VPCCL League Match vs Island, 25th July 2006, Victoria Park

Island win a thriller and the championship!

LFCC 132-3 (16 overs)
Island 133-5 (15.3 overs)
by our very very very very occasional midweek correspondent, Steve Donelan

On a balmy July evening, cricket certainly came out the winner in an enthralling, competitive evening fixture.

After winning the toss, Fields decided to bat and after a sensible start from Shaun & Will, they picked up the run rate with some excellent strokes and brilliant running between the sticks. Shaun D made a brutal unbeaten 51*, continuing his excellent summer with the willow, while Will batted through the entire innings for a classy 49*.

The first wicket fell at 93, when Jason (4) was caught behind, but Davin (5), Ty (2) & Tony (?*) kept the runs flowing. After their allotted 16 overs, London Fields reached a very decent 132-3.

Pete opened the bowling for Fields and bowled a hostile spell of 4 overs for 20 runs, beating the bat on numerous occasions and having a dropped catch in the covers in his first over. Tony joined him, bowling 3 tidy overs and causing the talented opposition some worries, so much so that they resorted to slogs across the line.

Jason & Shaun combined to run out the opener and Shaun made another run out later in the innings!

Steve bowled 2 poor overs and Island were comfortably ahead of the run race with wickets in hand.

Along came Tyrone (4-0-31-1) & Will (2.3-0-21-2) to change the game when all seemed lost. They both bowled with pace, aggression, in dangerous areas and at an ideal length and backed up by attacking fields they brought the Fields back into the match.

Ty took a quite stunning catch of Will's bowling*, a ball that spiralled off a thick edge, and this inspired the team to a brilliant final few overs.

Island required 24 off 23 balls and then 5 from the last over. In the end, a few slogs won Island the match

Many thanks to Robin for umpiring and to Karen for supporting the team.

 

* Good enough for him to change his availability for the next weekend from "not available" to "please give me a game" - the editor.