid-off where Nick Claus took the catch with tied the match. Martin Southwell, with 3-32 was the Marauders most productive bowler.
MEAKINS’ MARAUDERS 230-5 (Henderson 50 ret not out, Sargeant 48, Eadie 43, Isaac 23 no)
PATELS’ PIRATES 230 (Trevidi 55, Luxford 45, Patel 22, Wakefield 20, Ross 20, Southwell 3-32, Sargeant 2-33)
The players and supporters then enjoyed the traditional fish and chips and other hot food. Thanks go to Elmstead Cricket Club for hosting the game, the two captains and Stuart Carpenter for the arrangements for the day.