St Lucia - Delight as we win at last
OCCC 121 for 5 (Watkinson 52, Johnson 26*) beat New Park Select XI 117 for 5 (Crump M 2-18) by 4 runs
Click here for match photos
Given that we had enjoyed the tour dinner the previous night, we arrived at the Beauesjour Cricket Ground for our two Twenty20s in remarkably good shape.
Overnight rain, and a brief shower as we walked out to inspect the pitch, delayed the start of the first game by an hour, but the track was as good as expected for a ground which had hosted a 2007 ICC World Cup semi-final. It was our first experience of playing with black sightscreens and pink balls, the latter being much easier to pick up for most players. David Bugge was heard to moan he found them harder to pick up than red ones, although he was put in his place when one of the Crumps pointed out that his vision issues might be down to the amount of alcohol he had consumed the previous evening.
For the second match in succession we lost the toss and for the third time we bowled first. Our performance in the field was superb, with barely a misfiled and some canny captaincy from Henry Watkinson. There were some good catches, the pick being Bugge’s nonchalant one-handed effort at backward point, and despite again giving away too many wides, the bowling was generally tight. Only Dean Joseph (41) looked able to pose a threat but he was removed by Martin Williamson when trying to cut loose and the innings ended in a low-key manner. A score of 117 for 6 in 20 overs gave us hope.
But at 36 for 4 we seemed on course for another loss, with Alan Cope recording his second successive first-baller on a Test ground (his first at the Braebourne Stadium four years earlier). However, Henry Watkinson (52) and Rick Johnson (26), the latter in a rare appearance on a ground let alone as a player, turned back the clock in a breezy and well-paced stand of 76. Johnson’s running was economical but nonetheless the pair took us to the brink of victory before Damien Hill slashed the ball through the covers to win the game with four balls to spare.
Click here for match photos
Given that we had enjoyed the tour dinner the previous night, we arrived at the Beauesjour Cricket Ground for our two Twenty20s in remarkably good shape. Overnight rain, and a brief shower as we walked out to inspect the pitch, delayed the start of the first game by an hour, but the track was as good as expected for a ground which had hosted a 2007 ICC World Cup semi-final. It was our first experience of playing with black sightscreens and pink balls, the latter being much easier to pick up for most players. David Bugge was heard to moan he found them harder to pick up than red ones, although he was put in his place when one of the Crumps pointed out that his vision issues might be down to the amount of alcohol he had consumed the previous evening.
For the second match in succession we lost the toss and for the third time we bowled first. Our performance in the field was superb, with barely a misfiled and some canny captaincy from Henry Watkinson. There were some good catches, the pick being Bugge’s nonchalant one-handed effort at backward point, and despite again giving away too many wides, the bowling was generally tight. Only Dean Joseph (41) looked able to pose a threat but he was removed by Martin Williamson when trying to cut loose and the innings ended in a low-key manner. A score of 117 for 6 in 20 overs gave us hope.
But at 36 for 4 we seemed on course for another loss, with Alan Cope recording his second successive first-baller on a Test ground (his first at the Braebourne Stadium four years earlier). However, Henry Watkinson (52) and Rick Johnson (26), the latter in a rare appearance on a ground let alone as a player, turned back the clock in a breezy and well-paced stand of 76. Johnson’s running was economical but nonetheless the pair took us to the brink of victory before Damien Hill slashed the ball through the covers to win the game with four balls to spare.
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